Summertime always arrives with a buzz of activity—out-of-town friends occupying guest rooms, kids splashing in the pool, couples jaunting off to beachy locales—putting work on the backburner until the arrival of cooler climes. But as fall approaches, getting back into the swing of all things work-related can be difficult, particularly if you are a nonprofit professional with an overstuffed inbox and an unending to-do list.
To aid in the transition, be sure to schedule some professional activities you can look forward to, like signing up for a conference or two. Whether your interest is in boosting fundraising with technology, honing your grantwriting skills, or delving deep into big-picture issues affecting your constituents, there is a conference out there for you. Here are some recommendations for the upcoming season.
Nonprofit Fundraising Summit
Host: The Nonprofit Cooperative
Date: September 10 to 13, 2024, 12 PM to 3 PM EDT
Location: Online
Who Should Attend: This conference is aimed at busy fundraising professionals who are able to attend an online conference for part of the day.
Why You Should Attend: This free conference provides a virtual learning experience for fundraisers, complete with CFRE credits, sharing proven approaches and innovative ideas while providing participants with actionable takeaways.
Highlights: The panel of speakers for this event is impressive. Keynote speakers include Alice Ruhnke of GrantStation, who will be discussing how to maximize impact and ensure long-term sustainability. Doug Kaczmarek and Paul Clolery of The Nonprofit Times will speak on the topic of leveraging data for fundraising excellence. Two representatives of Donor Search will explore how to reignite analog giving in an algorithmic world. The list goes on, with a total of 28 speakers slated to share their fundraising insights throughout the conference.
Another bonus is the conference’s accessibility. Taking place virtually for just three hours a day, even professionals with the busiest of schedules can make time to pop in for a bit of fundraising inspiration.
Nonprofit Innovation and Optimization Summit
Host: NextAfter
Date: September 18 to 19, 2024
Location: Indianapolis, IN, U.S.A.
Who Should Attend: This conference is perfect for professionals who are interested in amplifying their online fundraising and are seeking inspiration from fields spanning fundraising, psychology, marketing, data, technology, and branding.
Why You Should Attend: This year’s gathering is focused on the theme, “Generosity Jones and the Holy Grail of Fundraising.” What’s not to like about an Indiana Jones inspired conference? Keynote speakers include representatives from NextAfter, the NAACP, GivingTuesday, and other interesting organizations.
Highlights: Those looking to gain certification in planning a new donor welcome series can arrive a day early and attend an all-day, paid workshop on this topic. There is also an opening party to entertain conference attendees the night of September 17th.
Nonprofit Leadership Conference
Host: Nonprofit Leadership Center
Date: October 8, 2024 (Registration is subject to availability.)
Location: Tampa, FL, U.S.A.
Who Should Attend: This conference is aimed at the “problem-solvers, the change-makers, the status-quo shakers, the eternal optimists, the social activists—nonprofit professionals and leaders.”
Why You Should Attend: Focused on the theme "It starts with us,” this conference helps nonprofit leaders to strengthen their organizations and communities by engaging in dialogue and learning activities. It will provide participants with actionable ideas as well as tools and strategies that they can start using right away.
Highlights: The breakout sessions will explore topics ranging from fostering psychological safety to hiring and retaining top talent to engaging in cross-sector nonprofit collaborations.
Trust Conference
Host: Thompson Reuters Foundation
Date: October 22 to 23, 2024
Location: London, England
Who Should Attend: If you are a big-picture thinker looking to learn more about current issues affecting the global landscape, this free conference is for you.
Why You Should Attend: The conference is a convening of “experts, innovators, and activists at the forefront of shaping free and equitable societies, trustworthy institutions and inclusive and sustainable economies.” Participants can engage with topics such as democracy, responsible business, media at risk, and artificial intelligence through panel discussions, interactive presentations, and fireside chats.
Highlights: This is a great place to engage with others with a similar mindset, as the conference delves deep into topics related to strengthening free, fair, and informed societies. Speakers hail from organizations such as UNESCO, the Atlantic Council, the U.S. Department of State, and the Thompson Reuters Foundation, which is hosting the event.
As an added bonus, it takes place in London, so you can load up on fish and chips while visiting the cultural sites in a double-decker bus.
GrantSummit
Host: Grant Professionals Association
Date: October 30 to November 2, 2024
Location: Denver, CO, U.S.A. and online
Who Should Attend: Grant professionals of all experience levels, from early-career to seasoned pro, are encouraged to attend.
Why You Should Attend: Over 1,200 grant professionals will descend upon the Grant Professional Association’s annual conference in Denver this year to share what works, expand their networks, and learn how to win more grants.
The conference features speakers addressing a wide variety of grant-related topics, including talks on grants and graphics, AI for grantseeking, digital tools for evidence-based grantwriting, and much more.
Highlights: GrantStation’s Alice Ruhnke will be delivering two sessions on using appreciative inquiry for strengths-based grant development. This is just one example of the vast array of sessions offered at the conference. The list of presenters is quite extensive, as are the topics they will be exploring, so everyone is sure to find something to suit their unique interests.
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
Host: N/A
Date: November 11 to 13, 2024
Location: Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, U.S.A
Who Should Attend: This conference is for development professionals looking to enhance their storytelling skills.
Why You Should Attend: Learning the art of storytelling is at the heart of the entire conference agenda. Main Stage events cover topics such as writing and speaking your fundraising story, emotionally engaging with donors, and using the right words to inspire people, among others.
Participants can also attend Intensives, which are longer, deep dive sessions into the topics of events, appeals, major donors, and creative campaigns. In addition, one-hour Implementation Workshops offer the opportunity to learn storytelling and fundraising approaches and apply them to your organization under the guidance of an expert.
Highlights: You can leave all your worries behind to focus on building your storytelling skills as the conference is held at the picturesque Tamaya Resort nestled in between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. There is also a video-only option for those who are unable to attend the conference in person.
These are just a few of the conferences on offer to nonprofit professionals in the coming months. If you’d like to learn more about upcoming conferences this fall and into 2025, visit GrantStation’s PathFinder library and click on “Conference” in the “Format” section of the search interface.