The nonprofit sector, an essential component of society, relies heavily on conferences for networking, education, and innovation. As we approach the end of 2024, it is pivotal to look ahead to the major nonprofit conferences scheduled for 2025. These gatherings are not just events but are instrumental in shaping the future of philanthropy, community service, and social impact.
Top Nonprofit Conferences for 2025
Below is an updated list of significant nonprofit conferences slated for 2025, complete with dates, locations, and additional details.
Quick calendar list:
March
April
May
- 14-15: The Collaborative (Classy) in Chicago, IL. Website
June
- 11-14: Points of Light Conference in Houston, TX. Website
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July 2024
- 14-16: ANA Digital & Social Media Conference in Carlsbad, CA. Website
- September 2024
- 30 – Oct 2: NIO Summit. Website
October 2024
- ? Cause Camp in Colorado Springs, CO. Website
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November 2024
- Upswell (Dates and location TBA). Website
Nonprofit Conference Breakdown
SXSW Civic Engagement & Climate Change + SXSW EDU
Note: We combined our summaries for the SXSW bonanza because, Texas.
- When: March 10-13, 2025 Climate Change
March 7-10 Civic Engagement - Where: Austin, TX & Online (Hybrid)
- Websites: https://www.sxsw.com/conference/climate-change/ | https://www.sxsw.com/conference/government-and-civic-engagement-track/
- What: Mega-marketing and tech conference. These tracks cover innovation, activism, comms, education and tech. So much tech.
- How much: ~$1,360 (depending on level)
- Audience size: 15,000 (SXSW EDU); 37,000 (SXSW)
- Who attends: Professional fundraisers, nonprofit communications teams, and tons of vendors. And, everyone else. SXSW EDU is more focused to educators, government and people working in the ed space.
About: If you’re the kind of person that thrives in crowds, parties, and socializing, this is your home. You must attend this conference. SXSW’s Climate Change tracks are hosted under SXSW at large. These could be particularly interesting for nonprofit professionals, but many other tracks are offered that could also prove to be valuable. These include Advertising & Brand Strategy, Startups, Tech, Media and more. The main issue here is that socially conscious programming competes with the broader SXSW circus, including celebrity mainstages and a dizzying amount of vendors and exhibitors in the main hall (which is more like an airport hangar).
Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC)
When: April 16-18
Where: Baltimore, Maryland (& virtual)
Website: https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc
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What: The longest-running, nonprofit-focused tech conference in the US
How much:
Regular: December 15–February 15$675 members / $975 non-members
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Audience size: around 2000
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Who attends: Nonprofit communications teams, techies, and some fundraisers
We LOVE the community around this conference. The sessions are well-curated, with specific tracks and great opportunities for networking. There are parties thrown by vendors plus a larger gathering hosted by NTEN. NTEN programmers carefully choose their venues with accessibility in mind, and the whole event is planned with great attention to inclusivity. Be sure to do your homework on the sessions you go, to as some may feel like they’ll require advanced research. Make sure you save time for the sponsor exhibit hall.
The Nonprofit Marketing Summit: The Unthinkable
- When: March 4-6, 2025
- Where: Virtual
- Website: https://www.nonprofitmarketingsummit.org/
- What: Nonprofit marketing, fundraising, and leadership conference
- How much: free for virtual
- Audience size: 1,000 in-person attendees; 3,000 online attendees
- About:
Can you imagine a world in which your nonprofit achieves its fullest vision? Picture this: You’ve accomplished your mission and can now rest easy, knowing that you’ve solved a critical problem in the world.If that seems unthinkable – you’re in the right place.You’re invited to join us on a 3-day journey into The Unthinkable.We’ll transform your boldest dreams of impact into tangible reality. Throw off your shackles and head into the unknown with us as we dare to think/dream/activate bigger than ever before. All leading to an unthinkable impact.This is your call to break free from conventional marketing and uncover fresh, imaginative, and revolutionary strategies designed to help you drive unthinkable results and ultimately, activate mission success.Join us in venturing into The Unthinkable and grow beyond what you’ve ever imagined.
The Collaborative (Classy)
- When: May 14-15, 2025
- Where: Chicago, IL
- Website: https://collaborative.classy.org/
- What: Nonprofit marketing, fundraising, and leadership conference
- How much: ~$320-$499 for In-person
- Audience size: 1,000 in-person attendees; 3,000 online attendees
- Who attends: Anyone in the nonprofit or social enterprise space looking to learn more about fundraising and technology best practices, Classy platform features, leadership lessons, and insights on how to grow your organization.
About: Collaborative, brought to you by Classy.org, is a two-day experience dedicated to nonprofit professionals. With fundraising and technology at the forefront of the conversation, we’ll explore best practices and learn how to leverage the latest technology to raise more. Extend the experience by attending our new User Conference bonus day for Classy customers.
AFP ICON
- When: April 27-29, 2025
- Where: Seattle
- Website: http://afpicon.com/
- What: The largest conference in the world for fundraising professionals
- How much: Varies by membership and registration date, ranging from $999 USD (Preview Rates) to $2,300 USD (Onsite Rates)
- Audience size: around 4,000
- Who attends: Professional fundraisers, nonprofit communications teams, and tons of vendors
About: Hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, this is the Super Bowl of fundraising conferences. Representation from all of the main players in the CRM and donation platform games are here. Content is focused on the trends and tactics in fundraising with a lot of time (we’re talking hours a day) is allocated to the sponsor exhibit hall. Big points for networking and parties, which are thrown by the conference and sponsors. Remember when going that this is a group of fundraisers: Their job is to raise money. Game. On.
Engage For Good
- When: April 22 – 24, 2025
- Where: Palm Springs, CA
- Website: https://engageforgood.com/conference/
- What: Nonprofit and Corporate Social Responsibility conference
- How much: ~$445–$1,395
- Audience size: Around 300
- Who attends: CSR professionals, nonprofit marketers, executives, cause marketers
About: Formerly known as the Cause Marketing Forum, this focused audience works (as the original name would suggest) in the cause marketing ecosystem. Content sits at the intersection of purpose and profit, featuring case studies of successful partnerships. Networking happens between sessions and at the opening day after-party. This is a great conference to learn from experts about smart earned-revenue models, and about how the CSR world at for-profit companies operates.
National Conference of Volunteering and Service: Points of Light
- When: June 3-6, 2025
- Where: New Orleans
- Website: https://www.pointsoflight.org/conference/
- What: The world’s largest conference focused on volunteer and service, bringing together more than 2,000 nonprofit, government, business, and civic leaders to gain and share the knowledge, resources and connections..
- How much: ~$525 – $950
- Audience size: around 2,000
- Who attends: Volunteer coordinators, nonprofit communications teams, gov’t and social entrepreneurs and vendors. Many organizations involved in the old Hands-On Points of Light and AmeriCorps networks.
This multi-day conference offers plenty of breakouts and practical, learning-driven tracks with an eye towards cross-sector collaboration. Service and volunteerism are a core theme, with many sessions focused on utilizing AmeriCorps and corporate volunteers. Networking is encouraged during breaks, however there isn’t a main reception for dedicated networking. Plenty of vendors are on-site to share insights and exhibit their work.
NIO Summit | Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization (NIO) Summit 2025
What: Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization (NIO) Summit
Where: Kansas City, MO
When: Sept 30- Oct 2, 2025
Cost: ~$795 Register link
About:
Travel “Back to the Fundraising Future” to overcome B.I.F.F. and learn how to stop your valued donors from vanishing before your very eyes!
You’ll get expert guidance on using timeless principles of fundraising, persuasion, and donor psychology alongside the latest tech, tactics, and strategies to inspire your donors to fund the future they want to see!
The Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization (NIO) Summit is hands-down the most outrageously entertaining nonprofit conference around.
Cause Camp
- When: October?, 2024
- Where: Colorado Springs, Cheyenne Mountain Resort
- Website: https://cause.camp/2024conference/
- What: Nonprofit marketing, fundraising, and leadership conference
- How much: TBD
- Audience size: Typically 300, Open
- Who attends: Nonprofit story tellers, executives and fundraisers
About: Presented by Nonprofit Hub, Cause Camp features a small audience and presenters with a high amount of polish. The content is carefully curated and well-paced. Networking happens between sessions and at an opening-day party. The community is very welcoming and it is clear why many people return year after year.
BETTER, HIGHER, SUCCESSFUL – TOGETHER
An homage to the Olympic motto, Cause Camp 2024 embraces the words, “Better, Higher, Successful – Together”. Nonprofits can only thrive when the collaborative spirit of the sector is strong. Cause Camp draws in hundreds of nonprofit professionals, top industry experts and problem solvers for a two-day nonprofit conference that equips you to solve real issues facing your organization. Let’s unite and make the world a better place, together.
Upswell
- When: November ?
- Where: US
- Website: https://independentsector.org/upswell/
- What: Nonprofit fundraising and marketing conference
- How much: TBA, but hosting free pop-up events now through the Fall
- Audience size: Open
- Who attends: Professional fundraisers, nonprofit communications teams, and tons of vendors.
ANA Digital & Social Media Conference
- When: July 14-16th, 2025
- Where: Carlsbad, CA
- Website: July Social media conference
- What: Nonprofit fundraising and marketing conference
- How much: ~$1,400
- Audience size: Around 200
- Who attends: Professional fundraisers, nonprofit communications teams, and tons of vendors.
About: Formerly DMA: Washington Nonprofit Conference) Hosted by ANA (Association of National Advertisers), which acquired DMA Nonprofit Federation, this multi-day conference offers plenty of fresh ideas and expertise. Networking is encouraged during breaks, and there is also a reception. ANA runs many conferences that can be found here:
If we missed any quintessential nonprofit conferences or you would like to add your conference to the list, please add it below:
Also, just in case you are in charge of planning a conference, we love presenting and sharing our knowledge with the sector. Here are the topics we like to present around.
And here’s our podcast on how to effectively attend a conference with Social Media for Nonprofit