Schedule and Sessions

A wide array of educational sessions are waiting for you at AFP ICON. In addition to searching the sessions below, get a quick dose of fundraising insight and inspiration by visiting the AFP ICON Session Spotlights page—which provides short video interviews featuring ICON speakers sharing practical tips, fresh ideas, and key takeaways from their upcoming 2026 sessions.

AFP ICON 2026 Schedule at a Glance (Subject to Change)

Friday, April 24 (Pre-Conference)
7:00am-5:30pm Pre-Conference Deep Dives Registration Open
8:00am-5:30pm Pre-Conference Deep Dives

All scheduled events to take place at San Diego Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

Saturday, April 25 (Pre-Conference)
7:00am-5:30pm Pre-Conference Deep Dives Registration Open
8:00am-5:30pm Pre-Conference Deep Dives
12:30-2:00pm Lunch for Chapter Leaders and AFP Global Board Members
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1:00-7:00pm Conference Registration Open
1:00-5:00pm Executive CoachingAdditional Registration Required
1:30-5:00pm Chapter Leader Meetings
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
4:00-6:15pm Affinity Group Networking Receptions - All attendees welcome!
6:00-7:30pm Conference Welcome Reception & Networking - All attendees welcome!

All scheduled events to take place at San Diego Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

Sunday, April 26
7:00am-5:00pm Conference Registration Open
8:00-8:45am Speed Networking - 
All attendees welcome, especially first-time conference attendees!
8:00am-5:30pm Executive CoachingAdditional Registration Required
9:00-10:00am Education Breakout Sessions
10:30am-11:30am Education Breakout Sessions
11:00am-5:00pm AFP EXCHANGE Hours
11:30am-1:30pm Lunch in the AFP EXCHANGE
1:30-3:00pm Opening General Session featuring Jamais Cascio
3:00-3:45pm Coffee & AFP EXCHANGE Time
4:30-5:30pm Education Breakout Sessions
6:00-7:30pm Community Group ReceptionsAll attendees welcome!
Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Boulevard

All scheduled events to take place at San Diego Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

Monday, April 27
7:00am-6:00pm Conference Registration Open
8:30-9:30am Education Breakout Sessions
8:00am-4:30pm Executive CoachingAdditional Registration Required
9:00am-5:30pm AFP EXCHANGE Hours
9:30-10:30am Coffee & AFP EXCHANGE Time
10:45-11:45am Education Breakout Sessions
11:45am-1:30pm Lunch in the AFP EXCHANGE
1:45-2:45pm Education Breakout Sessions
3:15-4:15pm Education Breakout Sessions
4:30-5:30pm AFP EXCHANGE Hours & Happy Hour
6:00-9:00pm Monday Night Party hosted by AFP CA, San Diego Chapter 
Additional registration required. 

All scheduled events to take place at San Diego Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

Tuesday, April 28
7:00am-3:00pm Conference Registration Open
8:00-9:00am Education Breakout Sessions
8:00am-12:30pm Executive CoachingAdditional Registration Required
9:00am-1:30pm AFP EXCHANGE Hours
9:00-9:45am Coffee & AFP EXCHANGE Time
10:00-11:00am Education Breakout Sessions
11:15am-12:15pm Education Breakout Sessions
12:15-1:30pm Lunch in the AFP EXCHANGE
1:30-2:45pm Closing General Session

All scheduled events to take place at San Diego Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

All Sessions

We have a wide array of educational sessions waiting for you at AFP ICON to unlock your fundraising potential. Sessions, speakers, times, dates, and rooms are all subject to change.
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TuesdayApril 28
8:00 am9:00 am
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Major Gift Fundraising: Timing Is Everything (But Not the Only Thing!)

Education track

Securing the Gift

When do I know the time is right to ask the donor for a major gift? Asking too soon or waiting too long can frustrate both the donor and the fundraiser. Learn how properly cultivating the donor relationship can lead to "philanthropic inevitability," when the donor is ready to be asked for a major gift. Understand how organizational leadership principles can be adapted to identify the "prime" time for making the ask. Then learn how to apply evidence-based learnings from veteran fundraisers on how to know when the time is right to ask for a major gift.

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