AFP Fundraising Conference Takeaways: Putting Passion Into Practice

Exhilarated and exhausted. That's me. And probably around 3,000 other fundraising professions who attended the 51st Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference on Fundraising in San Antonio.

I learned, refreshed, saw old friends and made new ones. I have ideas buzzing around on how we can better help nonprofits fulfill their potential — and even ideas on how we can market ourselves better.

But action is the key, as we all know. And now that I have a day full of meetings, deadlines and working on some terrific projects, I am challenged to take full advantage of my experience from San Antonio.

If you feel the same way, here's my plan that you may find helpful:

• Review my notes, and incorporate them into my goals and daily/weekly action lists.
• Review the program for sessions of interest that I did not attend and download available materials.
• Reach out and express thanks to those who made this possible, from the AFP staff and volunteers to presenters.
• Connect with those I met through social media and by entering their contact information in Outlook.
• Make a note of those I would enjoy reaching out to before I might ordinarily see them next — in this case at the AFP conference in Baltimore next year.
• Review the materials that I gained from the exhibit hall, and discern which resources can best help our firm and our clients.

The AFP conference is my favorite gathering due to its diversity. We saw Jerry Panas (who received the Chair's Award for Outstanding Service), Kay Sprinkel Grace and Jim Lord, as well as many of the professionals who are so familiar from today's books and online content. It is truly international, and we can learn from all cultures across the profession of fundraising. Every organization — every organization in each community — is different. By interacting with other types of organizations, and even like organizations of varying sizes, you can continually incorporate a fresh approach each day to your mission.