Attending nonprofit conferences is necessary if you want yourself to keep up with trends and best practices being utilized in the nonprofit world. Conferences are usually short (1-3 days), efficient, and wildly helpful approaches to learning from experts. Collaborating with and meeting a diverse array of nonprofit professionals from various casual areas helps take your nonprofit skill-set to the next level.
Think about a time you learned something really eye-opening regarding your specific niche in nonprofit work, e.g. fundraising. Did you have an “a-ha” moment, and can you now not imagine using whatever tool you learned as a result of that moment?! That’s what attending a conference can do for you and staff – potentially over, and over, and over again. Plus, they’re incredibly motivating! There’s nothing like being surrounded by hundreds to even thousands of other passionate professionals who want to change the world.
12 Nonprofit Conferences to Take Your Nonprofit a Notch Higher in 2022
1. The Nonprofit Marketing Summit
Where: Virtual.
When: March 8-10, 2022.
Where to register: The Nonprofit Marketing Summit: MOMENTUM.
What: Join over 15,000 nonprofit professionals on this 100% virtual nonprofit marketing summit to attend and gain from high-impact sessions. You’ll be moving your nonprofit a few steps forward with 3 days of intensive discussion with nonprofit leaders across 50+ sessions. And all that for free. You can also opt for the VIP privilege that offers you recordings of all sessions, access to speakers, 1:1 sessions, official notes, and more.
Audience profile: Nonprofit marketers and professionals looking to grow their nonprofits.
Price: Free for all. VIP pass costs $297 (it may vary).
2. SXSW Civic Engagement and Climate Change + SXSW Edu
Where: Austin, TX, and Virtual.
When: March 7-10, 2022 (SXSW EDU)
March 11-20, 2022 (SXSW Civic engagement, climate change, and more).
Where to register: SXSW, SXSW EDU.
What: This is a mega-marketing and tech conference. The conference covers innovation, activism, communications, education, and tech. SXSW’s Civic Engagement & Climate Change tracks are hosted by SXSW at large. Others topics covered are advertising, brand strategy, and tech media. On the other hand, SXSW EDU is a conference that is more focused on education in the lead-up to the main event, providing exposure to the newest concepts and lessons from education case studies.
Audience profile: Professional fundraisers, nonprofit communications teams, vendors (SXSW). Educators, government, and people working in the education space (SXSW EDU).
In-Person price: $1,345 to $1,675
Virtual price: $199 (SXSW EDU). $459 (SXSW).
3. Cause Camp
Where: Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Virtual.
When: May 2-3, 2022.
Where to register: Cause Camp.
What: The perfect conference for any outdoors guru! Featuring breakout options on day two to learn about faith ministry-specific outreach or general planning and prioritizing marketing efforts in your nonprofit. Cause Camp selects the best and brightest speakers who are working in or with the nonprofit sector. Every camper receives a toolkit complete with swag and amazing resources plus several opportunities to tour the campground and visit nonprofit vendors and specialists.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals of any age or causal area.
In-person price: $999 (team of 4); $299 (individual)
Virtual price: $449 (team); $99 (individual)
4. NTEN Nonprofit Technology Conference
Where: Virtual
When: March 23-25, 2022.
(Scholarships are available for application through March 11, 2022.)
Where to register: Nonprofit Technology Conference.
What: The conference will feature over 150 live, interactive, and thought-provoking sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, and ways to connect with each other. Building upon last year’s success, the conference is adding more opportunities for one-on-one connections, small group meetings, sponsor conversations, and live community events for music and the arts. Nearly 150 sessions to choose from, and every session will be recorded and available to watch at your leisure for 3 months after the conference ends.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals of all ages.
Price: Regular ticket purchase: $500 members, $750 non-members
Last-minute ticket purchase: $650 members, $900 non-members
Group discount: Register 3, get one free. Apply for a discount by March 11, 2022.
5. TNPA Leadership Summit
Where: Downtown Washington, D.C.
When: March 30 – April 1, 2022.
Where to register: Leadership Summit.
What: Nonprofit leadership development. As a leader, you divide your time and focus between three levels of impact: Me, yourself as a visionary, innovator, guide, and engineer. We, your organization, team, or another circle of influence. And Community, the nonprofit sector as a whole. Over the last year and a half, you navigated new paths and played a key role in deciding how each level would respond. This conference prioritizes networking time over podium speakers.
Audience profile: Senior-level nonprofit professionals.
Price: $395 (member rate). $495 (non-member rate). $625 (corporate members).
6. NACCDO-PAMN Annual Conference
Where: Kansas City, Kansas.
When: April 25 – 28, 2022.
Where to register: NACCDO-PAMN Conference.
What: The annual conference has been the cornerstone of NACCDO since its inception. Members rave about the unique opportunity to gather with such a specialized group of peers for knowledge, ideas, inspiration, and best practices (those working in cancer-related nonprofits). The annual conference is a partnership with NACCDO’s public affairs and marketing network partners. Its fundraising-focused content is layered with opportunities to integrate insight into storytelling, communications, and media strategies about the world of development.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals working in the cancer space.
Price: $600 (member registration rate). $685 (member rate on March 26th and beyond).
7. AFP ICON 2022
Where: Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas.
When: May 2-4, 2022.
Where to register: VIVA ICON LAS VEGAS.
What: The entertainment capital of the world is all set to turn into the fundraising capital of the world this year in May with the AFP ICON 2022. You can benefit from 100+ sessions across 3 days with inspiring keynote speakers including Allyson Felix, the seven-time Olympic champion and activist and Zainab Salbi, a humanitarian and journalist. The sessions will primarily focus on learning and networking in the world of philanthropy. Each year about 4000+ nonprofit decision-makers attend the conference, thus making it a hub of networking for all. Registration started back in November 2021 and early bird rates end on 24th February 2022.
Audience profile: Nonprofit leaders, decision-makers, and other senior-level employees.
Price: Pricing varies for members and non-members. Early bird rates start for non-members at $1,699 and for members at $499 (higher for other levels of memberships). Advance and regular rates start at $1,849 and $2,099 respectively for non-members. To avail of lower rates, you can become an AFP member here.
8. Good Tech Fest
Where: Virtual.
When: May 17 – 18, 2022.
Where to register: Good Tech Fest 2022.
What: Good Tech Fest is a conference about how to have an impact using technology. From data science to agile development to mobile applications, technology has the potential to support and scale the efforts of nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and social enterprise. Skills we must develop. New ways of operating and being that we must design. If you are looking to use data and technology to make a difference in the world, this is the conference and community for you.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals looking to use data-driven fundraising and other advanced technology solutions.
Price: $125.
9. Salesforce Nonprofit Summit
Where: Virtual.
When: May 17, 2022.
Where to register: Nonprofit Summit 2022.
What: Join the Second Annual Nonprofit Summit from anywhere in the world on May 17, 2022 (Americas / Europe, The Middle East, and Africa) and May 18, 2022 (Asia Pacific) for a dynamic program full of inspiring speakers, practical tools and the latest in nonprofit cloud innovations. This conference will explore the impact that relationships and technology have on the global community.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals of any age, from anywhere.
Price: To be decided.
10. AFP Toronto Fundraising Day
Where: In-person event, location to be decided.
When: June 7, 2022.
Where to register: Fundraising Day 2022.
What: Join AFP Toronto as they explore how organizations and fundraisers are incorporating inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) into their operations and fundraising practices. Learn what you can do to ensure your work reflects the various communities your nonprofit serves. The steps you need to take to make your hiring practices more inclusive. The ways to decolonize philanthropy, and more.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals of any age.
Price: Not listed on the website yet.
11. Bridge Conference
Where: National Harbor, MD.
When: July 27 – 29, 2022.
Where to register: 2022 Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference.
What: The Bridge to integrated marketing and fundraising conference features conversations and speakers discussing trends and best strategies for marketing and fundraising. Collaborate and learn from experts and those who think differently than you!
Audience profile: Nonprofit fundraisers, CEOs, board members, executives, consultants, agencies, and other marketing professionals.
Price: $499 (member). $599 (non-member).
12. ANA Chicago Nonprofit Conference
Where: Chicago, IL, and Virtual.
When: August 8 -10, 2022.
Where to register: Nonprofit Federation Summer Conference.
What: Conference featuring speakers and breakout sessions discussing a diverse array of topics: from fundraising best-practices to diversity, equity, and inclusion, digital fundraising trends, nonprofit marketing, planned-giving, Donor-advised funds, brand management, social media, and everything in between.
Audience profile: Nonprofit professionals of all ages.
Price: $599 – $959 (individual in-person). $199 – $399 (individual virtual). $299 – $599 (virtual corporate package).
Conclusion
Whether you choose to attend a tech, cause-specific, or broad fundraising and marketing conference, you’ll be doing yourself and your nonprofit at large a huge favor.
Still hesitant? Think about how learning better strategies than the ones you’re currently using at your nonprofit could ultimately benefit those you are serving.
Stop thinking about it, and just do it! Register today for a nonprofit conference that’s sure to change your perspective.
Donorbox is an all-in-one fundraising solution for nonprofits and individuals alike with advanced technology features such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer fundraising, text-to-give, membership campaigns, event registration, and more. Know more about us here.
Feel free to check out our nonprofit-blog for fundraising tips and resources.