2025 Nonprofit Conferences That Deserve Spots on Your Calendar

By Amanda L. Cole

Though you could stay up to date on all the latest nonprofit tactics and technologies from behind your desk via NonProfit PRO’s e-newsletter, there’s nothing like education sessions and meeting your industry peers at nonprofit sector conferences across the country.

NonProfit PRO’s annual list of the must-attend nonprofit conferences returns. With domestic and foreign federal aid in limbo, now is the time to discover new fundraising streams and tactics to fill a budget gap or fund a new program. Then grab a drink of your choice and talk nonprofits with an industry peer at networking events while you’re there.

Here’s a look at what’s on the calendar for 2025. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium

March 12-14 | Washington, D.C.

The Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium — a conference from Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW) and The Nonprofit Alliance Foundation aimed toward seasoned nonprofit fundraising and marketing professionals with more than 10 years in the sector — is now in its third year. The event includes roundtables, keynotes, breakout sessions and networking opportunities.

Consider these sessions:

“Data & AI: How Nonprofits Are Already Leveraging AI and Machine Learning to Improve Fundraising Results”
“Audience Versus Channel: A New Paradigm for Structuring Your Fundraising Team”
“Beyond the Mailbox: Embracing New Channels to Combat the Challenging Acquisition Environment”

Last year, NonProfit PRO attended the Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium. Read our coverage on how to navigate the challenges of the Great Wealth Transfer and how corporate social responsibility is impacting the nonprofit sector.

P2P Professional Forum Conference

March 12-14 | Atlanta

P2P Professional Forum Conference is a three-day event that educates attendees on peer-to-peer fundraising best practices, as well as fresh strategies to modernize your nonprofit’s efforts via keynotes, panels and general sessions.

Consider these sessions:

“How to Leverage the $250 Billion Creator Economy for Your P2P Fundraising”
“Disaster-Proofing Your Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign”
“Launching a New P2P Program”

P2P Professional Forum will also release the “Peer-to-Peer Top 30 and Benchmarking Study.” Catch up on last year’s study, as well as our coverage on ways to motivate and recognize your peer-to-peer event fundraisers and tips for your next peer-to-peer fundraising event from the 2024 event.

Nonprofit Technology Conference

April 15-18 | Baltimore and virtual

Nonprofit professionals interested in making the world a better place through the skillful and equitable use of technology should attend NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference. Over the course of three days, attendees can take in keynotes, sessions, technology demonstrations and networking opportunities.

Consider these sessions:

“Actionable Insights: Creative Approaches to Collaborative Data Decision-making”
“Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Reimagining Your Re-engagement Series”
“How Social Fundraising Is Being Redefined by Younger, More Diverse Donors”

Here’s a look at our coverage of one of last year’s sessions that provided tactics to strengthen your email calls to action.

Engage for Good Conference

April 22-24 | Palm Springs, California

Engage for Good Conference facilitates collaborations between nonprofits and corporations to unlock social impact in sessions, keynotes and the Halo Awards.

Consider these sessions:

“Beyond the Moment: Turning Major Sports and Cultural Events Into Lasting Community Impact”
“Beyond the Spin Cycle: How Whirlpool Foundation and The Washing Machine Project Built a Mutually Beneficial Relationship”
“Transforming Corporate Volunteering: Creating Meaningful Partnerships That Drive Real Impact”

AFP ICON

April 27-29 | Seattle

The Association of Fundraising Professionals welcomes more than 3,000 fundraising professionals to its AFP ICON event annually. Attend sessions, visit sponsors at the AFP Exchange exhibit, meet peers at networking activities and more.

Consider these sessions:

“How to Ensure Donor Retention Success”
“You Can Have It All: Innovative Ways to Fundraise from Individuals and Institutions”
“How to Launch a Successful Monthly Giving Program in a Small Nonprofit”

Catch up on our AFP ICON 2024 coverage, which included steps to improve your grant management process, who could be your next major gift prospect and tactics to elevate your fundraising.

Collaborative by Classy

May 14-15 | Chicago

The Collaborative by Classy conference showcases fresh strategies via keynotes and sessions in a fun space.

The agenda for this year hasn’t been released yet, but the technology provider has confirmed speakers from BackBlack, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Movember and more.

Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference

July 30-Aug. 1 | Oxon Hill, Maryland

Celebrating its 20th year, the 2025 Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference includes keynotes, sessions, networking events and the Solutions Showcase exhibit hall. DMAW and AFP-DC host the event, which has the theme “Ignited by Purpose” this year.

Consider these sessions:

“Recipe for Success: Using a Digital Cookbook to Serve Up Leads and Boost Donor Conversion”
“Grow Your Gains: Keys to Retaining a Typical One-and-Done Donor”
“Winning Donor Hearts With Smart Segmentation and Storytelling”

For the third year, the event will also have two preconferences.

BridgeTECH, co-presented by NonProfitPRO, covers the importance of technology in a nonprofit’s day-to-day work with keynotes and sessions on July 30. Learn about the technology itself, along with strategies on everything from artificial intelligence to donor databases.
Faith and Fundraising Forum, co-presented by The Nonprofit Alliance, assists faith-based fundraisers in addressing their unique challenges on July 30.

Find our coverage of the BridgeTECH and Bridge conferences in 2024 here.

Raise Conference

Sept. 8-9 | San Antonio

The Raise Conference from OneCause focuses on event fundraising with sessions covering donor engagement, auctions, storytelling, leadership and more. Learn more about this year’s event when it becomes available.

Leadership Summit

Sept. 8-10 | St. Petersburg, Florida

The Nonprofit Alliance’s Leadership Summit builds connections between attendees via networking as opposed to traditional sessions. Though specifics of the event haven’t been released yet, registration is expected to open in May.

Fundraising Conference

Sept. 15-17 | Atlanta

The African American Development Officers Network (AADO) presents its second Annual Fundraising Conference. Check back for when the organization, which counts 3,500 fundraising professionals of color as members, releases its full agenda.

Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization Summit

Sept. 30-Oct. 2 | Kansas City, Missouri

NextAfter’s Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization Summit never disappoints with its theme. For 2025, it’s “Fundraising to the Future.” Though the agenda isn’t available, this event includes numerous educational sessions and sponsor booth spaces typically tied to the theme. The event also has its fair share of networking parties and prizes.

National Summit

Oct. 27-29 | Atlanta

Featuring keynotes, panels, workshops, training sessions and an exhibit hall, the National Summit 2025 from The Independent Sector aims to impact the nonprofit space. The agenda is not yet available, but registration is expected to open soon. If you’re interested in speaking, submit your session proposals by March 31.

Grant Summit

Oct. 29-Nov. 1 | Baltimore and virtual

The Grant Summit from the Grant Professionals Association brings together more than 1,200 grant professionals to share strategies for grant success. Come back to learn more information as it becomes available.

CEP 2025

Nov. 3-5 | Los Angeles

Held every other year, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s CEP2025 brings together senior foundation leaders, program officers, trustees, philanthropic advisors, and major donors to discuss philanthropy’s most pressing issues. Check back for more information as the event nears.

Cause Camp

Nov. 4-5 | Pittsburgh and virtual

Nonprofit Hub’s Cause Camp features sessions, workshops and an exhibit hall. More details about the two-day conference will be added when available.

Nonprofit Storytelling Conference

Nov. 13-15 | San Diego

Reliant Studios’ Nonprofit Storytelling Conference holds sessions and workshops to display the power of storytelling in these categories: fundraising, leadership and communications. More to come once the agenda is released.

NonProfit POWER

Dec. 1-3 | Baltimore

NonProfit POWER, hosted by NonProfit PRO, is a free, all-inclusive event for qualified senior executives at midsize and large nonprofits. Let us know if you’re interested in attending by filling out the NonProfit POWER qualification form.

Planning for 2025 is still in the works, so check out the NonProfit POWER 2024 agenda and our coverage from last year’s conference as well:

Susan Scott, president and CEO of Public Television Major Market Group, opened last year’s event with a keynote that included tips on how to make major gifts fundraising more fun and raise more money.
The event is packed with impactful strategies for attendees to take in and take back to their teams. Here are four of those insights we compiled from 2024’s event.
Keynote speaker Erik Daubert, nonprofit management specialist at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, shared ideas for your fundraising strategy.

Editor’s Note: Have a nonprofit sector conference you think is worthy of this list? Email suggestions to acole@napco.com to be considered for next year's list.