Taking the Plunge and Learning More about Fundraising

Idea 29 for 2025

Earlier in the summer, I took the plunge and signed up for the Association of Fundraising Professionals TOgather one-day conference in Toronto.

I am complete outsider to the world of philanthropy and fundraising, so this was a bit of leap. However, this fall I have a couple of prominent fundraising goals as part of my volunteering initiatives. So, I thought, why not go learn how to do it and get some new ideas!

So, on Sep 19, I spent the day at the stunning MARS Waterfront Toronto campus, meeting and interacting with friendly people who were open to talking to an outsider.

During the day, here are 5 key things that I learned about:

·      Data-driven fundraising: The prominence and important of data – its integrity, its regular management, its privacy – was a theme across a number of sessions

·      Using automation and AI to do more with less: Charities and non-profits are looking for ways to respond to drops in philanthropic giving and government support by exploring ways to automate more tasks and leverage artificial intelligence

·      The power of patronage: large donors in the arts and culture sector have power to shape and tell stories that can greatly impact how we see ourselves, including, importantly, our national identity

·      Motivation of volunteers: fascinating research about why volunteers such as me give our time: it can be for a whole range of motivations. These can include doing something aligns with their humanitarian values, but also includes building their career networks, enhancing their status, and developing social ties

·      Cultivating relationships: whether it’s with donors or with volunteers, the importance of developing trust and building relationships of time and/or money are vital for long-term success

Thank you for some great sessions and conversations!

#philanthropy #fundraising #donors #volunteers #data #AI #patronage #automation #relationships #gathering

Attending the Association of Fundraising Professionals TOgather conference, Sep 19, 2025