We have a wide array of educational sessions waiting for you at AFP ICON 2024. Whether you want to master leadership, relationship building, securing the gift, trends and innovation, or all of the above, AFP has the latest and greatest information to unlock your fundraising potential.
Planned giving is not just for the big organizations with lots of resources. It's for every organization with a compelling mission. You will be able identify planned giving prospects and obtain over 30 different donor conversation starters. Receive practical strategies for securing the planned gift and increase annual gifts too!
Building the House: Applying Project Management Principles to the Grant Proposal Process
From the foundation to the interior, building a house requires that certain steps be taken in the correct order. Learn how to "build the house" correctly and apply the principles of project management to submit an intentional, organized, cohesive multi-year, large-dollar, or Federal grant proposal.
Driving Impact: How to Supercharge Your Golf Tournament’s Fundraising Power (Presented by Golf Status)
Golf's capacity for fundraising is unmatched. To maximize your tournament’s fundraising potential, it’s crucial to understand how to appeal to golfers’ and sponsors’ generosity. This session will outline best practices and proven strategies for pricing teams and sponsorships, filling your tournament’s field, incorporating contests and games, and other revenue-generating components.
Making the Ask- using neuroscience in your solicitation
Leave old-school moves management behind and use the latest thinking in neuroscience in your major donor fundraising.
Discover 20 science-based tools to engage your prospect while soliciting your next major gift. The session is almost entirely interactive under five broad headings- Passion, Proposal, Preparation, Persuasion, and Persistence.
From Click to Impact: Enhancing Your Online Donation Journey (Presented by Bloomerang)
Imagine if your nonprofit could retain just 10% more recurring givers than the industry average. Not only would this boost your fundraising efforts and help you reach your goals, but achieving this is as simple as focusing on online giving tools and best practices.
During this panel discussion, we will explore insights from Bloomerang’s Donor Experience Report. This report analyzed the online giving interactions of over 300 nonprofits, where we made $25 donations to various organizations across the U.S. and carefully monitored the outcomes. We will provide practical advice on enhancing your donation process, optimizing your landing page, crafting impactful receipt emails, perfecting your thank yous, and executing effective follow-up strategies.
Alice Ferris, ACFRE, CFRE, MBA, AFP Master Trainer
Sun, Apr 7, 2024
3:15pm - 3:45pm
Learning Lab 2
Zero to Hero: Starting a Planned Giving Program (Learning Lab) Presented by Freewill
The historic shift of wealth from older to younger Americans has begun, with Baby Boomers poised to transfer up to $70 trillion in assets. Learn more about what The Great Wealth Transfer means for your nonprofit and get insights into key generational giving trends that you can use to cultivate more transformational gifts this year. You’ll also get a look at how 1,450+ nonprofits are using the FreeWill platform to grow non-cash gifts in support of their missions – and how you can too as you look to take advantage of The Great Wealth Transfer.
Matching the Ask to the Motivation (Presented by Blackbaud)
Giving feels good. When a donor’s own motivations, values, and needs are met and matched with an opportunity to give, that giving feels even better. In the session, you will meet donor models, and by working through the moves management process you’ll learn their motivations and learn how to shape approaches that will resonate with the donor’s personal vision and motivations.
Capital Campaigns: Top Trends and Best Practices to Help You Plan a Successful Campaign
Is there a capital campaign in your future? If so, don't miss this groundbreaking session with campaign expert, Amy Eisenstein, ACFRE, as she shares the latest trends and best practices for planning an effective and efficient capital campaign. You'll leave with practical tools and resources to use right away.
Leveraging Logic Models to Elevate Your Grant Writing and Reporting Prowess
Wrangling program leaders to identify and articulate goals, measure results and uniformly report impact is often a grant writers greatest struggle. Learn how the use of logic models can transform your grant writing activities from chaotic to calm and enhance your organization’s culture of philanthropy in the process.
No Nonsense Must-Haves for Major Giving Success NOW!
Whatever sector/size your organization is, this no-nonsense session spells out what you MUST have, DO and/or FIX to inspire MAJOR gifts. Takeaway how to prioritize key steps you CAN take, regardless of obstacles. Address your mindset, DEI priority, board engagement, asking and MORE to grow YOUR major giving success NOW.
In a Donor Experience, Everything is Love or Lost (Presented by Fundraise Up)
Everything (read: everything) contributes to donor loyalty or to losing them. Every single field, pixel, word, checkbox, payment method, or lack thereof is going to be a negative or positive contributor to the donor experience. Short-term gains are won by improving conversion rates through better digital experiences, while longer-term gains are earned through trust. In this session you'll learn how to see your donor experience from the other side. For donors, nonprofit teams, and beneficiaries of the mission you work so hard on; the impact is real and tangible.
Don’t Close the Door on Your Donors: Intentional Inclusivity in Fundraising Events (Presented by OneCause)
One positive change that arose during the pandemic was the increased access to philanthropy for diverse donors through virtual events and engagement opportunities. But now that we’re spending less time at our screens, large and small, how can nonprofits ensure that access is maintained and that their fundraising strategies?
Unlocking the Potential of Your Entire Donor Pyramid (Leaning Lab) by Presented EverTrue
Ready to revolutionize your donor outreach? EverTrue’s suite of donor management and fundraising software is making the really hard job of fundraising so much easier for every fundraiser, so that you can improve the experience of every donor. Learn how you can transform engagement, boost retention, and increase donor pipeline through intentional, personalized outreach at scale.
Do More Good With Your Golf Fundraiser (Learning Lab) Presented by Golf Status
A golf event can be a hassle—but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be! GolfStatus is the leading platform for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers. Hear how it makes organizing and executing a successful golf fundraiser easier than ever, with solutions that save time and raise more money.
$500K Raised, Zero Fees Paid : Free Online Fundraising in a World of Hidden Fees (Learning Lab) Presented by Zeffy
Explore the truth behind "free" online fundraising platforms in this eye-opening session with Kitty from Toronto’s Parkdale Community Foodbank and François from Zeffy.
They will share how critical it is to select the right online fundraising tools — because every penny counts. Learn how a 100% free online fundraising approach helped Kitty’s food bank's mission, and gain insights on maximizing donations.
Discover a new fundraising paradigm that promises transparency and zero fees, where charitable pursuits retain their full impact. Join us for a candid talk on making every donated dollar work harder for your cause.
Must Wear Pants: Legacy Events Coming out of Covid
Virtual events during Covid enabled guests to attend from the comfort of their homes wearing cozy athleisure. We’ll share how a legacy event went a pre-pandemic in-person decline to a virtual upswing, and convinced guests that the renewed in-person event was an exciting new way to engage with the organization.
Why Direct Mail + Digital is the Perfect Pairing to Recruit Young Donors (Presented by Sylogist MISSION CRM)
The excitement of receiving and reading the mail has shifted from the inbox back to the mailbox and surprisingly, this wave of enthusiasm is led by the Millennial, Gen Z and Gen X cohorts. Join us for an interactive discussion with industry experts who are riding the wave and seizing the opportunity to reimagine a new future for direct response to reach new cohorts by leveraging the latest innovations and insights.
Are You Fit to Fundraise? Transform Your Donation Form for Greater Giving (Learning Lab) Presented by Donor Box
Are you looking to boost your fundraising efforts, bring in more donations, and better support your mission? The solution could be simpler than you think - transforming your online donation form! A well-designed form builds donor trust, improves the donor experience, and makes donating fast and easy, leading to increased gifts. In this interactive session, Donorbox experts will discuss the key elements of a successful donation form through a comprehensive “donation form fitness test.” You’ll leave with several actionable tips and the knowledge to get your form into shape, helping you raise more funds for your cause.
Everything You Need To Know About African American High Wealth Donors
Are you effectively engaging African American high wealth donors? The data available on major gift donors of color is limited as compared to other demographic groups, and especially for African Americans. But these donors are highly philanthropic and give more of their household income per capita - don't miss out!
Finding your best legacy prospects can be challenging and time consuming. In this session, you’ll learn about simple solutions that you can implement that will have you spending less time searching and more time converting legacy prospects into legacy donors.
Corporate Giving Officers’ Top Ten Turn-Offs, Straight from the Donor’s Mouth
Corporate giving officers are inundated by nonprofits asking for money. But do nonprofits really know what these corporations are looking for, and what turns them off? In this session, Michelle Cramer will facilitate a candid conversation with two corporate giving officers, one being her daughter, and they’re holding nothing back.
How to Create a Donor Newsletter That Raises Money
Donor newsletters can play a key role in your annual (and legacy!) fundraising strategies. Join Holly to learn how to plan and execute all the details of a newsletter appeal, how and when to integrate digital with print, what data to track, and get inspired by lots of real-life examples!
Digital Marketing & Fundraising in 2024: How To Align Campaign Strategies To Maximize Results (Presented by Feathr )
Digital Marketing & Fundraising in 2024: How To Align Campaign Strategies To Maximize Results
In a world where digital interaction is paramount, nonprofits face the constant challenge of standing out and making a meaningful impact.
In this session, we’ll explore which trends in digital technology genuinely matter for nonprofits and how these can be leveraged to maximize impact.
We'll delve into:
How to create digital fundraising campaigns that resonate with today's easily distracted donors, ensuring your message cuts through the noise.
Practical tips on boosting your nonprofit's digital and social media advertising, email marketing, and search marketing strategies to enhance donor engagement and acquisition in 2024.
Real-life examples from growing nonprofits that have successfully implemented an omnichannel strategy to elevate their digital fundraising outcomes.
Join us to sharpen your digital fundraising strategy and enhance your nonprofit's digital presence.
Whether your goal is to attract new supporters, strengthen bonds with current ones, or boost your online impact, this session is your key to success in 2024.
Gifts that Grow: AI-Enhanced Strategies for Expanding Major Contributions - (Learning Lab) Presented by Donor Search
Gifts that Grow: AI-Enhanced Strategies for Expanding Major Contributions" is a dynamic session for forward-thinking philanthropists, fundraisers, and nonprofit leaders seeking to elevate their major gift efforts. In this engaging session, participants will delve into the cutting-edge intersection of artificial intelligence and philanthropy, discovering how AI can predict potential major contributions and enhance the personalization and effectiveness of fundraising campaigns.
Be Bold Better: What It Takes To Create Transformational Gifts
This highly interactive session will deepen participants’ understanding of what transformational giving is and how they and Board partners can develop the skills and actionable tools to create transformational gifts through concepts like BIG VISION, Signature Language, Bold Listening, the Science of Rituals, and leave invigorated to Be Bold Better!
How Capital Campaigns are Changing and What You Can Learn from National Organizations’ Experience
Leaders from three large, national organizations (ACLU, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and UNICEF USA) will describe how their national capital campaigns have differed from other campaigns, and what innovative lessons and new approaches can be applied to all capital campaigns to make them more successful.
Building the Future Mid-Level and Major Donors (Presented by Blackbaud)
Nonprofits are overwhelmed with the level of fundraising they need to do to keep up or even break even. Incoming funds are concentrated on major donors while the middle and small donors are disappearing. The average new donor retention rate is 45%, so it is difficult to know what strategy to employ.
We want to focus on one problem: How to attract and keep younger donors and build the future of loyal mid and major gift donors.
Giving in the workplace has transformed in this century. In today’s landscape, it’s become a tactic for employee engagement and retention and even marketing or brand image strategies.
For nonprofits, workplace giving has the potential to attract younger donors with means (the average age of employees in corporate America is 38, and the average yearly donation is $1,250).
Workplace giving has a corporation’s communication and marketing power behind it because they are using this type of programming to enhance its brand image and keep employees. It also has the element of donor engagement because a key element of workplace giving is the act of volunteering. It encourages collaboration among employees and gives nonprofits an opportunity for donors to really get to know you. Workplace giving also has the amplifying power of a company match for both donations and volunteer actions; and, in many cases, another boost from corporate foundation grants. A majority of workplace giving is inspired by local actions which encourages a closer connection between a donor and the nonprofit.
Estimates of giving through the workplace in 2023 were $5B. But much of what companies have set aside for charitable gifts is left on the table. It’s estimated that between $3 and $7 billion have gone un-donated.
Can small nonprofits raise major gifts? You bet! Let's break down the taboos surrounding money and explore cultivating a mindset of abundance. You'll leave with the confidence you need and the practical steps of how to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts.
Measuring Major Gifts Success: The Top 10 Metrics That Matter
Are you struggling to determine what metrics are best for your major gifts program? Is everyone on the same page about which benchmarks you’re using and why? Attend this fast-paced session for a rousing, interactive discussion (and debate!) about effective metrics application and how to measure success at your organization.
Write and Wrong: Developing Million Dollar-plus Proposals
Proposal structure, wording and imagery could motivate some donors to give to your organization, and cause others to take their generosity elsewhere. We will discuss inspiring with emotion and justifying with logic, including the steps to take and the ones to avoid when your goal is securing a significant gift.
What Not to Say to Your Donors, Eh? (And What to Say Instead)
Why give you money? Why you and not someone else? One thing: words. Without knowing it a reader thinks... "Wow, they really get me. Sign me up for some of that!" Come strike a memorable chord in a noisy world. Your donors long for it. Your bottom line demands it.
Education Track(s): Securing the Gift
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Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers
Turn data into dollars: How insights and technology together can deliver major giving wins for fundraisers (Presented by Bonterra)
When it comes to major giving, you need a way to do more with less and we have a solution. Bonterra and Altrata will take you through best practices for leveraging data and technology to make a bigger impact. Improve campaign engagement. Never miss an opportunity. Make the most of every conversation.
The Keys to Donation Form Conversion: Design and Optimization (Presented by Blackbaud)
In this session, you'll learn how to design a donation form that converts visits into donations. We'll cover the 6 hallmarks of a high-converting nonprofit donation form and how you can modify your donation forms accordingly. We'll also define optimization and discuss strategies for making and testing small changes to your forms to best meet the needs of your donors. Finally, we'll share a case study where design and optimization had a real impact on conversions.
Hidden Gold: How Monthly Giving will build donor loyalty and improve donor retention
Join Harvey McKinnon, author of three books on monthly giving and one of North America's leading experts on the subject, and Jas Jhooty, who led one of the largest monthly giving programs in Canada and learn how to create lifelong donors through recurring giving
CANCELLED Engaging Meaningfully with Donors Through a Gift in Will Pipeline
Donor engagement is key to fundraising success yet charities fail to meaningfully engage with its most loyal, long-term donors, resulting in dwindling legacy programs. This research and data-driven deep dive will teach how to create love-filled marketing and engagement activities for every stage of your gift in wills pipeline.