This week is the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ International Conference (aka AFP-ICON). I’ve attended this conference every year for over a decade, in addition to speaking nearly every year.
While many of us (loyal attendees) had hoped this year’s conference would be in-person, it is fully virtual for a second year due to the pandemic.
Is AFP ICON Worth Attending?
Normally, this conference is a highlight of my professional year. However, I’ve been dreading this week due to Zoom fatigue and being webinared (is that a word?) out.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t plan on attending many (or any) sessions this year. Amazingly, the exact opposite has happened. The virtual format with on-demand sessions has made attending sessions easier than ever, because I can “attend” sessions after the fact, at my convenience.
Not only that, I can pause and play with ease. I can step into the (virtual) hall mid-session and pick up exactly where I left off. I can watch a session in my PJ’s at midnight, or while eating dinner, or folding laundry, or on my back deck… all while petting the dog!
The platform used by AFP is the best virtual platform I’ve been on this year (and I’ve been on plenty as a speaker and as an attendee). As a result, I’ve attended even more sessions than I would if I had been attending in person (many more).
So, I’m sending my kudos to AFP and the entire planning team. This is a shining example of taking something great and making it even better.
Key Takeaways from AFP ICON 2021
Here are my key takeaways from the conference so far:
Major Gift Trends
Donor demographics are changing:
- The role of women is growing.
- A new generation is getting ready to receive the transfer of wealth (from the boomers).
- High-net-worth donors of color are a growing community of philanthropists.
It’s critical to develop plans to cultivate and engage these increasingly important groups of current and future donors. Spend serious time determining how you communicate, both in terms of platforms and verbiage.
Not only that, fundraisers need to embrace innovative cultivation and stewardship tactics, because:
- 50% of volunteers give more because they volunteer.
- Engaged high net worth donors give 3.5 times bigger gifts.
- Average giving increases when high net worth donors’ professional expertise is utilized.
Fundraising Data You Can Use
Fundraising Effectiveness Project is an in-depth look at fundraising data and compares it with last year’s numbers, supported by some of the biggest CRM’s in our sector.
No surprise, there is good news and bad news in this year’s numbers. While overall giving and numbers of donors increased over the last 15 months, it wasn’t spread evenly over all organizations.
Of course, it’s not really a surprise that donor acquisition was up in 2020 due to the pandemic. And the good news is that donor retention is up for the first time in many years in the early 2021 numbers. (That means nonprofits are keeping the new donors they gained in 2020.) Therefore, it’s critical that you use all the data and resources available to shore up the fundraising at your organization.
You can take the Fundraising Fitness Test. It’s a free tool available to all nonprofits which compares your organization to national data.
The Rise of Virtual, Equitable Meetings
Renee Rubin Ross spoke on creating better meetings. She suggested creating a “brave space, rather than a safe space” for people to talk about DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) issues.
She encouraged white attendees to ask themselves two key questions:
- How comfortable am I talking about race?
- What can I do to get more comfortable integrating discussions about DEI into all meetings?
During virtual (and in-person) meetings, it’s important to plan for different participation styles. One person might prefer to get right down to business while another might prefer more ice-breakers to feel comfortable speaking up.
Setting a clear agenda and having a plan is key to your discussions. Determine what decisions must be made during the meeting in advance.
A Final Takeaway: Virtual Solicitation Works
The biggest new trend in major gift fundraising is that virtual solicitation works. It’s a new tool in our toolbox as fundraisers. I’ve seen it work, first hand, through my work at the Capital Campaign Toolkit and with Mastering Major Gifts.
Zoom calls with clients and donors are here to stay. Moving forward, we will adopt a hybrid model (in-person and virtual) model of solicitation.
PRO-TIP — Learn how to raise major gifts from donors in virtual and in-person meetings through the Mastering Major Gifts program. You’ll gain the support of experts and colleagues to learn from, collaborate, and celebrate with.
In-Person or Hybrid?
Good news for you — if you haven’t registered for the AFP-ICON, it’s not too late (as far as I know). Register today and get all the sessions on any device at any time.
Will I attend AFP ICON next year? You betcha! And I hope to see you there. 🙂
While this year’s virtual conference has been fantastic, I am hoping for a hybrid model next year. That way we’ll get the best of in-person sessions and virtual sessions. What’s your preference — in-person, virtual, or hybrid? Let me know in the comments.
I have been able to participate in more expensive conferences this year because they were virtual. The AFP and other conferences in the US are so costly in time, travel, and accommodation, on top of registration. I attended one AFP conference in person but found it seemed to be based mostly on the idea of “teaching as telling”. I would more likely attend a conference in person in future that had a workshop model of teaching, where I could try and test things I am learning and get feedback right away on how I am doing. By the way, at that one AFP conference I attended, I went to your workshop on Major Gifts for Small Shops and have been using your very clear model ever since! So it was a good investment for that alone.
Wow – thanks, Lori!
Thanks for sharing takeaways on my session! There is so much we can do to hear more voices in meetings, share power and build a sense of belonging.
Thank you for these key takeaways, Amy. Maybe one of these years I’ll be able to attend, when I can afford it and it’s not scheduled at the same time as fiscal year-end.
Dawn – It’s not usually at year-end… it was postponed because of Covid this year. Next year it’s in May and then back to April as usual. You can check the schedule a few years in advance and see if/when it’s in a city closer to you, which generally makes it more affordable.
I greatly enjoyed my first AFP ICON.
Nice to virtually see you at the AFP PAC zoom.
I would prefer hybrid because online is both less expensive and more accessible.
I submitted a session abstract for 2022 – so cross your fingers for me.