Let’s face it: conferences are one of the few opportunities we have as nonprofit professionals to truly connect and learn together. If you’re looking for amazing conferences to attend in 2025, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll walk you through ten conferences that will help you grow as a fundraiser and as a person – with lots of community-building along the way.
If you’ve never attended a nonprofit conference before, you may be wondering if they’re truly worth the time, money, and effort to attend. The short answer: it depends.
The best nonprofit conferences provide ample opportunity for you to connect with fellow fundraisers and nonprofit administrators while learning cutting-edge strategies to grow your organization and fuel up your mission. Those are the conferences worth attending – the ones you truly can’t afford to miss.
Read on to discover ten nonprofit conferences you should put on your calendar for 2025 and what makes them stand out from the crowd. Plus, we’ll share five ways to get the most out of whichever conference you choose to attend!
Date: January 31, 2025
Location: New York, New York
Overview:
Join Donorbox’s action-packed Fundraising Forward summit and connect with over 100 nonprofit professionals and industry experts. Enjoy sessions about doubling your donors, standing out from the crowd, authenticity in fundraising, and more. Plus, Donorbox product experts will be there to answer any questions you have about Donorbox’s suite of fundraising tools.
Pricing: Purchase holiday discount tickets for $59 until December 31, 2024. After that, tickets are $130.
What Stands Out:
Donorbox’s summit has a heavy focus on networking and coming together as a community of fundraisers to find real, actionable solutions to common challenges. The expert speakers offer years of wisdom and hard-earned lessons to help you fundraise smarter in 2025.
The one-day agenda means you get a ton of value without spending too much on lodging if you’re coming from out of town.
Applications are open! Apply today to secure your spot.
Apply to the Fundraising Forward Summit
Date: March 4-6, 2025
Location: Virtual
Overview:
The Nonprofit Marketing Summit, themed “Evolve” this year, is all about helping nonprofit organizations embrace the digital age with strategies and tactics to help them succeed. While they haven’t announced the speakers for this year yet, in 2024 they had some expert changemakers and even some celebrities. Learn how to market your mission better and take your fundraising into the technology-forward future.
Pricing:
Access to the live virtual event is free. For access to more sessions, club membership, notes, and more perks, you can purchase an Experience+ Pass. These passes are available for $97 through December 31, 2024; the full price is $497.
What Stands Out:
We love that this conference has a focus on bringing nonprofits into the digital age with marketing know-how. Plus, a free, virtual conference is easy to attend – all you have to do is clear your calendar and get ready to learn! Whether you end up learning one important thing or twenty, this nonprofit conference isn’t a huge investment and is worth checking out.
Date: March 25–27, 2025
Location: Bellevue, Washington and Virtual
Overview:
Microsoft’s Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit in 2025 is focusing on one very hot topic for fundraisers: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Learn the best way to incorporate this technology into your fundraising from AI and industry experts. Sharpen your skills with deep dives into Microsoft’s AI offerings and see some real case studies of nonprofits succeeding with AI.
Pricing: Free for both in-person and virtual attendees.
What Stands Out:
This conference has a narrow focus: how AI can help nonprofits grow. If your organization is looking to become better acquainted with AI tools and create a responsible, actionable strategy, this free conference can help you learn more and get started.
Date: April 27–29, 2025
Location: Seattle, Washington
Overview:
Referred to as simply AFP ICON, this is one of the largest nonprofit conferences in the world, attracting thousands of nonprofit professionals for three days of learning, connecting, and growing. Enjoy executive coaching, breakout sessions for personalized learning, and plenty of time for networking. Session topics range from creating billion-dollar donor relationships to getting your board ready for your next capital campaign.
Pricing:
Pricing depends on your membership level with AFP and when you purchase your ticket, but ranges from $599 for collegiate members to $3,299 for non-members purchasing on-site.
What Stands Out:
Although this is a pricey conference, there is a ton of professional development value associated with your ticket. Conference sessions are hosted by industry-leading experts with built-in time for more focused coaching and support. Network with nonprofit professionals from all over the world and learn how they’re tackling 2025 fundraising. However, some attendees may feel lost in the crowd, so be sure you’re ready to be a small fish in a big pond.
Date: April 16–18, 2025
Location: Baltimore, Maryland and Virtual
Overview:
NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference, often referred to as NTC, is a national gathering of nonprofit professionals, fundraisers, and tech aficionados where the focus is all about technology. More specifically, how to use it equitably and to your advantage. This year, the conference boasts 141 sessions, inspiring keynote speakers, and plenty of networking opportunities. Or you can choose to attend virtually and access 24 sessions with some access to networking opportunities.
Pricing:
Pricing for NTC depends on when you purchase your ticket and whether you plan to attend online or in person. You also get a discounted rate as a member.
In-person pricing:
Virtual pricing:
What Stands Out:
This conference’s focus on technology means it’s a great place for nonprofit organizations looking to up their fundraising game. However, if you’re a smaller organization, you might get overwhelmed with information and options. This conference is best for mid-sized to large organizations with a clear goal for how they want to use technology in their fundraising – with open minds to learn and explore other options, too.
Date: April 22-24, 2025
Location: Palm Springs, California
Overview:
The Engage for Good Conference is all about bringing nonprofit professionals, leaders, and business executives together to form lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships. Sessions will explore emerging trends in corporate social responsibility, fundraising tactics, and more. Plus, enjoy networking opportunities that regularly lead to new partnerships and strengthened collaborations.
Pricing:
Pricing depends on which type of experience you wish to purchase and whether you’re a member of Engage for Good or not.
Early bird pricing is available.
What Stands Out:
We love that this nonprofit conference focuses on something many nonprofit leaders struggle with: forming genuinely helpful partnerships with corporations. This conference is also on the expensive side, but could be a worthwhile investment for organizations looking to forge stronger relationships with corporate social responsibility executives.
Date: June 3-6, 2025
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Overview:
This conference brings together changemakers from nonprofits, NGOs, government agencies, corporations, and beyond to strengthen their bonds and create lasting social change. Named after George H.W. Bush’s famous quote, Points of Light’s conference has a focus on how volunteerism can change the world. Attend sessions led by experts in the field and forge lasting, international partnerships.
Pricing:
Pricing for this conference depends on when you purchase your ticket. It also varies depending on your status as one of the following:
Pricing ranges from $525 to $950.
What Stands Out:
Points of Light has a strong reputation for promoting volunteerism and connecting nonprofits with the support they need to keep doing their important work. This affordable conference provides ample opportunity to learn, network, and grow with like-minded changemakers from all over the world.
Date: September 30 – October 2, 2025
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Overview:
The Nonprofit Innovation and Optimization Summit (NIO) 2025 is themed “Fundraising to the Future.” This annual event promises to offer expert fundraising guidance, donor psychology insights, strategy, and more. This conference boasts being the most entertaining in the nonprofit sector, too, with skits, games, music, and more to both educate and entertain you. Plus, enjoy time to network and unwind with colleagues at not one, but two parties.
Pricing:
General admission is $1,495, with discounts available for early purchase.
What Stands Out:
This conference sounds like a good time! Join for a high-energy approach to learning and professional development. You’ll learn from industry experts while having fun – what’s not to like?
Date: October 29 – November 1, 2025
Location: Baltimore, Maryland and Virtual
Overview:
The Grant Professionals Association’s annual conference is a time for grant writers and other grant professionals to come together and share strategies, network, and grow. There are sessions designed for pros and early-career professionals so you can find your best fit.
Pricing:
Pricing for the 2025 conference hasn’t been released yet. Looking at pricing for the 2024 conference, the total cost will depend on your membership status and when you purchase your ticket. Pricing for 2024 ranged from $550 to $1,180.
What Stands Out:
We love that this conference shows some love to highly valued grant professionals who may not get a chance to connect with their peers very often. Grants are such a crucial part of a fiscally healthy organization, and the opportunity to share strategies for more grant success could be an important investment for your organization.
Date: November 13-15, 2025
Location: San Diego, California and Virtual
Overview:
Storytelling is everything in fundraising these days, and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference is designed to help you tell more compelling and responsible stories to engage donors. The schedule includes everything from yoga to targeted sessions to help you get more donors. Along the way, you’ll learn storytelling techniques from some of the nonprofit sector’s finest storytellers.
Pricing:
The Nonprofit Storytelling Conference offers three pricing options:
Early bird pricing ends December 6, 2024, so don’t miss out on significant savings!
What Stands Out:
If your organization has struggled with telling compelling stories that drive donations, focusing on storytelling might be a great investment for you. However, this conference is on the pricier side if you miss out on early bird pricing, so you’ll need to determine if such an investment is worthwhile for your organization.
Alright – you’ve made the investment to attend your first fundraising conference. Here’s how to optimize your experience to learn, grow, and connect as much as possible.
Networking is more than just getting your name out there. It’s building a web of connections with other nonprofit professionals that you can rely on to share your successes and work through any challenges.
Networking at conferences is all about attendance. The more people see your face, the more familiar you’ll become. Don’t be afraid to go up and introduce yourself to people. Did you attend a particularly inspiring session? Try to connect with the speaker afterward and share your thoughts or additional questions. Notice a nonprofit with a similar mission is also in attendance? Set aside time to grab a coffee and talk shop. Is there a corporate philanthropy professional you’ve always wanted to meet? Now is your reason to do so.
Virtual conferences can be great for networking, too. Comment in any threads or channels and interact digitally with your fellow nonprofit industry leaders. Follow up on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and steward the relationship.
Chances are you won’t have the budget to send your whole team to a fundraising conference. That’s why it’s so important to stay engaged during sessions and take notes that will help you convey your takeaways to the rest of your team – especially leadership.
Leaders in your organization, like board members, directors, and volunteers, can sometimes be hard to change. If there’s a new strategy you’re fired up about, share it! Use your notes to create a compelling case for trying something new.
You paid for them – why not attend them? Breakout sessions provide a unique opportunity to connect with your fellow nonprofit industry leaders and movers on a more personal level. Often they provide personalized attention from experts leading the session, meaning you can get your specific questions answered. Plus, they allow you to learn from other fundraising professionals in your field – from their failures, successes, and journeys.
If you come into a conference session thinking you have nothing to learn…why are you here? One of the most important ways to get the most out of a fundraising conference is to be open to the possibility that you may not know as much as you think you do. Every nonprofit organization has room to grow in their fund development department – and every fundraiser can sharpen their skills.
While you may not have a lightbulb moment in every session you attend and with every nonprofit leader you encounter, you never know what might inspire you or introduce an exciting new way to fundraise.
Chances are you’ll need to prove to your board members and other leaders that the cost of attending the conference was ultimately worth it. To do this, come up with a concrete plan to implement what you’ve learned and share it with your nonprofit organization. This can be a major change, like rethinking your year-end campaign, or something smaller like updating your donor onboarding series. Whatever the case may be, take what you learn and apply it to ensure you and your organization have gotten the most out of your investment.
Nonprofit conferences can be a powerful investment in yourself and your staff. The conferences shared above offer unique opportunities to hear from experts in the field and create lasting relationships with other fundraising professionals and corporate partners. If you have the budget, you really can’t afford to miss out on your chance to level up your fundraising and nonprofit management.
Once you’re there, use our tips to ensure you get the most out of your experience. And most importantly, have fun! Nonprofit conferences can be the highlight of a fundraiser’s year.
Donorbox’s Fundraising Forward Summit is an affordable one-day conference that will be packed with actionable learnings to help you raise more in 2025. Apply today to secure your spot – you won’t want to miss it!
Lindsey spent years wearing many hats in the nonprofit world. Whether she was helping arts nonprofits with their messaging and content, planning a fundraising gala, writing an NEA grant proposal, or running a membership program with over 400 members, she learned how to navigate – and appreciate! – the fast-paced world of fundraising. Now, she loves sharing those hard-earned lessons with the Donorbox community.
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Lindsey Baker Bower