Request for Proposals

We are seeking dynamic presenters like you, who are inquisitive and bring nuanced, clear, and equitable approaches to fundraising and development within the nonprofit sector and its subsectors.

This year, we are particularly interested in sessions that do the following:

• Address inequities in philanthropy head-on and inspire people to work toward collectively-imagined solutions
• Connect research and trends in giving and grantmaking to the present and future work of nonprofit fundraisers
• Share concrete and accessible tools for strengthening and fine-tuning the capacity of nonprofit fundraisers
• Provide foundational knowledge, paths toward systems change, and address the tension between working within a system while also strategically disrupting it
• Dig into state grant reform

Proposals that encourage vision development as well as practical, skills-based learning both are desired. 

Sessions that include nonprofit presenters will be given priority.

Proposals from our allies in for-profit companies and consulting are welcome; however, please note that preference will be given to sessions that demonstrate active involvement of nonprofit and philanthropic professionals, researchers, and members of the communities they engage. 

As a session presenter, you must demonstrate a depth of knowledge on your topic. Session topics and presenters should reflect the racial, economic, cultural, age, and geographic diversity in the state of Minnesota.

As a benefit to presenters, you are registered for the full conference for free (maximum three registrations per session). We hope you'll take advantage of the other sessions, inspirational keynote, and spaces to gather with 300+ Minnesota fundraising colleagues.

To ensure the highest quality sessions for the conference, the planning committee will place priority on session proposals that incorporate current adult education modes, formats that emphasize participant engagement and interaction, and that are accessible.

Here are some helpful guidelines:

• Your session should engage attendees so that they are actively involved in dialogue, discussion, and idea-generation for much of the session - at least half of the total session time.
• Your session should have no more than three presenters (including a moderator, if applicable).
• PowerPoint slides filled with words should be kept to a minimum. Consider using pictures, short videos, and stories to convey your message. (Please include captions on videos as a point of accessibility and use visual description for images.)
• Consider a non-traditional session format.

Session presenters have the choice to receive a stipend. We pay individual presenters a stipend of $75, with a limit of $225 per session. This modest stipend is in addition to complimentary admission to the conference.

Submitting a proposal is easy! Simply complete the online proposal form. 

The deadline to submit a proposal to present at the conference is Monday, April 24, 11:59 p.m. CST.

Submit Your Proposal Now             Preview RFP questions

Session proposals generally take 20 to 30 minutes to complete and can be submitted through the online form. Preview the form questions.

You do not need a fully formed presentation to submit a session proposal. We want you to share the idea that you'll craft into an engaging presentation.

You should, however, be able to communicate how your idea connects and is relevant to the larger fundraising sector and the learning outcomes attendees will gain.