39 Ideas From AFPFC That Will Make You A Smarter Fundraiser in 2016

The AFP International Conference is always a huge highlight of the year. And this year, I have to say that I thought it was the BEST ever!

Provocative and challenging ideas, smart presenters, and an appreciative, enthusiastic audience who soaked everything up.

Kumi Naidoo, the former head of Greenpeace, gave an inspirational, rabble-rousing keynote address that I will never forget.  (more on that next week!)

If you have never been to the AFP International Conference, this is a must-do for next year, when the 2017 conference will be in San Francisco. 

Here’s my annual round-up of my favorite tweets of the conference. (Follow me at @gailperrync!)

Some are smart, some are funny and some are just ideas I loved and want to share.

I included, for fun, some tweets from my own session, “Teach Board Members How To Open The Door Without Being Pushy.”

Don’t miss the last three tweets if you are a woman in fundraising who hopes to advance in your career!

Which one is YOUR favorite tweet? Leave a comment and let us know!

These ideas will make you a much better fundraiser in 2016-17!

https://twitter.com/fundraisermaeve/status/711625395351609344

 

Monday Morning Musinghttps://t.co/IqMRNQO51i pic.twitter.com/YRSqZvAotj

— Sheena Greer (@colludos) March 14, 2016

More truth telling from Audrey Kintzi of St. Mary's U.: "Two-thirds of our benefactors leave us because they don't think we care." #afpfc

— Heather Joslyn?? (@ha_joslyn) March 21, 2016

pic.twitter.com/x9kZnKTkEi

— Harvey McKinnon (@harveymckinnon) February 29, 2016

"Why didn't we get a $6M gift?" "Nobody brought me a $6M idea." At the social media for donor engagement session! #afpfc

— this Barbie funds abortion (@thewordunheard) March 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/fundraisermaeve/status/712297170267844608

Via @thattomahern what is "loverizing"? #afpfr pic.twitter.com/ovI4SbgPAt

— ???????? (he/him/his) (@johnlepp) March 21, 2016

https://twitter.com/ccotterill/status/711975752023937024

Hahaha. @GailPerrync just made us do a listening exercise with ears on sticks. #afpfc pic.twitter.com/osRLZd1Lqq

— Sara Kissinger (@SaraKAllDay) March 20, 2016

Donor relationships are not about "how attractive your org is" but "how your org satisfies donors needs.@AdrianSargeant #afpfc

— ImpactCommunications (@ImpactDC) March 20, 2016

 

https://twitter.com/fundraisermaeve/status/711939205279170560

"Too many of our boards are focused on short termed metrics" via @AdrianSargeant 1/2 #afpfc

— Sarah Mackey (@sarahwmackey) March 20, 2016

Segment your database: who gives 0% of your funding, who gives 10% (transactional), who gives 90% (relationship). Focus accordingly. #afpfc

— Beth Ann Locke (she/her) (@FundraiserBeth) March 20, 2016

Questions you need to ask when writing good copy – checklist for asking if it is good @StephenPidge #AFPFC pic.twitter.com/p4gaZwdSVY

— Derek deLouché, CFRE (@DerekdeLouche) March 21, 2016

Here's the data! Staff training works: for every hour of staff training you should raise $37k. @AmyEisenstein #afpfc pic.twitter.com/7oF8BSj0Oz

— Gail Perry (@GailPerrync) March 21, 2016

Stewardship is the key to your next big gift. And don't focus on the money, focus on the donor. #MohitPramanik #humanityfirst #afpfc

— Shanon Doolittle (@ShanonDoolittle) March 22, 2016

@.stevenshattuck survey – Why do donors leave? Survey says….. It's us, not them. #afpfc #afpeeps pic.twitter.com/TNgukE2Qa5

— Tammy Zonker (@TammyZonker) March 20, 2016

5 reasons to start monthly giving NOW from Rosemary Oliver #afpfc pic.twitter.com/FMXCtSnobX

— Sarah Mackey (@sarahwmackey) March 22, 2016

It's crucial that info flows freely both up and down org's hierarchy if u want all contributing to #fundraising; Mark Hopkins @AAUW #afpfc

— Dan Parks (@itsDanParks) March 21, 2016

Truth #6 If you're going to triple #fundraising in 3 yrs – you're going to get dirty #AFPFC | #OperationRubberTree pic.twitter.com/ngPOEWDq3C

— Tammy Zonker (@TammyZonker) March 21, 2016

Donors are most engaged at the moment of the gift, get them to do more, they are more likely to do it then than later @RichDietz #AFPFC

— Derek deLouché, CFRE (@DerekdeLouche) March 21, 2016

Only 52% of donors felt their top charity took their preferences into consideration @abila_inc #afpfc pic.twitter.com/Mcx8jJSnGF

— Erin Shy (@ErinShy) March 21, 2016

#AFPFC What matters most to donors as they make their philanthropic decisions? https://t.co/frZvmWIasv pic.twitter.com/pyEXPFRjyT

— @nonprofitorgs / Nonprofit Tech for Good (@nonprofitorgs) March 21, 2016

Fun happening at #booth421. Meet @npstoryconf speakers and learn why you need to be in Chicago this Nov. #afpfc pic.twitter.com/tURfVU2T1A

— Tammy Zonker (@TammyZonker) March 22, 2016

More truth telling from Audrey Kintzi of St. Mary's U.: "Two-thirds of our benefactors leave us because they don't think we care." #afpfc

— Heather Joslyn?? (@ha_joslyn) March 21, 2016

Don't miss @AmyEisenstein @AdrianSargeant @JayBarclayLove in room 107 #AFPFC – major gifts for small shops! pic.twitter.com/mUTOOEZrDQ

— bloomerang (@bloomerangTech) March 21, 2016

If you don't have metrics, you can keep really busy and not accomplish much. @TammyZonker #afpfc

— Dana (@danaerinw) March 21, 2016

Top three reasons why people give all comes back to them | I'm passionate, the org. depends on ME, I know someone affected #afpfc

— Abila (@abila_inc) March 21, 2016

Direct mail isn't dead if done well – donors report they feel more engaged when they have a piece of paper in their hands @RichDietz #AFPFC

— Derek deLouché, CFRE (@DerekdeLouche) March 21, 2016

Threats/failures to social movements according to @RogerCraver #AFPfc pic.twitter.com/WISv7I5Lgq

— Ligia #GlobetrottingFundraiser (@GlobetrottingFr) March 21, 2016

Spring time in Boston at #afpfc Not #snowmaggedon2016 just a pretty picture. pic.twitter.com/lXdISdK4eI

— GPA CEO (@GPA_CEO) March 21, 2016

 

"Be kind to yourself. Give yourself enough time to be able to do the job well." –@WolfeAmy #afpfc #smallnonprofits pic.twitter.com/ykRJ5nd7Ce

— The Funding Seed (@thefundingseed) March 21, 2016

Favorite #AFPFC tweet so far: "Thank and ye shall receive." Stay warm in #Boston #afpeeps! @AFPIHQ

— Stansbury Consulting (@StansburyCFRE) March 21, 2016

Solidarity is a key word in our sector. Standing arm in arm raises people's spirits. (And money too.) @darylupsall #afpfc

— Shanon Doolittle (@ShanonDoolittle) March 21, 2016

Great reminder today at #AFPFC from the always wonderful @GailPerrync #ProudFundraiser #AFP #NonprofitLife pic.twitter.com/B9qVsGII18

— Lenise Andrade (@LeniseNicole) March 20, 2016

Love your donors, and they'll love you back. via @thattomahern #AFPFC pic.twitter.com/mYL2pupN7p

— TheDudeAbidez.eth (@TheDudeAbidez_) March 21, 2016

Women apply for jobs when they meet 100% of criteria; men when they meet 60%. "Don't wait till you tick all the boxes," sez speaker. #afpfc

— Heather Joslyn?? (@ha_joslyn) March 20, 2016

Anger at #diversity session at AFP conference — fundraisers are 83% women, so why do men make up half of speakers? Applause erupts. #afpfc

— Dan Parks (@itsDanParks) March 22, 2016

There is no glass ceiling. It is just a thick layer of men! #lauraliswood #genderequity #afpfc

— Andrea McManus (@ajsmcmanus) March 22, 2016

Which tweets are your favorites? Leave a comment and let us know.

(My personal favorite is Roger Craver’s list of threats/how organizations lose their way. )

BOTTOM LINE

You can follow #afpfc for the still-active twitter stream. There’s so much to learn.

And go ahead and register for next year’s conference right now!