Agenda
Explore 160+ sessions on the 25NTC agenda. There's sure to be something for everyone!
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Equity
Fundraising and development
Operations and IT
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Sponsored
= In Person
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All times are in Baltimore local time (U.S. Eastern Time).
Wednesday
Wednesday10:15 am - 11:15 am ET
Operations and IT
Sessions
A little more privacy, please: Diving into data privacy for nonprofits
60-minute session
320 & 323
In today’s digital age, data privacy is not just a legal requirement but an essential part of maintaining trust with your donors, clients, and staff. With ever-evolving regulations, nonprofits must stay ahead of the curve to ensure the protection of sensitive data while aligning with ethical standards. This session will provide an in-depth look into the latest data privacy laws, how they specifically impact nonprofit organizations, and the practical steps you can take to safeguard your data.This interactive session will guide participants through the complexities of data privacy, offering practical advice on implementing a compliant and effective data management strategy. You'll learn how to assess your organization's risk areas and adopt cybersecurity measures that integrate seamlessly with your privacy goals.By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with the tools to navigate data privacy challenges with confidence, protect your nonprofit's reputation, and ensure compliance with current legislation.
PII in the Age of AI: Safeguarding Privacy in a Data-powered World
60-minute session
316
As technology evolves, so does our understanding of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This session will examine how AI and big data are transforming privacy risks by enabling the aggregation of data from public sources, data brokers, and other channels to create highly detailed personal profiles.These advanced capabilities mean that we must prepare for a rise in targeted communications that seem authentic because they contain more real information about us. Threat actors will leverage AI tools to generate messages that are not only convincing but also filled with accurate personal details, making it harder to identify them as fake.In this session, you will:
We've been hacked! An interactive incident response tabletop exercise workshop
60-minute session
319 & 322
It’s the call that anyone in tech leadership dreads - “We’ve been hacked”. But what happens next? In this session, you’ll step into the shoes of leadership, IT, communication, and other key roles to guide simulated incident response activities.Former NSA and CIA hackers as well as nonprofit IT leaders will guide your small group through a simulated cyber incident response tailored for nonprofit audiences.Come ready to engage, collaborate, and walk away with actionable takeaways that strengthen your incident response plan. This isn’t your typical cyber security presentation - it is a chance to stress-test your readiness in a safe, learning-focused environment.Are you prepared for your next cyber incident? Join us to find out!
Program and service delivery
Sessions
Cutting the cord: Understanding our dependence on surveillance capitalism
60-minute workshop
315
Why are social justice movement activists, who spend their days fighting corporate excesses and violence, increasingly using Big Tech technologies like Gmail, Google Docs and Zoom? Until alternative technology providers better understand the population that is ideologically aligned with social justice values and yet unable to transition to alternative and liberatory technology, these technologies will not become viable and sustainable. May First Movement Technology and Progressive Technology Project will present the results of our research project and survey of the movement asking 1) What are the barriers to alternative technology use? 2) What are the gaps in alternative technologies that need to be addressed before you would cut the cord with Big Tech? 3) How do you think about internet rights, a feminist internet and other aspects of controlling our own digital lives? We will then invite session participants to break into groups to answer these questions in the context of their own work, after which we will come back to the large group to consider information from both the research project and session participants to design solutions together.
How nonprofits are using open source technology to make an impact
60-minute session
314
Open source technology is crucial to ensuring nonprofits have access to reliable and innovative data tools to achieve impactful outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries where organizations often operate with limited resources. From OpenStreetMap to the Humanitarian Data Exchange, ODK, and KoboToolbox, open source technology is transforming the work of nonprofits worldwide. By providing access to high quality tools to collect data and generate insights more effectively, open source technology is reducing the digital divide and advancing data inclusivity. This session highlights how open source data technology is driving positive change by improving accessibility, inclusivity, and equity for nonprofits and the communities they serve. The session will feature open source technologies that are making vital contributions to social impact initiatives, sharing knowledge and resources, and collaborating to support nonprofits in their work. The session showcases how nonprofits across the globe are using open source tools for data-informed action with case studies from different sectors including human rights, humanitarian response, environmental protection, and development.
Right-sized project management for nonprofits
60-minute session
338
Nonprofits often juggle multiple projects with limited resources, making traditional project management methods feel cumbersome and overwhelming. But project management doesn’t need to be a complex, one-size-fits-all approach. In this session, we’ll explore the concept of "Minimum Viable Project Management" (MVPM), a tailored, right-sized framework that balances simplicity with structure, ensuring your nonprofit can manage projects efficiently without the burden of unnecessary complexity.MVPM focuses on the core essentials that drive successful projects, helping you stay agile, organized, and goal-oriented. We’ll cover practical strategies to streamline processes, assign clear roles, and monitor progress, all while keeping your team focused on what truly matters—the mission. Whether you’re running a small fundraising campaign or a large service program, this session will empower you to implement a project management approach that’s just the right size for your nonprofit.
Communications and marketing
Sessions
Empathy-driven impact: Harness human-centered design for nonprofit success
60-minute workshop
Virtual (Zoom)
Organizations often struggle to balance technology, resources, and mission-driven outcomes in ways that deeply resonate with their stakeholders. In this session, we’ll get hands-on with how a human-centered design module to transform your nonprofit's engagement strategies, driving connection in our messaging while staying true to the needs and values of those we serve. We will dive into practical frameworks and real-world case studies to highlight how empathy-driven, iterative design can increase impact, build stronger partnerships, and create inclusive, scalable programs.By the end of this session, you’ll have actionable strategies to put people—your constituents, community members, donors, and staff—at the center of your nonprofit’s design and decision-making processes, ensuring that your technology and communication strategies are more inclusive, impactful, and aligned with your organization’s mission.
Maximize your impact: A budget-savvy blueprint for marketing multiple programs
60-minute workshop
317
Is your organization struggling to promote multiple impactful services effectively and affordably? Join our interactive workshop featuring AARP Foundation's innovative approach to solving common challenges:Marketing diverse services cohesively on a limited budgetMaintaining brand consistency while addressing varied audience needsSecuring leadership buy-in for integrated marketing strategiesThis interactive workshop facilitated by AARP Foundation and its marketing agency will help you think through these big questions and walk away with a plug-and-play manual for holistically supporting your audience in a cost-effective way. We’ll pull back the curtain on how this leading, nationwide nonprofit revolutionized its approach, creating a highly efficient, cost-effective strategy that successfully delivered multiple offers to its target audience.Get ready to supercharge your multi-service marketing and propel your organization’s impact further than ever before.
One less thing to worry about in a crisis:Prep your emergency marketing plan now
60-minute workshop
341
Whether it’s responding to a hurricane affecting a local food bank or a legislature change that affects our human rights, every organization is familiar with working through emergencies. One of the most important factors when it comes to emergencies is being prepared — being proactive now, so that you can be reactive during a crisis. Join us for a concrete, actionable session on responding to emergencies with your digital marketing and fundraising.Attendees will learn how to prepare for potential emergencies, act quickly when an emergency strikes, and steward new contacts and donors who find them through an emergency. Digital marketing experts from BRAC, an international NGO, and the Purpose Collective, a boutique digital marketing agency, will share how they quickly responded amid a massive flood emergency in Bangladesh to gain traction with new donors, increase new donors, and steward and retain new donors. By the end of this session, attendees will come away with an emergency checklist for their organization to implement their plan.
Real Stories, Real Impact: The Role of UGC in Non-Profit Communications
60-minute session
340
In a world where authenticity is more important than ever, our session aims to showcase the incredible potential of user-generated content (UGC) to elevate non-profit marketing and communications strategies. We know that no one knows your community better than its own members, and their stories can be your most powerful tool.Join UGC professionals and non-profit marketing leads as we explore how to foster genuine human connections through UGC. We’ll showcase innovative ways to integrate embedded videos and authentic testimonials into your digital platforms—turning your audience into advocates. By shifting the focus from traditional marketing tactics to authentic content from your community, we can create more trustworthy and relatable marketing materials that cut through the noise. Together, let’s transform the way your organization communicates, making your message not just seen, but felt!
Equity
Sessions
Advance equity and accessibility through organizational literacy
60-minute workshop
Virtual (Zoom)
In the nonprofit world, we often come across descriptions of communities that use terms like “low digital literacy skills” or “low health literacy knowledge” to frame challenges individuals face in accessing services. While it is important for people to have pathways to build their skills and confidence in areas such as these, these terms can sometimes be simplistic and avoid addressing deeper structural issues in institutions. Basically, we need to work toward making systems that work well for people in the first place.In this session, we will explore flipping the script: how can we build our own organizational literacy as institutions? In other words, how can we make sure that our internal and external communications and related processes are designed with the intent to be easy to navigate, understand, and use? We will explore how organizations can take responsibility for the effectiveness of their systems and build a reflective practice that centers the needs of humans over the systems themselves.
Advance welcoming and inclusive practices in project management
60-minute workshop
343
Welcoming and inclusive practices result in stronger outcomes for our organizations. At the project management level, human-centered approaches and metrics can be eclipsed by the technical aspects of project management like budgets, timeline, and deadlines. This session will share tips, tactics, and strategies to incorporate welcoming and inclusive practices into your projects for stronger and more equitable outcomes. We will share real-life examples from our own experience of advancing major projects while integrating inclusive practices at all phases, as well as create space for participants to share their own examples and troubleshoot challenges with their peers. This will include discussions of stakeholder engagement and how to navigate various levels of commitment to inclusivity at your own organization.
AI for Changemakers: How We Built an LLM that Advances Justice & Equity
60-minute session
327
Community Change Action and Change Agent AI built a “model for the movement” — but what does that mean and how did we do it? Why is that even important? This panel will delve into the deep philosophical questions and practical value of developing and maintaining an LLM that advances justice and equity. Topics will include:• what is alignment and why is it so important to teach an LLM how to identify what “good” is?• what are mainstream AI tools aligned and what are the practical implications of that alignment?• why does mainstream AI perpetuate harmful bias?• how can open-source models be fine tuned to eliminate harmful bias?• what’s better about an LLM that is fine tuned for a specific purpose and what’s the practical value versus just using ChatGPT?We will cover all this and more with time for attendee questions.
Hack political technology to support the people who need it most
60-minute session
336
How do you organize in communities where addresses are inconsistent, contact methods constantly change, and your organizing tool won’t let you move forward without all the required contact information? As data and organizing people, we want to power map, keep track of relationships, and measure base-building as we execute our programs. Still, often, the tools we use aren’t flexible enough to the needs of the communities we’re interacting with. So what do we do? We hack it.Hacking tech to get what you need is nothing new in this space – entire presidential campaigns have been run off of the Google Suite! So it’s no surprise that our tools need some hacking too to actually reach an intended goal or audience. The Movement Cooperative and Organized Power in Numbers are sharing ways we’ve found and systemized workarounds to organizing events and tracking attendees when folks don’t have emails to use on event software. This session will be led by Hales Zink, Lead Tools Strategist at The Movement Cooperative, and Kim Selig, Technology Director at Organized Power in Numbers.
Leadership
Sessions
AI adoption strategy for nonprofits: Navigate ethics and innovation
60-minute session
318 & 321
This session offers practical insights into a scalable human-centered and responsible adoption AI strategy.Discover how nonprofits have successfully moved from experimentation to organizational strategy, leveraging AI internally and to enhance program delivery. We’ll share practical approaches for overcoming common challenges, including staff training, identifying AI champions, and managing organizational change. We’ll explore the delicate balance between innovation and ethical considerations, providing a roadmap for nonprofits looking to harness AI's potential while staying true to their mission.In this session, we’ll hear from nonprofits with lived experience on this transformation journey.. Attendees will gain an understanding of the steps involved in developing an AI strategy, from initial assessment of readiness to organizational deployment.
Bridge the gap: Staffing strategies to unify tech and business teams
60-minute session
337
Driving strategic outcomes in a nonprofit requires seamless collaboration between business teams in fundraising, engagement, and programs, and the technology teams that support the tools and data fueling results. However, bridging this gap often presents challenges around roles, ownership, and collaboration, leading to stalled progress, friction between team members, and poor ROI on technology investments.In this session, we’ll explore how CARE USA transformed its CRM operations by harmonizing its Digital (IT) and Resource Development teams. Using insights from a comprehensive staffing and organizational design assessment, we’ll discuss how CARE established role specialization, created a new bridging Development Data and Systems team, and adopted a collaborative ownership model for its CRM.Attendees will learn strategies for balancing technical expertise with business context, integrating business-side leadership into tech projects, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration to achieve shared goals. This session will equip leaders with actionable approaches to optimizing technology and unifying teams for stronger results.
Creative collaboration: Navigate a successful digital transformation
60-minute session
344
This session will explore a digital transformation project and will focus on the critical role of change management in overcoming resistance and generating enthusiasm for innovation. Presenters from a nonprofit organization and a creative agency will share a case study of their 13-month collaborative partnership that included a rebrand (new organization name, logos, boilerplate language, style guide) and a new website. Participants will learn about the proposal and selection process, the internal and external digital transformation process, project impact, and tips and lessons learned along the way.
Fundraising and development
Sessions
As easy as 123: How to launch an SMS program
60-minute session
342
You've likely heard about the value of incorporating SMS into your fundraising program, but the options might seem overwhelming and it can be difficult to know where to start with this new channel. When you attend this session, you'll hear from two organizations - the National Park Foundation and Bread for the World - who both built successful SMS programs from scratch. You'll learn what to do, what not to do, and you'll come away with tips and tools for implementing an SMS program at your organization.
From zoomers to boomers: Strategies to engage and inspire donors of all ages
60-minute session
339
Have you ever wondered how your organization’s fundraising efforts relate to your constituents from different generations? Odds are your Gen Z and Baby Boomer donors are learning about and engaging with your nonprofit in very different ways. Your outreach should be optimized through a generational lens to ensure the right audience is being reached with the right message. In this session, you’ll learn how to unlock hidden potential with your donors based on generational giving trends.In Bloomerang’s 2024 Generational Giving Report, over 1,000 donors of all ages were asked to tell us how they discover nonprofits to support, how they stay connected to those nonprofits, their fundraising event habits, donor retention preferences, and more!Join us for a deep dive into some of the report's findings, including tactics to engage with donors across generations.
How social fundraising is being redefined by younger, more diverse donors
60-minute session
328
Social fundraising has evolved into a powerful tool for engaging younger, more diverse donors—especially in underrepresented communities. In our latest research findings based on feedback from 1,036 social donors, we see how Gen Z, Hispanic, and Black donors are driving this shift, using social giving activities like events, giving days, and peer-to-peer campaigns as inclusive platforms to support urgent causes and make an impact. This session will explore how nonprofits can harness this momentum, tailor their campaigns to resonate with these growing donor bases, and create more inclusive and accessible giving opportunities. Attendees will learn how they can adjust their social fundraising strategies to appeal to these key groups and leverage the motivators driving their generosity.
Strategies to engage gamers for your cause
60-minute session
Virtual (Zoom)
This session's goal is to outline a strategic template for developing a fundraising program focused on engaging gamers for fundraising and advocacy campaigns. While the core of this fundraising channel is in peer to peer, we'll also look at how organizations are increasingly engaged with esports teams, game development studios, and companies adjacent to gaming (i.e. energy drinks, coffee, etc). We will also look at important considerations for data management, including the challenges of collecting data in a world of anonymity.Finally, we will use data and story-driven insights to illustrate what is possible when engaging in the vibrant world of gamers and content creators.
Wednesday10:15 am - 11:15 am ET
Operations and IT
Sessions
Design impactful nonprofit trainings for learning that sticks
60-minute workshop
337
Learning new skills is essential for nonprofit staff to fulfill their organization’s mission, whether it's adopting new technologies, learning fundraising skills, or program delivery. But many training sessions fall flat. We've all sat through presentations with text-heavy slides, endless lecturing, and zero interaction. It's enough to make even the most dedicated learner's eyes glaze over!The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. This fun, hands-on session will equip you with practical skills to deliver training that actually sticks. You'll learn how to create engaging content, foster participation, and make your sessions come alive - whether you're a training pro or just getting started.Our goal is simple: We want every training from your nonprofit to be amazing. That means using evidence-based adult learning techniques that get results. We'll show you how to design and deliver high-quality training that your audiences will love and actually learn from.
Communications and marketing
Sessions
A more accessible web begins with your website
60-minute workshop
342
1 billion people have a disability that impacts how they navigate websites. In order to more effectively achieve your digital goals, such as an uptick in donations, job applications, or program inquiries, your website needs to appreciate the unique needs of each visitor.In this 60-minute workshop, the Great Believer team will break down the focal points of web accessibility and outline changes you can make today to demonstrate your commitment to all digital users.
Wednesday1:15 pm - 1:45 pm ET
Sponsored
Sessions
Data migration for nonprofit innovation: How to make the most out of AI
30-minute session
Nonprofit and mission-driven organizations around the world are at a pivotal crossroads. With AI everywhere, how is it possible to keep up, let alone stay ahead? The answer lies in your data. Organizing and securing institutional data is one of the first steps to ensuring easier access to AI tools and AI adaptability. Join Microsoft Tech for Social Impact to explore a roadmap for assessing your current data infrastructure, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing best practices.
HubCurious? Check Out Why Nonprofits are Flocking to HubSpot
30-minute session
Managing donors, members, and supporters across disconnected systems can be a headache. Many nonprofits struggle with siloed donor data and clunky CRMs that don’t adapt to their needs. That’s why organizations across the nonprofit sector are switching to HubSpot - to simplify data management, improve donor engagement, and integrate their operations in one easy-to-use platform.
In this interactive session, we’ll showcase a live demo of HubSpot’s nonprofit-specific functionality and explore how it helps organizations:
- Replace a cobbled-together tech stack with a single, integrated database
- Easily track donor interactions and giving history with robust donor profiles
- Manage fundraising efforts with donor pipelines and integrated tools like Fundraise Up
- Customize properties to collect and report on the data that matters most to your organization
If managing donor data and fundraising feels more complicated than it should be, join us to see how HubSpot can help simplify and strengthen your nonprofit’s operations.
Maps for your Mission: Patterns for Delivering Impact
30-minute session
Successful impact-based organizations have a systematic and data-driven approach to prioritize, deliver, and assess the effectiveness of their services. Geographic information systems (GIS) can deliver critical workflows like donor management, volunteer engagement, impact assessment, and others. We’ll walk through building a simple map, and some more advanced analysis using a targeted demographic tool. Discover how new data, available through ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, can support your analyses.
Wednesday2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Operations and IT
Sessions
A culture of learning: How to help staff use the resources you offered
60-minute workshop
Virtual (Zoom)
Many organizations have invested in the sustainability of their team by providing free skill-building opportunities like professional development and mentoring. But sometimes it can be a challenge to get staff members to actually utilize the resources that are offered. When this type of support is not widely used by staff, it can send a message to higher-ups that these tools aren’t worth the money. So how do you get your team to take advantage of the free resources you have? In this session, we’ll share real life examples of successfully fostering professional development through supportive and responsive programming. You’ll leave with actionable strategies for creating a culture of learning within your team so you’ll see more buy-in from staff members and increased professional (and personal) growth!
Data disasters: Smart storage for nonprofits
60-minute session
328
Data disasters can happen anywhere. Join us for an introductory session to learn how to avoid common data pitfalls and protect your organization's data by making it smart, secure, and searchable.We will look at the pros and cons of cloud and on-premises data storage and discuss cost, security, and how to use folder structures, filenames, and metadata to organize and find data easily. Throughout, we will consider accessibility and how platforms and tools promote a user-friendly experience for everyone.Attendees will also learn how cloud platforms integrate artificial intelligence to manage and automate data.
Scaling Up: Technology Strategies for Small Labor Unions & Volunteer-Led Orgs
60-minute session
342
Small, volunteer-led nonprofits and labor unions drive massive impact for their communities despite their limited resources and the numerous obstacles. Technology selection, implementation and management is especially important but difficult to scale for these organizations due to their decentralized and democratic nature. But have no fear, there are many ways to avoid common roadblocks to tech modernization!In this session, we will explore the journey from DIY technology toward a mature, tech-enabled labor organization with the real world, case study from Skeleton Key Strategies and the Progressive Workers Union. We'll share our experiences, lessons learned, and actionable tips so that you can overcome common hurdles and succeed in your modernization efforts. Attendees will leave equipped with practical insights to streamline their small labor union or small nonprofit’s technology, establish governance strategies, and enhance their advocacy efforts.
Program and service delivery
Sessions
A data-driven approach for program evaluations
60-minute session
340
This session will explore a real-world example of an organization leveraging data to evaluate and optimize its programs focused on belonging and inclusion for artists. The organization approaches social impact with a systemic commitment, believing in the power of the arts to build community, center joy, inspire action, and advance justice and equity. It ensures that its 14-16 programs create social justice at the community and artist levels by utilizing data-driven frameworks, collecting qualitative and quantitative data, and learning from analytics. Attendees will learn how data is applied to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement to create meaningful social change. By telling data-driven stories, the organization also wins the trust of supporters, staff, and audience to grow sustainably.
Beyond numbers: Strategies to grow and sustain your nonprofit's membership
60-minute workshop
327
Building and growing a vibrant nonprofit membership base is essential for long-term success, but many organizations struggle with how to attract, engage, and retain members in a way that aligns with their mission. In this session, we’ll explore proven strategies for growing your nonprofit’s membership by cultivating meaningful relationships, leveraging digital platforms, and creating engaging membership experiences.This session will provide actionable insights into how nonprofits of any size can successfully scale their membership programs. You’ll learn how to:- Create membership experiences that go beyond transactions, fostering long-term relationships and loyalty- Develop a membership journey that caters to different types of members—volunteers, donors, advocates—and their unique needs- Use technology, social media, and content marketing to attract and retain membersThis session is perfect for nonprofit professionals looking to boost their membership numbers while deepening their members’ connection to their organization’s mission.
Community resourcing 101 – your PDF isn't going to cut it
60-minute session
What do you do when your client asks for help in an area you cannot provide any services? Every nonprofit agency needs to refer clients to other programs and resources at some point.The yellow pad in your drawer is not going to cut it anymore.Creating and maintaining robust community resource guides is an essential endeavor for promoting community well-being and resilience, but what are the important aspects of a useful and comprehensive resource directory? How do you know which directories to use and which can be trusted?This presentation will explore the key elements of comprehensive resource guides (taxonomy, proximity, accessibility, inclusivity, maintainability, and low friction) that make a directory useful and trustworthy. The speakers will present a case study from The San Antonio Community Resource Directory, SACRD.org, detailing how San Antonio built and maintains an online resource directory used by individuals, social, workers, case managers, and faith communities to help navigate people with a need to a place that has the capacity to meet that need.
Communications and marketing
Sessions
Design a digital engagement ladder: A hands-on workshop
60-minute workshop
329
Whether you are engaging donors, volunteers, or program participants, knowing where to find audiences and participants is only part of the solution. You need to determine ways of getting them more involved with your organization over time through digital engagement. This workshop will take participants through the process of designing the steps a target audience should take toward a goal (or conversion), persuading them to take action with compelling content, and measuring your success. We will ask audience members to bring a campaign or goal with them to the session to use as a sample for building an engagement ladder. They will walk away with the knowledge and tools they need to design these important strategies on their own.
Elevate local storytellers' voices: Invest in their ideas, tools and creativity
60-minute session
318 & 321
In a global organization with a deep commitment to ethical storytelling, how do we stay true to participant-centered storytelling? As one of the largest organizations from the Global South, BRAC counts more than 100,000 employees working to unmake poverty, and to give women the tools, knowledge, and self-belief to achieve their dreams. Storytelling was, until recently, centered at headquarters offices, often reliant on resource-dependent, time-consuming field visits. In April 2024, BRAC International gathered its key communications contacts from 11 countries in Kenya, and gave the teams space to build trust, identify points of friction (often with regards to storage!), to unlock potential with a range of training opportunities, and even to perform magic. Participants in this session will hear from program organizers about ways the organization has worked to recenter its storytelling to give communicators in Liberia, Tanzania, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and beyond the same kinds of tools, knowledge, and self-belief to identify compelling stories of the people BRAC reaches, and to tell their stories with the care and keeping they deserve. The results might surprise you!
Win friends and influence people: Data science for non-technical comms teams
60-minute session
314
Before your supporter takes an action - a donation, a vote, a volunteer shift - important work goes into persuading them that your mission is important and that your brand is trustworthy.In this engaging panel discussion, we will unravel the true power of data science - and more specifically persuasion science - for nonprofit marketers, communications strategists, and fundraisers. This session goes beyond traditional engagement metrics to explore a broader spectrum of tools and insights available through pre-testing messaging and creative campaigns at any budget.Discover the heart and science of persuasion—learn which metrics reveal why and how audiences shift toward or away from a cause and understand how to marry creative pre-testing data with live campaign performance metrics. Our panel of nonprofit and audience research experts will guide you through this holistic approach to help you iterate on your ideas with confidence and achieve greater success in building supporter engagement and fundraising.Perfect for nonprofit professionals and the agencies that help them strategize, this discussion will offer actionable insights to enhance your campaigns and grow your impact.
Equity
Sessions
Creating Impact: How an Inclusive Digital Strategy is Advancing Equity in CT
60-minute session
339
Digital inclusion is vital when creating a powerful, data-driven advocacy strategy. During this session we'll walk you through how we built an integrated tech stack that prioritized inclusivity while also ensuring that every campaign, whether online or walking door-to-door, reached underserved audiences with a measurable impact. Our session will cover: *Building inclusivity-centric tech stacks: Bring together your online and offline campaigns into a single system so you can measure your impact and inclusivity across every touchpoint. *5 key channels + smarter targeting: Learn how to engage your constituents across multiple channels - canvassing, direct mail, digital, advocacy, etc. - while automatically using the data each channel collects to optimize and refine your audiences for inclusivity and impact.*Data-driven feedback loops: See how we capture every constituent interaction to ensure inclusivity, supporting our mission to drive policy change for marginalized communities. We'll show you the impact we've made - from early childhood education to increasing access to voting - and teach you how to build an inclusive tech strategy for your organization's campaigns!
Cultivate a trauma-informed data culture
60-minute workshop
341
You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Data are not neutral.” Indeed, data is shaped by the humans that collect it and, in turn, their views are shaped by the data they collect. At COMPASS Youth Collaborative, our staff grapple with the trauma our youth face, as well as their own experiences that motivate them to pursue this work. Therefore, our program data often contains traumatic details, so it is necessary that our data culture incorporates the principles of data ethics and trauma-informed care. We consider the impact of this work on staff at all levels, as well as our youth, being mindful of how we record, store, analyze, and report data through a trauma-informed lens.Join us in this session to explore the relationship between the principles of data ethics and trauma-informed care. We will discuss how trauma might show up in data and tech work, then identify practical applications of those principles to cultivate a trauma-informed data culture. Throughout the session, we will invite attendees to engage in simple restorative practices that you can bring back to your own teams!
Inclusive empowerment: Elevate neurodiversity in the workplace
60-minute session
315
Are you working to create an environment where individuals of diverse neurological backgrounds can thrive professionally? Are you neurosparkly and looking for ways to advocate for yourself working to create an environment that supports your strengths while accommodating your needs? In this session our panel will cover not only the removal of barriers, but also the active elevation of neurodiverse talent through tailored support, flexible work structures, and a culture of understanding. This is our chance as an industry to embrace differences in cognition and communication. Nonprofit professionals can walk away with the tools to unlock innovation, foster creativity, and enhance collaboration. This presentation explores:* Practical strategies for empowering neurodiverse employees* Ways to overcome the stigma and build awareness* How to create an inclusive workplace Traditional workplace structures often overlook or marginalize neurodiverse individuals, who bring unique strengths. Together, we can unlock the untapped potential of neurodiverse employees, drive innovation, and create a more dynamic workforce which is crucial for long-term success and social responsibility.
Leadership
Sessions
Design an intergenerational people pipeline for sustainable, long-term growth
60-minute workshop
338
With the next generation entering the workforce, it's more imperative than ever to assimilate diverse perspectives and extraordinary expertise. Intergenerational teams provide a unique combination of time-tested, proven methods alongside fresh, innovative problem-solving approaches. Building intergenerational people pipelines fosters a rich, dynamic exchange of ideas, improves decision-making, and enhances creativity within organizations. We will review how to incorporate knowledge transfer into your team culture, offer pathways for employees to grow no matter their seniority, and use technology with intention to build a people pipeline that scales sustainably.In this interactive session, we will evaluate what an intergenerational team looks like for you, your current bottlenecks, and begin drafting out steps for you to design a successful intergenerational team and scale with a concrete pipeline. By assessing different programming methods such as but not limited to mentorship, fun cross-generational training, inclusive professional development, and a non-compensational reward system, attendees will receive feedback and clear next steps to maximize their organization's impact.
Harness technology to amplify youth voices: A nonprofit panel
60-minute session
317
How are leading nonprofits using technology to amplify the voices of today’s youth? Dive into a dynamic conversation with nonprofit leaders at the forefront of equipping youth through technology. This panel features representatives from three nonprofit organizations at the forefront of youth empowerment. These panelists will offer diverse perspectives, drawing from their unique experiences and the varying stages of their youth engagement journeys. Discover how they leverage digital platforms, tools, AI, social media, and other technologies to equip youth to become advocates, change-makers, and co-creators of programs and campaigns. Hear firsthand accounts of the challenges and successes they've encountered in elevating youth perspectives, driving community action, and strengthening intergenerational collaboration. Whether your nonprofit works directly with youth or you're seeking new ways to engage the next generation, this panel will provide actionable insights from a range of organizational models and approaches. Walk away inspired and equipped with practical strategies to harness the power of technology and youth voice in your community.
Why your board is not diverse and how to recruit in equitable ways
60-minute workshop
320 & 323
According to research, board diversity continues to remain one of the toughest challenges nonprofit boards face. It is primarily because there is a difference between 'We welcome everyone' and 'We created this space with you in mind'. In this session, we'll dive into current board diversity trends, walk through a personal change model, provide a framework for leaders to create an inclusive mindset, and brainstorm board recruitment and retention strategies that advance equity. The presenters will provide insights, models & frameworks, and resources as well as coach attendees in group discussions to determine practical solutions for their organizations. In addition, presenters will share insights on how to leverage technology throughout this process to maximize engagement and increase accessibility.
Fundraising and development
Sessions
Break data siloes: Channel integration through data team cooperation
60-minute workshop
336
Nonprofits have a few things in common almost universally; being under-resourced and people wearing many hats. In conditions like these, it is difficult to think beyond the next deadline or putting out the next fire. This near-sightedness is exacerbated when there is no shared data strategy. These were all challenges that we faced at Planned Parenthood. We were successful in finding ways to make incremental change towards data organization that supports integrated fundraising. In this workshop, we will outline the steps we took to define our data strategy and then re-organize and harmonize our data to support that strategy. We will walk participants through outlining their own data strategy and defining the small practical steps they can take to make meaningful change without additional resources.
Harness celebrity influencers for fundraising success
60-minute session
316
Think celebrity influencers are only for huge, multimillion-dollar companies? Think again! They can make a big difference for your nonprofit too, helping you reach more people and boost your fundraising success.In this session, we’ll dive into how Chicago’s Adler Planetarium partnered with beloved former WGN-Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling to launch a small-dollar fundraising campaign around their annual major donor fundraising gala that energized their supporters and, ultimately, exceeded their goals.We’ll discuss how the Adler and other organizations are innovating to harness the credibility and popularity of celebrity influencers to build meaningful connections with supporters and inspire generosity in the years to come.
How American Cancer Society brought donor-advised funding into the digital age
60-minute session
319 & 322
Over the course of 2024, American Cancer Society rolled out embedded digital DAF giving across all of their fundraising channels. It was a large undertaking across many teams internally, that required a strong project plan, measured steps for implementation and an effective process to review impact along the way. The team laid out a case for the investment, identified the best starting assets for integration and worked their way methodically through their fundraising tech stack to bring digital DAF giving into every form - as they proved its efficacy along the way. Ultimately, ACS brought DAF giving into their main donate form, various peer to peer pages, specific campaigns and their core DAF section of their website. They found success in discovering new DAF donors, increasing average gift size and drastically improving their donor data for stewardship of these high value donors. In this session we will review how they set up their strategy, the internal process to implement and the steps that made them most successful with this new technology.
Keep Campaigning Experimental: Rules to bend (& break!) to authentically engage
60-minute session
Virtual (Zoom)
At this point, decades of online campaigning have established well-known best practices. But if every message you send is some variation of “Match, deadline, urgent now!” your campaign is unlikely to stand out or truly inspire action or engagement. So how do you craft a campaign that strategically pushes the boundaries (and even breaks rules) in a way that breaks through without falling flat? Join our panel of online campaigners and experimenters for ways they get ideas (and make the case!) for creative risks that get results. From actually taking donor feedback seriously to sending extra long emails, from illustrating a Loteria deck simply to delight audiences to linking to news articles in appeals – get ready to clutch your pearls and find some fun ways your next campaign can engage at a new level.
Track changes: Real-time legacy copywriting workshop
60-minute workshop
Virtual (Zoom)
Ever felt the dread of an empty Word Doc and a flashing cursor? Ever wish you could get an expert to look over your legacy copy and give you pointers, but it’s not in the budget?You’re invited – wonderful session attendee – to submit a sample of your cause’s legacy writing. Emails, direct mail letters, website or ad copy, you name it. We’ll pick a handful at random, hit the ‘Share Screen’ button, and edit this copy with you right there on the spot. As we make edits or changes, we’ll talk you through our recommendations. We’ll share nuggets of knowledge and show you how to apply the best principles of legacy persuasion in real-time. We’ll move around paragraphs and re-write prose to help you ask your donors to write a gift into their will in the most effective way possible.This workshop will begin with a quick overview of what makes legacy copywriting different from asking for a one-time or monthly gift. Then, we’ll dive into editing copy in real-time. You’ll leave the session armed with examples and tools you can use to amp up and elevate your writing. And, if you’re brave enough to submit your work and lucky enough to be chosen, you’ll also walk away with custom edited work!
Wednesday3:15 pm - 3:45 pm ET
Operations and IT
Sessions
Can Retrieval-Augmented Generation improve your nonprofit's relationship to data
30-minute session
338
With artificial intelligence becoming an increasingly important tool for nonprofits, it’s critical to ensure that these tools are implemented responsibly and efficiently. This session will introduce participants to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAGs), a cutting-edge AI framework that combines data retrieval with content generation to create more accurate, context-aware outputs that provide an added layer of data security. You’ll learn how RAGs are integrated in lay terms, and the options available for their application to refine AI-generated content, prevent misinformation, keep the ownership of your organization's data in your hands, and improve the efficiency of your nonprofit’s communications, research, and operations when using an AI that has a RAG system integrated. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to apply RAGs to your own organization’s use of AI and ensure AI-generated content remains accurate, secure, and mission-aligned. Additionally, all attendees will receive practical resources that can be used to implement these strategies within their own organizations, empowering them to refine and optimize AI workflows.
Combating Decades of Digital Hoarding
30-minute session
315
Join us for an eye-opening learning session where we’ll unravel ITDP’s journey through years of accumulated research and knowledge products. In the nonprofit world, two challenges loom large: the pressing need to cut IT costs and the instinct to cling to outdated data.In this engaging case study presentation, we’ll tackle pertinent questions such as: How old does data have to be before it loses its relevance? What strategies can we employ to sift through vast datasets and identify what truly matters, especially in a global context?We’ll explore innovative archival and storage solutions—from external hard drives to Microsoft Archive and GCP Archive— highlighting what works best for different scenarios. Get ready for a session packed with practical insights and actionable strategies that will empower individuals to take control of your digital assets and pave the way for a more efficient, streamlined future!
Evolution, not revolution: The smart way to upgrade your nonprofit's website
30-minute session
Virtual (Zoom)
Nonprofits often feel the need to completely overhaul their websites. But that approach can often be costly, time-consuming, and leave the organization with just as many problems as it was intended to solve. An iterative evolution of a digital ecosystem, on the other hand, can often be far more effective and less costly. This session will explore how aligning your website, CRM, and tech stack through data-driven improvements can enhance both user experience and operational efficiency. We will share a strategic framework that keeps your digital tools working in harmony to drive your mission forward.
Insights into your insight tools: Design, consistency, and user guidance
30-minute session
336
YMCA of the USA went from one dashboard in 2016 to nearly 30 insight tools and growing by 2024. Transitioning from one to 30 was a daunting task forcing us to ask ourselves some tough questions: How do you ensure each dashboard is unique yet maintains a cohesive look and feel? More importantly, how do you guide users to the right insight tool for their specific needs?Join to learn from our journey navigating the art and science of insight tool design. We will share our challenges and successes in managing a growing suite of tools.
Program and service delivery
Sessions
AI, apps, tools and tactics for healthier productivity
30-minute session
Virtual (Zoom)
As the future of work evolves, technology such as AI is playing a bigger role in our work. Nonprofits of the future will need to be even more efficient and effective and do even more with fewer resources. But simply working longer and harder doesn’t guarantee sustainable impact. Fortunately, new tech and approaches offer better ways to make an impact while being mindful of how we take care of ourselves and our teams in the process.This approach to healthy productivity requires skillfully embracing new technology like AI, cultivating a culture of continuous learning, and rethinking practices that leave us drained vs energized.Join us to learn how to create healthier approaches to work with the latest practical apps, tools, and tactics that can help you and your organization create more impact now AND in the future!
Transform survey data into powerful impact stories
30-minute session
318 & 321
In this session, we will provide a prescriptive approach to designing a survey that enables workforce development and education organizations to collect and analyze data quickly to drive meaningful impact. Whether you’re new to data collection or looking to enhance existing practices, we’ll guide you through simple steps to gather insights that showcase your program’s success. Compelling storytelling begins before the data collection process, not after. You can become a skilled storyteller by leveraging mixed methods, AI, and prescriptive guidelines to ensure your insights are compelling.Learn how to continuously report on training programs with data-backed, compelling stories that differentiate your organization and resonate with funders and stakeholders. We’ll demonstrate how modern feedback analytics tools simplify turning raw survey data into actionable insights. This approach allows your organization to quickly and effectively report real-time stories of impact and transformation, saving time and fostering deeper engagement. With practical examples and a focus on real-world application, you can present data that drives results and highlights your program’s success.
Communications and marketing
Sessions
Add experiential elements to nonprofit events on a budget
30-minute session
340
Big brands use experiential marketing all the time to raise awareness about products and services, and to create buzz through user-generated content. From the Spotify-sponsored Taylor Swift's TTPD library installation in LA to Ikea's Place app, which uses AR to show Ikea furniture in your own space before you buy, these interactive, oft-ephemeral experiences create an emotional connection between customers and brand that boost sales and engagement. Nonprofits almost never have the marketing budgets to throw at experiences on the same scale as major brands, but still have the same need to create an emotional connection with the audiences they're trying to reach. Luckily, there are lessons nonprofits can learn from what the big brands are doing, and ways to implement those lessons without breaking the budget. During this session, we'll look at ways nonprofits can incorporate experiential and interactive elements into their events and other outreach efforts, even when working with a very low or no budget. By bringing these elements into your strategy, you'll engage your supporters emotionally and tangibly, which will strengthen their connection to your mission.
Beyond A/B testing: Adaptive experimentation
30-minute session
341
If you want to compare options – for example, two different fundraising emails – standard A/B testing is a tried-and-true way to make data-driven decisions. However, there are a few disadvantages to running a standard A/B test: (1) it is costly every time you experiment with the "worse" option, (2) you usually will wait to take action until the end of the experiment, and (3) testing more than a few different options can be time consuming or impractical.This session will focus on an increasingly popular alternative: adaptive experimentation, a strategy that allows you to learn from your data as soon as it is collected. With adaptive experimentation, you can quickly hone in on the best option and limit the number of times you experiment with costly alternatives. This type of experimentation is particularly effective when testing many different options or conducting simultaneous experiments.We will provide an interactive overview of adaptive experimentation, including examples of practical applications (such as improving targeted outreach strategies or designing ask amounts) and the variety of ways that you can leverage these ideas at your organization.
Stopping Project 2025: How CAP used technology to meet the moment
30-minute session
316
At the end of 2023, the Heritage Foundation and partners launched Project 2025 to re-envision government. In it, CAP saw a sweeping scope of proposals in opposition to our values and policy ideas. What’s more, many of these proposals were already moving on state and federal levels. This wasn’t just another think tank white paper – the danger was real. Through research, communications strategy, and partnership, we played an outsized role in informing the nation as to the clear harms of Project. CAP anticipated and participated in a massive swell of effort against the Project. Honing in on five policy areas, we set out to clarify the effects Project 2025 would have and explain how its vision was a radical departure from common American values.And it worked. While less that 30% of Americans were familiar with Project 2025 in May 2024, nearly 80% were by late Summer – and favorability had tipped against it by nearly 30 percentage points. "Stop Project 2025” murals and yard signs were popping up across the country.This was a movement-sized effort – very far from “all CAP.” But we’ll talk about the digital aspects of what we did, why we did it, and how it made a difference.
Equity
Sessions
Does your tech stack also support extremism and hate?
30-minute session
327
Your organization wants to change the world, but do your technology partners truly do the same? The mantra of major tech platforms, applications, and service businesses has been to sell as widely and “agnostically” as possible. As these companies have invested in creating “impact” with their technology sales - frequently through discounted licensing and services - they also market this as success to impact organizations, globally. But behind all of this remains a customer agnostic sales cycle that doesn’t differentiate between your organization’s good work, and those of extremist organizations using the same technology to create harm at scale. In an era when technology can accelerate misinformation/disinformation, hate, and undermine human rights with rapidity and ease, agnosticism is now unacceptable. Demand more from technology providers, including assurances that they’re not enabling extremism. Join this session to discuss what can be done, why it’s not being done (yet), where there are opportunities to do more, and what we’ve learned from businesses and the greater community of impact organizations in the first year of PledgeNoHate.tech.
Indigenous innovation: Native American voices in technology
30-minute session
320 & 323
Technological equity of access, representation, and opportunity are issues in many Native American communities. This session will explore the intersection of Native American culture and the tech industry. It will highlight stories of indigenous technologists who are driving innovation in their communities, bridging digital divides, and overcoming systemic barriers to entry such as limited access to education, digital infrastructure and opportunities within tech spaces. Indigenous communities who are harnessing technology to preserve cultural heritage, promote sustainability and create opportunity for economic self-determination will be discussed. Focusing on equity and empowerment, we will examine how the tech industry can become more inclusive, building relationships that respect and amplify indigenous contributions to technological innovation.
Values driven development: reproductive justice values in tech
30-minute session
317
Better “tech” requires thinking about power: centering the most marginalized, addressing intersecting oppressions, and analyzing power systems. What does values driven development look like in practice? Using the reproductive space as an example, we'll highlight ways to center justice in procurement, vendor vetting, and creation of tech.
Leadership
Sessions
Inclusive, intentional icebreakers
30-minute session
319 & 322
Whether it’s a weekly meeting among a cohesive team or a one-time workshop with a group of strangers, how we use icebreakers - if we use icebreakers - can make or break the tone and outcomes of that gathering. In this short workshop, we’ll cover possible goals of using icebreakers, the importance of inclusion to meet those goals, ways icebreakers can unintentionally exclude, questions and tools for evaluating the icebreakers we choose, and what accountability can look like when our icebreakers unintentional other, exclude, or cause harm. While no one icebreaker is foolproof for every single person, with a little bit of planning, we can choose and use icebreakers that set the tone for more inclusive and safer gatherings.
Lead on sustainability: Reduce your website's carbon footprint
30-minute session
337
Every decision we make in building and maintaining websites contributes to their carbon emissions, from the technical choices behind the scenes to the content we showcase. Factors such as the tech stack, hosting provider, and design approach all influence the environmental impact of a site. Additionally, high-resolution images, videos, and large document downloads place heavier demands on energy consumption, while site traffic volume further compounds the issue over time. In this session, we’ll dive deep into actionable strategies for reducing your site’s carbon footprint, starting with sustainable design and development practices. We’ll also explore how to optimize content for performance and sustainability, and discuss tools and educational approaches that can help empower your content authors to make environmentally conscious choices. By adopting a holistic approach, you can create a site that not only meets your goals but also contributes to a more sustainable digital future.
Things I wish I knew before becoming a people manager
30-minute session
314
After working hard at being an individual contributor for some time, you’ve reached a new level where you’re now managing a team. It’s just doing the same job as before with some supervisory responsibilities tacked onto it, right? Nope! Transitioning into people management requires a different set of skills, sometimes relying on those that did not get you to where you are today. Drawing from lessons learned from my own experiences of going from accidental techie to managing a technical team, this session will look at the differences between individual contributor and people manager roles and their development paths, the challenges that may arise when transitioning into people management, and how new people managers can strengthen their skills to grow into becoming the people managers they want to be.
Fundraising and development
Sessions
Empower connection and spur collective major gifts with giving circles
30-minute session
329
This session will inform and inspire leaders and fundraising professionals about the potential of giving circles as a strategic approach to building community and enhancing their development efforts. Through a review of recent trends and predictions in giving as well as use cases of effective giving circles, we will discuss this underutilized approach to engaging supporters. Participants will leave with concrete ideas for how they can diversify donors, increase connection to their cause/organization, maximize engagement, and cultivate more major gifts by tapping into new forms of generosity, gamification and collective action.
Leveraging UI/UX and data to boost donor conversion rates and increase revenue
30-minute session
328
In this session, you’ll learn how the engineering product team at The Trevor Project utilized various UX research methodologies, Cloudflare, WordPress Plugins, Classy, Google Analytics, and Google Tag Manager. By leveraging these tools and techniques, the team was able to create several new engineering initiatives backed by data. As a result, these efforts boosted user traffic, improved average engagement time, and ultimately, increased users to donor conversion rate and revenue. We’ll share what our journey looked like, especially the challenges that we’ve faced on the way. From this session, we hope that you’ll gain valuable insights that you can take back to your organization like how to set up your own metrics gathering, perform data analysis, and execute new initiatives.
Successful donor relationships through meaningful dialogue and communication
30-minute session
339
Our focus in retaining donors should be on building and maintaining a two-way relationship that continually gives them affirmation that they are supporting an organization with a mission that is aligned with their values. Donors give because they want to be part of the impact that can be realized with their support -- they are a part of the organization they support! Success in donor retention and repeat giving is not about the transaction, but about the relationship they have with the fundraiser and the organization.
The donor management software landscape in 2025
30-minute session
Virtual (Zoom)
Join us for a whirlwind tour of the evolving landscape of donor management software. Backed by insights from the recent Donor Management Use and Satisfaction Report, which I authored, and the study I conducted in 2024, we'll explore the latest trends and practical applications. We’ll cover purchase cycles and DMS adoption among nonprofits, key drivers behind software decisions, and satisfaction by feature, with a focus on what matters most to users. You’ll also hear about the latest mergers and acquisitions transforming the market. It concludes with actionable tips to choose the right software for your organization’s needs.Whether you're actively evaluating DMS products or simply want to stay current on your knowledge, this session will be packed with research-based and practical information.
