CCF Content at AFP ICON

By CCF 

The Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) Family Reunion is less than a week away! Have you gotten your tickets yet?

Today, we wanted to help all of you who may be going to AFP ICON after the CCF Family Reunion know where to get your community-centric content. This is likely to be an incomplete list, so if you see something that appears to be CCF-related, let us know in the comments!

CCF Content from CCFers:

These sessions have at least one Community-Centric Fundraising speaker who is connected to the CCF movement either as a volunteer, staff, current or past leadership, has contributed to The Content Hub, is connected on our Mighty Networks, works with a chapter known to us, or receives our weekly emails. (We did not include sessions that were taught by CCFers but did not have a description that alluded to a CCF angle in the session. If we’re missing one that you are teaching that will have a CCF angle, but didn’t indicate it in the description, let us know so we can add your session!)

How to Prepare for the Fundraising (R)evolution

Speakers: Hannah Berger, Yuri Casco, Rachel D’Souza, Frank Velásquez Jr.

It’s about time we have a much-needed conversation about the changing landscape of fundraising. Join us for a conversation exploring the transformative shift from donor-centric to community-centric fundraising practices. Our expert panelists will unpack the practical strategies, challenges, and successes in redefining philanthropic relationships to center community expertise and collective impact. Learn how to navigate this evolution while strengthening donor relationships and advancing social justice values in their fundraising approaches.

Sunday, April 26, 9:00-10:00 am

Rising Leaders: Empowering Young Black Fundraisers 

Speakers: Azha Simmons, Alia Lundy, Nefertiti Martin, Jeremiah Lineberger

Explore the experiences of young Black professionals in fundraising through an interactive session on equity, empowerment, and leadership. Gain insights, share strategies, and walk away with tools to support a more inclusive and impactful philanthropic sector. Ideal for emerging fundraisers and leaders committed to change.

Sunday, April 26, 9:00-10:00 am

Not Just a Seat at the Table: Building Fundraising Careers That Reimagine the Status Quo 

Speakers: Arleen Peterson, Daa’iyah Rahman, Jamie Leon-Guerrero, Matthew Easterwood

What if professional development wasn’t about fitting in – but about breaking molds? This session features a cross-generational panel of BIMPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ fundraisers who’ve built careers on their own terms. Together, they’ll share how they’ve turned identity into power, authenticity into growth, and mentorship into movement. If you’re tired of being told to wait your turn or shrink your brilliance, this session is your invitation to take up space – and take your career with you.

Sunday, April 26, 10:30-11:30 am

The Emotional Labor of the Ask: Finding Wholeness in Fundraising for Marginalized Identities 

Speakers: Marcus Cunningham, Clarena Tobon, Shea Wylen, and Catherine Ashton

For queer, BIPOC, and other marginalized fundraisers: navigate the emotional toll of the ask, weigh authenticity vs. assimilation, set boundaries, and connect with peers in this vital interactive session.

Sunday, April 26, 10:30-11:30 am

AI Won’t Fix Your Bias: A Framework for Building AI Equity in the Nonprofit Sector 

Speaker: Meena Das

AI won’t fix your bias—but you can. In this session, we will learn about a nonprofit-specific AI Equity Framework to help us mitigate algorithmic harm that can happen around us. Whether you are exploring tools for donor analysis or program automation, this session provides clarity on what ethical AI means in practice and how you, as a nonprofit leader, can ensure equity-first AI implementation. The session will provide you with a framework, numerous examples, and actionable lists to follow.

Monday, April 27, 8:30-9:30 am

Advocacy for Fundraisers – Engaging Your Community Beyond Dollars to Create Change 

Speakers: Maya Hemachandra and Barbara Michelle Johnson

In the last year we have seen the impact that political actions can have on our organizations and their bottom lines. If we are going to deliver on our missions, we can’t do it alone. Advocacy is often treated as a bad word in nonprofit organizations, but it shouldn’t be. This session will guide fundraisers, helping them build a plan to mobilize their volunteers and supporters, equipping them to advocate for policies and funding aligned with your organization’s goals, raise more money, and address root causes of inequity.

Monday, April 27, 10:45-11:45 am

Fundraising That Feels Good: Ethical Persuasion Without the Ick

Speaker: Maria Bryan

Fundraisers are told to use urgency and psychology, but no one wants to feel manipulated. This session digs into how persuasion actually shows up in the donation experience, and how small choices in language and design can help donors feel respected, confident, and good about giving.

Monday, April 27, 12:15-12:45 pm

Beyond the Surface: How FORGE and MOCID Are Reshaping Professional Belonging 

Speakers: Ken Miller, Marcus Brewer, Chris Beck, and Jackson Davis

Men Of Color In Development (MOCID) and AFP Global are partnering to translate FORGE (Fairness, Openness, Respect, Grace, Empathy) into practical behaviors and systems that strengthen belonging in the fundraising profession. You’ll be in a safe space for candid dialogue, shared learning, and practical strategies that help the sector move beyond intention and toward meaningful change. By engaging Men Of Color In Development as thought partners in shaping the future of fundraising, the workshop strengthens AFP Global’s initiative on Fairness, Openness, Respect, Grace, and Empathy (FORGE) ability to address equity, representation, and leadership in ways that are both authentic and actionable.

Monday, April 27, 1:45-2:45 pm

Breaking Burnout: Ethical Leadership and Mental Health in Fundraising 

Speakers: Jennifer Li Dotson and Ian Adair

Explore the intersection of ethical leadership and mental health in fundraising. Join Ian Adair and Jennifer Li Dotson as they share insights and strategies to combat burnout, foster inclusive cultures, and lead with empathy in the nonprofit sector.

Monday, April 27, 1:45-2:45 pm

What Could Be: Building a Neuroinclusive Future for Fundraising 

Speaker: Nicole Bela

As burnout conversations grow louder in the fundraising sector, one critical lens is often missing: neurodiversity. Many non-profit professionals feel pressure to “mask” — adjusting communication styles, suppressing needs, or navigating environments not built for their brains. The hidden cost of masking, in turn, contributes further to a sector struggling to retain fundraising professionals.

Together, we will examine the emotional toll of masking, reflect on the norms and practices that make it necessary, and reimagine fundraising culture — exploring how we retain talent, honor neurodivergent strengths, and redesign systems that allow more people to thrive.

Monday, April 27, 1:45-2:45 pm

Beyond Borders: Culturally Conscious Fundraising for a Global, Inclusive Future 

Speakers: Jennifer Li Dotson and Kevin Chi

Discover how culture, identity, and innovation intersect in modern fundraising. Join Kevin Chi and Jennifer Li Dotson for an energizing session on inclusive strategies that honor diverse philanthropic traditions and build bridges.

Monday, April 27, 3:15-4:15 pm

Says Who? Shifting the Power in Philanthropic Storytelling

Speakers: Niki Brown and Frank Velásquez Jr.

Donor-centered fundraising shapes more than strategy—it shapes stories. This session explores the power dynamics behind who tells those stories and why it matters. Participants will learn to critically evaluate and reshape narratives to promote transparency, shared power, and accountability. Join the conversation to create stories that authentically elevate community voices.

Monday, April 27, 3:15-4:15 pm

Fundraisers As Helping Professionals: A Guide to the Benefits of Trauma-Informed Fundraising 

Speakers; H. Aldveran Daly and Lisa Temoshok

In the world of nonprofit fundraising, professional fundraisers often navigate high expectations, emotional labor, and values-driven work without the organizational support afforded to other helping professions in social work, counseling, or nursing. This interactive session invites fundraisers to reframe their role through the lens of the helping professions, acknowledging their emotional intelligence, relational skills, and contributions to social change.

Tuesday, April 28, 10:00-11:00 am

CCF Aligned Content:

These sessions do not have at least one Community-Centric Fundraising speaker who is connected to the CCF movement either as a volunteer, staff, current or past leadership, has contributed to The Content Hub, is connected on our Mighty Networks, works with a chapter known to us, or receives our weekly emails. But the sessions sound like they have CCF-alignment and if you attend these sessions, you should tell the presenters to connect with the movement! We would love to have them!

Putting Principles Into Practice: A Case Study on Building More Equitable, Community-Rooted Fundraising Strategies 

Speakers: Katherine Robles-Ayala and Emma Carmody

Join the California Budget & Policy Center for a candid look at how we’ve been putting community-centric fundraising into practice. In this session, we’ll share our journey—why we made the shift, what we’ve changed, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. You’ll hear real examples, honest reflections, and practical insights for applying community-centric principles in your own fundraising work. Whether you’re just starting or looking to deepen your approach, this session will offer inspiration and actionable takeaways for building more equitable, community-rooted fundraising strategies.

Sunday, April 26, 10:30-11:30 am

Boldly Brown: The Impact of Intentional Commitment on Engagement and Philanthropy Among Alumni of Color 

Speakers: Alyssia Coates, Russell Malbrough, Joelle Murchison, and Brickson Diamond

Seven years ago, Brown University’s Division of Advancement made a bold, intentional commitment to embed diversity and inclusion into its philanthropic practices. As part of the BrownTogether campaign, the Division created a Director of Diversity and Inclusion Major Gift Officer role, an innovative step designed to strengthen relationships and expand philanthropic engagement among all alumni, with an emphasis on diverse communities.

The panel will explore how intentional commitment, shared leadership, and strategic collaboration can build authentic relationships, elevate donor participation, and create lasting institutional change.

Sunday, April 26, 4:30-5:30 pm

Storytelling for Good: Using Narrative and Data to Strengthen Equity and Engagement 

Speaker: Jordan Kirkbride

Learn how to craft compelling, ethical stories that drive donor action without compromising the dignity of those served. This session explores the power of combining data with community-centered narratives to create proposals and appeals that resonate with funders and inspire meaningful engagement. Participants will gain tools to strengthen messaging during times of funding uncertainty and policy shifts, and leave with practical strategies for storytelling that foster trust, equity, and lasting support.

Monday, April 27, 10:45-11:45 am

The Radical Future of Belonging: A Time-Traveler’s Lab for Brave Leaders

Speakers: Gloria Chance, Alex Kim, Wendy McKinney, and Megan Hayward

In an era of shifting tides, many leaders are frozen, waiting for the storm to pass. But history reveals that institutional headwind isn’t a pause in progress—it’s a threshold.

Join Humanist Psychologist Dr. Gloria Chance and a panel of visionary leaders for a highly engaging experiential lab. Move beyond survival and use Creative Inquiry to create a more resilient, humane future. Together, we will:

• Bridge Polarization: Forge trust through courageous, inclusive dialogue.
• Time-Travel: Shift from reaction to possibility-driven strategy.
• Activate Leadership: Model the courage required to reshape our sector.
• Stop watching the future happen. Come build it!

Monday, April 27, 10:45-11:45 am

Continuing the Conversation on Being an Equitable, Inclusive, and Diverse Leader 

Speakers: Majoy Camberos, Don Baker, Michael Baker, Sana Mahboob, and Ana Luisa Ramirez

Join us for an engaging and inspiring conversation that will explore the leadership skills needed to thrive in complex, evolving environments. You’ll gain practical strategies and actionable insights to help you lead with purpose—whether in your organization, your community, or your own personal journey. To tackle today’s most pressing challenges, we need leaders at every level who lead with inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) at the core. This session brings together a panel of diverse, experienced leaders who embody these principles in both their personal and professional lives.

Tuesday, April 28, 10:00-11:00 am

The Tapestry of Culture: Cultivation, Stewardship, and Philanthropy Rooted in Diaspora Leadership 

Speakers: David Bulindah and Christine Enetak

When fundraising meets cultural alignment, everything changes. This case study session features a fundraising and grant consultant joined by her client, a nonprofit leader serving a diaspora community. They share how a culturally responsive fundraising strategy reshaped board engagement, donor trust, and long-term sustainability.

Tuesday, April 28, 10:00-11:00 am