Nonprofit Fundraising Conference – Request for Proposals

Anyone! MCN is seeking dynamic presenters like YOU, who are inquisitive and bring nuanced, clear, and equitable approaches to fundraising and development within the nonprofit sector.

Session proposals take 20 to 30 minutes to complete through the online form and are due by Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. central.

MCN is seeking dynamic presenters who are inquisitive and bring nuanced, clear, and equitable approaches to fundraising within the nonprofit sector. Proposals that encourage both strategic visioning as well as practical, skills-based learning are desired. 

This year, we are particularly interested in sessions that bring the following content areas to life: 

• Scenario planning for volatility in federal and state funding.
• Starting, growing, and nurturing individual donor programs.
• Strategies and policies for sustained self-care and fundraiser retention.
• Addressing challenges to race-conscious grantmaking.
• Ending relationships with funders who no longer align with your organization’s values.
• Using grassroots fundraising as a way to organize and mobilize.
• Developing compelling and flexible case statements that reach funders, legislators, and more.
• Back to the basics: cultivation, stewardship, and good storytelling.
• Practical and ethical uses of AI in fundraising.
• Connecting research and trends in giving and grantmaking to the present and future work of nonprofit fundraisers.
• Reimagining development events.

Session presenters must demonstrate a depth of knowledge on the proposed session topic. Sessions and presenters should reflect the racial, economic, cultural, age, and geographic diversity in the state of Minnesota.

Sessions that include nonprofit presenters will be given priority. Proposals from our allies in for-profit companies are welcome; however, please note that preference will be given to sessions that demonstrate active involvement of nonprofit professionals and sector researchers and members from the communities they engage as session presenters or co-presenters.

Consultants and/or for-profit businesses with an overriding interest in selling their products and services, as opposed to contributing to a learning community will not be invited to present.  

Presenters receive a stipend of $75, with a limit of $225 per session (for multiple presenters). 

Presenting is complimentary; however, presenters attending the entire conference need to pay a “presenter registration rate” which is 50% of the early bird registration rate (available to 3 presenters per session). You may also register using the Pay What You Can (PWYC) rate.

Previous conferences have sold out, therefore registering allows us to gather accurate information to ensure everyone can fully engage in the conference.

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

Recommended session formats incorporate:

• Participant engagement in dialogue, discussion, and idea-generation throughout the session. 
• Time for attendees to connect with one another.
• Specific takeaways that attendees can implement in their work.
• No more than three presenters (including a moderator).
• PowerPoint slides filled with words should be kept to a minimum. Consider using pictures and stories to convey your message. 

Attendees will include 500+ nonprofit, public sector, and philanthropy leaders including staff, board members, and volunteers. Past conference attendees included:

• Fundraising staff
• Executive Directors
• Staff who collaborate with fundraising (e.g., communications, data, evaluation, finance)
• Volunteers and jobseekers
• Board members

Session proposals take 20 to 30 minutes to complete through the online form.

You do not need a fully formed presentation to submit; you are sharing an idea that you’ll shape into a presentation. However, you should be clear about the learning objectives you are centering and what experience-level you expect your audience to have. 

The session deadline is Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. central.