AFP-NNE Seeks Proposals for Virtual Fall Conference

RFP from AFP-NNE:

We are seeking proposals for our Virtual Fall Conference, which will be held Tuesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 16. Sessions are 90 minutes long and will represent a wide range of topics relevant to nonprofit fundraisers from small shops.

We are looking for presenters who are comfortable speaking in a virtual format and utilizing tools like breakout rooms, live polling, and other ways to engage audience members. Speakers will receive a modest honorarium.

To submit a proposal, please complete this Google form.

Looking for ideas? Here is a list of requested topics from our Spring Conference attendees:

GENERAL REQUESTS

  • Annual appeals (creative ideas, success stories, examples
  • How to make the ask (role-playing and videos of participants)
  • Major gifts
  • Planned giving
  • Donor-Advised Funds
  • Donor recognition and stewardship (esp using email, social media and video)
  • Feasibility studies and capital campaigns
  • Tips to avoid burnout
  • AI in fundraising and teaching AI to lighten your workload
  • Ethics in fundraising
  • Interactive workshops with small group discussions

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

  • Effects of the current administration on the fundraising landscape
  • How to choose the right CRM
  • Overview of donor management systems using roundtable or panel discussion with reps from popular platforms
  • Challenges and solutions in fundraising when you’re not a 501(c)3 organization
  • Fundraising for membership-based orgs (e.g. annual fund vs. membership, pros & cons of membership model, etc)
  • How Communications and Development staff can work together
  • How Development and Finance staff can work together
  • Impact/Annual Reports – where to begin, what data to collect, and how to communicate outcomes effectively
  • Data for non-data people –  how to read 990s, explain a nonprofit’s success using financial data, and present it in ways that are clear and compelling
  • How to pair retail and fundraising 
  • Creating support systems for one-person development teams 
  • Getting the donor perspective by hearing from donors as panelists or presenters
  • How to systematize donor portfolio management
  • How to collaborate more effectively across orgs by considering character strengths and leadership styles
  • Navigating new roles and new organizations—how to make a strong start and be effective, where to get help, managing challenges and opportunities
  • Creative ideas for building relationships with donors
  • How to grow events by starting small and focusing on return on investment and public relations 
  • Golf Tournaments as fundraisers
  • Donor/Ally hosted house parties
  • Life after retirement from fundraising – making the transition, health & wellness, opportunities to mentor novice fundraisers, etc.