Top 21 Fundraising Conferences to Attend in 2026
By: Mike Esposito, CFRE and Erik Tomalis
Whether you're leading development, working in a small shop, or consulting with nonprofits, conferences are one of the most effective ways to grow your fundraising knowledge, expand your network, and stay current with sector trends. But there are so many conferences every year! To help you pick the best ones for your needs, your schedule, and your budget , we have created this vetted, easy-to-skim guide to 22 top fundraising conferences in 2026. We hope to see you at some of them.
Note: The conferences listed below are not ranked. Each one offers unique value depending on your role, goals, and organizational needs. Ticket prices are subject to change.
Fundraising Day in New York (FRDNY) 2026 – New York, New York
The Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference 2026 – National Harbor, Maryland
AFP ICON 2026 – San Diego, California
AFP LEAD 2026 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference 2026 – Tucson, Arizona
Leading Philanthropy 2026 – Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
CASE Major Gifts Strategies Conference 2026 – Seattle, Washington
Cause Camp 2026 – Chicago, Illinois
Engage for Good Conference 2026 – Palm Springs, California
Build Good Summit 2026 – Toronto, Canada
Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) 2026 – Detroit, Michigan
Fundraising.AI Global Summit 2026 – Virtual
Planet Philanthropy Conference 2026 – Port Charlotte, Florida
Nonprofit Collaborative Conference 2026 – Chicago, Illinois
Virginia Fund Raising Institute (VFRI) 2026 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Grant Professionals Association – Grant Summit 2026 – San Antonio, Texas
NIO Summit 2026 – Fort Worth, Texas
Respond User Summit 2026 – Dallas, Texas
Nonprofit Marketing Summit: Evolve 2026 – Virtual
ADRP International Conference 2026 – Reno, Nevada
AASP Summit 2026 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Main Ballroom of AFP-NYC’s Fundraising Day New York Conference in 2025
1. Fundraising Day in New York (FRDNY)
Hosted By: Association of Fundraising Professionals New York City Chapter (AFP NYC)
Date(s): Friday, June 12, 2026
Location: New York, New York (Midtown)
Price: $475
History: Founded in 1960, Fundraising Day in New York is the largest one-day conference on philanthropy, in the country, bringing fundraisers together from across the East Coast and engaging them with content tailored to fundraisers at all levels.
Size/Scope: 1,100-1,200 attendees
Why Go: Fundraising Day NY always delivers elite speakers, premium educational sessions, flash coaching, great networking, and a fun happy hour to end the day.
2. The Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference
Hosted By: Association of Fundraising Professionals Washington, DC Metro Area Chapter (AFP DC) and Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW)
Date(s): Wednesday, July 29 – Friday, July 31, 2026
Location: National Harbor, Maryland
Price: $625
History: Launched in 2005, the Bridge conference quickly became the premier gathering for digital fundraising and direct response professionals, celebrated for its data-driven content and massive expo hall.
Size/Scope: 1,800+ attendees
Why Go: Bridge consistently has an incredible vendor expo, cutting-edge testing insights, and strong agency participation from up and down the East Coast.
3. AFP ICON
Hosted By: Association of Fundraising Professionals Global
Date(s): Sunday, April 26 – Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Location: San Diego, California
Price: $1,699
History: Dating back to 1960, AFP ICON is AFP’s flagship global conference and is recognized as the longest-running and largest professional convening for fundraisers worldwide.
Size/Scope: 3,000-4,000 attendees
Why Go: ICON offers a massive education program, global perspectives, and the biggest networking conference of the year (also known as the Nonprofit Nerd Summer Camp).
4. AFP LEAD
Hosted By: Association of Fundraising Professionals Global
Date(s): Thursday, October 22- Saturday, October 24, 2026
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Price: $699
History: Introduced in 2013, AFP LEAD was created to strengthen the management and leadership pipeline in the fundraising profession and is known for its highly interactive, talent-development focus.
Size/Scope: 500-600 attendees
Why Go: It’s a highly effective conference for developing management, team leadership, and strategic decision-making skills for mid- to senior-level fundraising professionals.
5. Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
Hosted By: Nonprofit Storytelling Pro
Date(s): Monday, October 26-Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Price: $895
History: Created in 2014, the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference has become the leading convening on donor communications and stewardship.
Size/Scope: 500 attendees
Why Go: This conference provides highly actionable training in storytelling, donor communications, and stewardship that can greatly strengthen donor engagement and retention.
6. Leading Philanthropy Conference
Hosted By: AFP Greater Philadelphia AFP chapters of Greater Philadelphia, New Jersey (Southern NJ), Brandywine, and Berks County, and partners like the Foundation for Delaware County.
Date(s): Thursday, September 3, 2026
Location: Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Price: $229
History: Established over a decade ago, Leading Philanthropy is AFP Greater Philadelphia’s signature annual conference, recognized for its regional depth and its blend of major gifts, stewardship, and sector trends.
Size/Scope: 500-600 attendees
Why Go: The conference delivers deep, regionally informed fundraising insights and brings together philanthropic leaders from across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and beyond for meaningful peer learning.
7. CASE Major Gifts Strategies Conference
Hosted By: Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Date(s): Monday, April 20 - Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Price: $1,235
History: Rooted in the CASE conference’s long tradition of advancement education, this conference has evolved into a go-to training for higher-ed major gift officers, known for its research-based curriculum and seasoned faculty.
Size/Scope: 500 attendees
Why Go: It’s a must for advancement professionals looking to strengthen their donor strategy, portfolio management skills, and major gift cultivation techniques with proven, research-backed tools.
8. Cause Camp
Hosted By: Nonprofit Hub
Date(s): November 2026, Date- TBD
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Price: $385
History: First launched in 2002, Cause Camp has earned a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking nonprofit conferences, known for its engaging speakers, hands-on workshops, and approachable style.
Size/Scope: 500 attendees
Why Go: Cause Camp is known for high energy, big inspiration, and great educational content for fundraising and marketing, operational leadership, and faith-based organizations.
9. Engage for Good Conference
Hosted By: Engage for Good
Date(s): Tuesday, April 21- Friday, April 24, 2026
Location: Palm Springs, California
Price: $1,895
History: Founded in 2003, the Engage for Good Conference (formerly Cause Marketing Forum), is known for defining the standards of corporate–nonprofit partnerships and spotlighting best-in-class social impact collaborations.
Size/Scope: 750 attendees
Why Go: Great opportunity to learn more about corporate–nonprofit partnerships and learning how brands and nonprofits collaborate to drive measurable social impact.
10. Build Good Summit
Hosted By: BuildGood
Date(s): Wednesday, May 13- Thursday, May 14, 2026
Location: Toronto, Canada
Price: $700
History: Launched in 2017, the Build Good Summit has quickly become a favorite among fundraisers seeking deep donor-psychology insights and practical frameworks rooted in behavioral science.
Size/Scope: 400-600 attendees
Why Go: The Summit offers rare depth in donor psychology and behavior. This gives fundraisers practical tools to design stronger campaigns, appeals, and stewardship experiences.
11. Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC)
Hosted By: NTEN (the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network)
Date(s): Tuesday, March 10–Friday, March 13, 2026
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Price: $575
History: Hosted by NTEN since 2000, the Nonprofit Technology Conference has become the leading annual convening for nonprofit technology, digital strategy, and data ethics.
Size/Scope: 1,000+ attendees
Why Go: Learn how to use technology, digital tools, and responsible data practices to strengthen fundraising, communications, and organizational impact.
12. Fundraising.AI Global Summit
Hosted By: Fundraising.AI
Date(s): September 2026, Date- TBD
Location: Virtual
Price: Free
History: Launched in 2023, the Fundraising.AI Global Summit quickly emerged as a central gathering for exploring ethical, effective, and human-centered AI use in fundraising.
Size/Scope: 5,000+ attendees
Why Go: You’ll gain practical insights into AI tools, data governance, automation, and emerging tech trends that will shape the future of nonprofit fundraising.
13. Planet Philanthropy Conference
Hosted By: The AFP Florida Caucus, bringing together various AFP chapters (Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Pensacola)
Date(s): Monday, June 15 - Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Location: Port Charlotte, Florida
Price: $450
History: As AFP Florida’s statewide conference for over two decades, Planet Philanthropy has grown into one of the largest regional fundraising conferences in the country.
Size/Scope: 750- 1,000 attendees
Why Go: It offers high-quality CFRE-level education, strong major gifts and annual giving tracks, and exceptional networking among fundraisers across Florida.
14. Collaborative Nonprofit Conference
Hosted By: GoFundMe Pro
Date(s): Wednesday, May 6 - Thursday, May 7, 2026
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Price: $349
History: Founded in 2011 as the Classy Collaborative, the Collaborative Nonprofit Conference has become a cornerstone event for social impact organizations focused on peer-to-peer fundraising, digital engagement, and community-driven philanthropy.
Size/Scope: 700-800 attendees
Why Go: Learn cutting-edge digital fundraising strategies, hear real case studies from high-performing nonprofits, and explore tools that strengthen online giving and donor engagement.
15. Virginia Fund Raising Institute (VFRI) Conference
Hosted By: The AFP Virginia Caucus, including First Virginia (Roanoke), Central (Richmond), Hampton Roads (Norfolk), Piedmont (Lynchburg), Shenandoah (Harrisonburg), and Tri-State (Winchester).
Date(s): Wednesday, July 22- Friday, July 24, 2026
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Price: $300
History: Hosted by AFP chapters across Virginia for over 25 years, VFRI has become a staple training conference for practical fundraising skills and professional community-building.
Size/Scope: 300-400 attendees
Why Go: It provides approachable, high-quality sessions across fundraising disciplines and brings together fundraisers from across the region.
16. Grant Summit 2026
Hosted By: Grant Professionals Association
Date(s): Wednesday, November 4- Saturday, November 7, 2026
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Price: $840
History: Established in 1998, the GPA Grant Summit has become the leading annual gathering for grant writers and grant strategy professionals across all nonprofit sectors.
Size/Scope: 1,000 attendees
Why Go: Gain practical tools for prospecting, writing, evaluation, and compliance while connecting with funders and peers who specialize in securing institutional support.
17. NIO Summit 2026
Hosted By: NextAfter
Date(s): Tuesday, September 22- Thursday, September 24, 2026
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Price: $795
History: Created in 2016 by NextAfter, the NIO Summit quickly built a reputation for bringing rigorous testing, experimentation, and data science into the fundraising and digital optimization space.
Size/Scope: 1,200 attendees
Why Go: It’s the premier event for fundraisers who want to learn cutting-edge tactics for improving online giving, donor conversion, and digital donor journeys through real A/B-tested insights.
18. Respond User Summit 2026
Hosted By: Virtuous
Date(s): Wednesday, May 27- Friday, May 29, 2026
Location: Dallas, Texas
Price: $799
History: Launched by Virtuous in the early 2020s, the Respond User Summit has grown rapidly as a convening focused on donor-centric technology, personalization, and responsive fundraising.
Size/Scope: 1,000 attendees
Why Go: It offers great sessions on using CRM data, segmentation, and automation to build stronger donor relationships and improve retention.
19. Nonprofit Marketing Summit: Evolve 2026
Hosted By: Community Boost
Date(s): Date-TBD
Location: Virtual
Price: Free
History: Introduced in 2020, the Nonprofit Marketing Summit has become one of the largest free virtual conferences for nonprofit marketers worldwide.
Size/Scope: 2,500+ attendees
Why Go: You’ll access dozens of high-quality digital marketing, paid media, and branding sessions without travel costs, making it ideal for teams seeking practical, scalable marketing strategies.
20. ADRP International Conference 2026
Hosted By: Association of Donor Relations Professionals
Date(s): Tuesday, September 15- Friday, September 18, 2026
Location: Reno, Nevada
Price: $200
History: Since its founding in 2004, ADRP’s International Conference has been a core event for professionals focused on donor relations, stewardship, and donor experience.
Size/Scope: 500-800 attendees
Why Go: This conference offers attendees the opportunity to deepen stewardship practices, learn emerging trends in donor communications, and connect with peers who specialize in building long-term donor loyalty.
21. AASP Summit 2026
Hosted By: Association of Advancement Services Professionals
Date(s): Tuesday, September 22- Friday, September 25, 2026
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Price: $575
History: Launched in 2007, the AASP Summit has become the core annual conference for advancement services professionals, known for elevating data, analytics, and operational excellence in fundraising.
Size/Scope: 600-900 attendees
Why Go: It’s great for teams that want to strengthen their data infrastructure, improve reporting, and build the operational backbone needed for sustainable fundraising growth.
Mike Esposito, CFRE and Erik Tomalis at AFP ICON 2024 in Toronto, Canada.
About the Authors:
Mike is the Founder and Lead Fundraising Strategist of Mike Esposito Fundraising, a consultancy that helps social service and community focused nonprofits grow individual giving and build sustainable donor revenue. A CFRE-certified strategist and coach, Mike partners with executive directors and fundraising leads to strengthen stewardship, clarify donor strategy, and create systems that make donor engagement consistent and manageable. His work includes individual giving strategy, donor communications, stewardship, portfolio development, and board coaching, helping nonprofits build practical fundraising programs that last.
In his role as Chief Revenue Officer at Avid (the first-ever Fundraising Operating System), Erik leads the company’s growth strategy, helping nonprofits turn disconnected donor data into actionable insights that accelerate generosity. With more than 20 years of fundraising experience—and over 4,000 donor meetings—Erik has raised millions across healthcare, education, human services, and youth-serving organizations.
Widely recognized as an active voice in the nonprofit sector, Erik speaks frequently at conferences and serves as a thought leader on fundraising, donor experience, and the evolving role of technology & AI in philanthropy, earning him the good-natured reputation as the “Mayor of the Nonprofit Community.”