Professional development and nonprofit careers
Plan your next nonprofit conference around the work you want to improve
Upcoming options include GrantSummit in November 2026, NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference in March 2027, AFP ICON in April 2027, and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in November 2027. Use the calendar below to compare dates, locations, participation options, and the professional focus of each event.
Event details reviewed October 25, 2026. This guide replaces the expired 2023 edition while preserving its established address. Dates and participation options come from organizer sources. Registration availability, programs, prices, and travel arrangements can change, so use the linked official pages when making plans.
Upcoming nonprofit conferences in 2026 and 2027
This is a focused planning shortlist, not a ranking or a comprehensive national calendar. It covers different kinds of nonprofit work so you can start with the learning need rather than choosing an event solely because it is familiar. Check the event’s own edition and date before purchasing registration or travel.
| Event | Announced dates | Location and format | Professional focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrantSummit 2026 | November 4-7, 2026 | San Antonio, Texas, and online | Grants practice and professional development |
| 2027 Nonprofit Technology Conference | March 23-26, 2027 | Portland, Oregon, and virtual participation | Nonprofit technology and digital work |
| AFP ICON 2027 | April 11-13, 2027 | Baltimore, Maryland | Fundraising |
| Nonprofit Storytelling Conference 2027 | November 4-6, 2027 | Atlanta, Georgia | Fundraising communications and storytelling |
This calendar shows published event information, not a promise of available tickets or a recommendation to purchase. Review the organizer’s current program and registration terms.
November 2026 • Grants
GrantSummit 2026: San Antonio and online
The Grant Professionals Association lists GrantSummit for November 4-7, 2026, at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and online. Its official event listing is the starting point for registration information and current details. Because this event is close to the review date of this guide, confirm availability and the relevant attendance option before making any travel arrangements.
For your own planning, consider whether the event aligns with a concrete grants-related need: strengthening a proposal workflow, improving collaboration between program and finance teams, or developing a grants professional’s skills. Those are suggested learning objectives, not a description of a guaranteed conference session. Review the actual agenda to see whether it addresses your priorities.
View the official GrantSummit event listing. The association also provides virtual attendee registration information. Check what the selected option includes rather than assuming that an online ticket duplicates the in-person schedule.
March 2027 • Technology
Nonprofit Technology Conference 2027: Portland and virtual participation
NTEN announces the 2027 Nonprofit Technology Conference for March 23-26, 2027, in Portland, Oregon, with virtual participation options. The event brings together people working with technology in the nonprofit sector. NTEN’s registration information distinguishes the in-person and virtual experiences; it identifies March 23 as the dedicated live virtual programming day.
Use the official conference overview to review the event and the registration page to compare attendance options. Check the program for sessions relevant to your own digital, data, operations, or communications work. If you need to share learning with colleagues, confirm what materials or recordings your registration includes.
A useful employer question is: what decision could this learning help us make? Bring a defined problem, such as choosing a more workable internal process or improving coordination between technical and program staff. Use conference conversations to learn how others approach the problem, then assess any proposed change against your own requirements and capacity.
April 2027 • Fundraising
AFP ICON 2027: Baltimore
The Association of Fundraising Professionals announces AFP ICON 2027 for April 11-13 in Baltimore, Maryland. Use the national organizer’s current event information when checking dates. Its website provides the event overview, session information, and registration choices for fundraising professionals.
Start with the official AFP ICON page and review the pricing and registration options. Different registration categories and optional activities may have different terms. This guide does not reproduce a ticket price because the appropriate price depends on the current registration category and timing.
For an employer, define which fundraising responsibility the attendee is developing and what support will follow. For an individual professional, choose sessions and conversations that connect to the work you want to do next. Avoid measuring the value of attendance only by the number of people met. A relevant relationship or an implementable idea may be more useful than a large stack of contacts.
November 2027 • Storytelling
Nonprofit Storytelling Conference 2027: Atlanta
The organizer’s Atlanta travel page lists the 2027 Nonprofit Storytelling Conference for November 4-6 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park. Its website describes the conference as intended for fundraisers and nonprofit communicators working on fundraising storytelling.
Review the official conference website for ticket information and the Atlanta travel page for location and schedule details. The organizer says its conference room-block information is expected in December 2026, so avoid treating a room block as available before the organizer publishes it.
To prepare, identify one communications challenge and the audience involved. You might want to improve a donor appeal, explain a program more clearly, or make a case for support easier to understand. These are suggested planning prompts. Confirm the current session program, accessibility information, and ticket terms before deciding whether the event meets your needs.
Choose a nonprofit conference by your learning goal
The strongest choice for one professional may be the wrong choice for another. A grant writer developing technical practice, an operations leader evaluating technology, and a development director improving fundraising communications have different needs. Write down the work you want to improve before comparing destinations or registration deadlines.
For nonprofit employers and managers
Connect attendance to a real organizational priority and identify the staff member who can use the learning. Approve time to prepare, attend, and share useful findings. A conference becomes less useful when the attendee returns to an unchanged workload with no opportunity to discuss or apply anything. Agree on a practical next step before travel is booked.
For job seekers and career changers
Use professional development to understand the work, language, and questions in a field you are exploring. Review the public program before committing money. A broad conference may help you explore, while a specialized event may be more useful once you know the function you want to pursue. Neither replaces a targeted job search or evidence that you can do the role.
For board members and executives
Choose an event that connects to a specific leadership question. Ask whether the program’s audience and level match your responsibilities. Consider whether attending with a colleague would create a useful shared discussion or simply duplicate learning that could be shared afterward. The answer depends on your purpose and resources, not an assumed rule that more attendees are always better.
A conference attendance planning worksheet
Use this worksheet for a manager discussion or your own planning. It is designed to make the decision concrete without inventing a financial return on attendance. Compare the event with other ways to meet the same learning need, including a course, local professional group, peer conversation, or focused research.
| Planning area | Write down | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | The problem, skill, or relationship you want to develop. | The program serves that purpose and audience. |
| Attendance format | In-person or online participation and relevant schedule. | Live sessions, time zones, recordings, and access terms. |
| Budget | Registration, travel, lodging, meals, local transport, and staff time. | Which costs are approved and what policies apply. |
| Participation needs | Accessibility, accommodation, dietary, scheduling, and technology needs. | The organizer’s process and any advance deadlines. |
| Work coverage | Who handles essential responsibilities while you attend. | Handover, decision coverage, and contact expectations. |
| Follow-through | One share-back and one realistic application step. | Who will discuss the learning and when. |
When comparing costs, use the organizer’s current registration category and actual travel estimates. Include optional workshops or add-ons only if they support the purpose. Confirm change and cancellation terms before purchasing. For online attendance, protect time in the work calendar rather than treating sessions as something to watch between unrelated tasks.
Turn conference participation into useful professional relationships
Prepare a short introduction that explains your work and the question you are exploring. Ask people about their responsibilities and experiences before presenting a request. Be specific about what you hope to learn, and respect the purpose of the session or conversation. A professional gathering is a shared learning environment, not permission to interrupt others with unsolicited pitches.
For job seekers, discuss the kind of work you can contribute and what you are learning about the sector. Ask about functions, organizational needs, and practical career paths. If someone suggests an opening, use the employer’s normal application process and reference the conversation accurately. Attendance alone does not imply an endorsement or a referral.
For employers, relationship building works best when you can explain the role and organization clearly. If recruiting is an approved part of your participation, share an accessible job posting with an accurate scope and salary range. Follow the event’s recruiting or exhibitor rules and avoid promising hiring outcomes before candidates complete the process.
After the event, follow up on the conversations you actually had. Mention the topic, share a resource if you promised one, and make any next step easy to understand. Avoid adding people to marketing lists simply because you received a business card or saw an attendee directory.
What to verify as programs and dates change
Use the organizer’s current edition page as the authority for dates, venue, format, and registration. Search results, old brochures, local chapter calendars, and third-party listings can refer to different editions. If two pages conflict, ask the organizer before purchasing. Do not assume that a recurring event uses the same month, city, or online format every year.
Some event programs are announced in stages. A confirmed date does not mean every speaker or session has been finalized. Review the information that matters to your purpose, and distinguish an announced event from an event whose next dates remain unconfirmed. For professional credentials or continuing education, check the applicable organizer and credentialing body’s current requirements.
This updated guide intentionally focuses on events with organizer-published dates. It removes the expired 2023 schedule rather than presenting historical listings as upcoming. The original URL remains in place, while the headline and current dates explain the edition now covered.
Nonprofit conference and event FAQs
Which nonprofit conferences are coming up?
This guide lists GrantSummit on November 4-7, 2026, in San Antonio and online; the Nonprofit Technology Conference on March 23-26, 2027, in Portland and virtually; AFP ICON on April 11-13, 2027, in Baltimore; and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference on November 4-6, 2027, in Atlanta. Confirm the current details with each organizer before booking.
Are there virtual nonprofit conferences?
Yes. GrantSummit 2026 and NTEN’s 2027 Nonprofit Technology Conference list online participation options. Virtual and in-person experiences may have different schedules, sessions, and access, so compare the organizer’s registration details before choosing.
Which conference should a fundraiser consider?
Start by identifying the skill you want to develop. AFP ICON focuses on fundraising, GrantSummit serves grant professionals, and the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference focuses on fundraising communications and storytelling. Review the current program and audience information before registering.
Which conference is relevant to nonprofit technology work?
NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference is designed for people who use technology in nonprofit work. Its 2027 event is listed for March 23-26 in Portland, Oregon, with virtual participation options. Compare the program with your technology, data, or digital priorities.
How should an employer choose whom to send?
Connect attendance to an actual organizational goal and select the person positioned to apply the learning. Agree on coverage, budget, accessibility needs, and a specific share-back or implementation step before approving travel.
Does attending a conference guarantee a job or funding?
No. Conferences can support learning and professional relationships, but hiring and funding decisions depend on the organizations involved. Job seekers should continue applying to appropriate openings, and fundraisers should follow each funder’s published process.
Why does this page have a 2023 URL?
The original page covered 2023 events. It has been rewritten as a guide to upcoming nonprofit conferences while keeping the established URL. The event dates and edition names shown in the current guide identify the events now covered.
Connect learning with your next nonprofit opportunity
Use the Foundation List job search to explore current openings and compare the responsibilities employers describe. Hiring teams can use our job description writing guide to turn a skills need into a clear posting, or the executive hiring guide for leadership recruitment.
Event attendance and a job posting serve different purposes. Use professional learning to strengthen capability and understanding, then use a clear application or hiring process to take the next step. Foundation List does not organize the third-party conferences listed here.