Agenda
Explore two energizing days days filled with 40+ sessions led by top fundraising experts. This year’s theme, Build for What’s Next, is about strengthening fundraising strategies that advance your mission through times of uncertainty.
What We’re Exploring this Year
Sessions reflect the questions and realities fundraisers are navigating across the sector right now, including:
- Strengthening donor trust and engagement
- Adapting strategy as donor behavior shifts
- Crisis philanthropy and resilience
- Using data and AI to inform fundraising decisions
- Building sustainable fundraising models
September 9, 2026
Day One
Details for existing sessions are subject to change.
Download our conference app and start building your agenda today.
September 9, 2026
9:15 am
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10:45 am
Neurogiving: The Neuroscience of Why We Give (and What to Do About It)
This keynote explores the psychology of generosity and how trust, emotion, and belonging inspire giving.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Exactly What to Say for Impact
This session teaches how intentional language can build trust, inspire action, and deepen engagement.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Growth Without Access: Fundraising in San Diego’s Two-Speed Economy
This session explores how nonprofit leaders can respond strategically to widening economic inequities and shifting funding realities in San Diego.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Calling All Heroes: Building Bridges for a United Nonprofit Sector
This session explores a human-centered approach to fundraising that bridges donor and community priorities.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Planning for Planned Gifts: A Lawyer's Perspective
This session demystifies planned giving by exploring legal strategy, donor collaboration, and risk management.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Grants Refresh: Audit, Strategy, and Manage for Increasing Annual Success
This session teaches nonprofits how to build resilient, data-informed grant strategies for long-term funding success.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Crisis Fundraising: Preparing for the Before, During, and After
This session explores how KPBS turned a major funding loss into sustainable growth through donor-centered fundraising.
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September 9, 2026
11:00 am
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12:00 pm
Why Most Fundraising Problems Aren’t Actually Fundraising Problems
This session explores how strong strategy and systems create the foundation for sustainable fundraising growth.
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September 9, 2026
12:00 pm
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1:30 pm
Lunch, Networking & Roundtable Discussions
Enjoy lunch with fellow nonprofit professionals while networking, sharing ideas, and joining optional roundtable discussions.
September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
Designing for Generosity
This session explores how intentional donor experiences can inspire deeper generosity, trust, and belonging.
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September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
Great Fundraising from the Inside Out
This session helps fundraisers build confidence, resilience, and healthier donor relationships from within.
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September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
Building a Future Worth Funding
This session helps nonprofit leaders reimagine fundraising through creativity, hope, and future-focused visioning.
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September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
The Myth of the Fearless Leader: Understanding and Leading Organizational Change and Transformation
This session helps nonprofit leaders replace fear-driven leadership with resilience, authenticity, and purpose.
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September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
The Psychology of Giving: Influence, Motivate, and Move Donors to Action
This session explores donor psychology and evidence-based strategies that inspire meaningful giving.
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September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
Small Table, Big Philanthropy: Why Fewer Donors – Done Right – Will Change Your Organization Forever
This session teaches how deeper donor relationships—not larger donor lists—drive transformational gifts.
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September 9, 2026
1:45 pm
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2:45 pm
Unlock the Power of Donor Advised Funds
This session demystifies donor advised funds and shares practical strategies for engaging DAF donors.
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September 9, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
Your Story is Worthy Too
This session helps mission-driven leaders use personal storytelling to build influence and community impact.
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September 9, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
Philanthropy Moves at the Speed of Trust (With a panel of Donors)
This session is an exploration of why trust—not transactions—is the foundation of modern donor engagement.
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September 9, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
AI Is Everywhere. What Actually Drives Fundraising Results (and What Won’t)
This session helps nonprofit leaders evaluate AI tools that strengthen donor relationships and fundraising impact.
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September 9, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
When You Need a Portfolio Yesterday: How to Identify and Grow a Robust Major Gift Pipeline
This session helps fundraisers identify and cultivate major gift prospects while building sustainable philanthropy programs from the ground up.
Speakers:
September 10, 2026
Day Two
Details for existing sessions are subject to change.
Download our conference app and start building your agenda today.
September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
Monthly Giving Mastermind
This session shares a proven framework for building sustainable monthly giving programs and donor loyalty.
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September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
Supercharging Fundraising Careers: Leading Teams That Want to Stay and Grow
This session explores how fundraising leaders can build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams.
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September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
Starting the Planned Giving Conversation
This session helps fundraisers start authentic legacy giving conversations with confidence and ease.
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September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
Stay Ready: Building your Reputation Runway before Turbulence Hits
This session teaches nonprofits how to build trust and resilience before a crisis threatens their reputation.
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September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
The Mindset Behind the Ask: How Money Beliefs Shape Fundraising Outcomes
This interactive session explores how money mindset shapes donor relationships, confidence, and fundraising success.
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September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
Intentional Strategy and Ethical Action
This session explores ethical, values-driven fundraising strategies that deepen donor trust and sustain long-term growth.
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September 10, 2026
9:30 am
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10:30 am
Tips for a First-Time Capital Campaign: Stories from the Global Village Refugee & Immigrant Cultural Hub and Housing Campus
This session shares real-world lessons from launching a first capital campaign for a refugee and immigrant community initiative.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
Stop Losing 81% of Your Online Donors: How to Turn Clicks into Lifetime Supporters
This session explores how nonprofits can turn donor interest into completed gifts through smarter digital engagement.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
From Vision to Action: Building a Comprehensive Development Plan for What’s Next
This session teaches how intentional, trust-based development planning strengthens fundraising resilience and donor relationships.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
Listening Your Way to a $40 Million Gift
This session teaches how intentional, trust-based development planning strengthens fundraising resilience and donor relationships.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
Decoding Donors: The Advanced Listening Skills That Accelerate Major Gifts
This session teaches fundraisers how to recognize donor communication patterns and strengthen major gift conversations.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
Your Donor Data is Talking, Are You Listening? A Hands-On AI Readiness Workshop
This session teaches fundraisers how to recognize donor communication patterns and strengthen major gift conversations.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
The Board Roadshow - Engaging Your Board Beyond the Give and Get!
This session explores how nonprofits can activate board relationships and networks to expand mission-driven engagement.
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September 10, 2026
10:45 am
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11:45 am
Collective Impact Fundraising: Community-Centered. Collectively-Driven.
This session explores community-centered fundraising and how collective impact strengthens donor and community relationships.
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September 10, 2026
11:45 am
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1:15 pm
Lunch, Networking & Roundtable Discussions
Enjoy lunch with fellow nonprofit professionals while networking, sharing ideas, and joining optional roundtable discussions.
September 10, 2026
1:30 pm
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2:45 pm
Call In the Believers: Why Monthly Giving Is Won Before the Ask
This keynote reframes recurring giving as the foundation for sustainable fundraising and donor belief.
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September 10, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
The Next Wave of Fundraising: Building Sustainable Recurring Giving
This session explores how recurring giving programs create sustainable revenue and stronger donor relationships.
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September 10, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
You Had Me at Hello: The Art of Donor Courtship and the Perfectly Timed Ask
This session explores how intentional donor courtship builds trust, engagement, and lasting philanthropic relationships.
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September 10, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
Accessing Gifts from Donor Advised Funds
This session explores how nonprofits can better engage donor advised fund holders and grow DAF giving.
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September 10, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
The Conversation - The Many Layers of Legacy Giving
This session explores how nonprofits can better engage donor advised fund holders and grow DAF giving.
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September 10, 2026
3:00 pm
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4:00 pm
Stop the Churn: A Practical Donor Retention System for Fundraisers Who Are Tired of Refilling a Leaky Bucket
This session delivers a practical framework for building consistent donor retention systems that actually last.
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