Conferences Nonprofits Should Attend In 2020

Conferences Nonprofits Should Attend In 2020

For nonprofits, attending conferences can be an effective way to learn about current industry trends and network with like-minded organizations.

Important Note: This was written before the global outbreak of COVID-19. Please check with each conference to see if it has been moved to a virtual conference, postponed, or canceled.

Since conferences are an expensive part of professional development, it is important to be selective about which ones you attend. See what nonprofit-oriented conferences your organization should be attending in 2020. 

The Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) – A great choice for nonprofits looking to level up their tech skills or find a new partner in the space.
March 24-26 
Price – Members: $749 Non-Members: $1049
Baltimore, Maryland

The NTC is one of our most recommended nonprofit conferences. Hosted by The Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network, each year the NTC brings nonprofit organizations, IT staff, consultants, and technology vendors together in one place to collaborate and learn from each other. We were able to attend last year’s conference and had a fantastic time providing support and insight to a wide range of nonprofits in attendance. This year, 2000 nonprofits will be gathering to connect, learn, and explore new ways to advance nonprofit missions. We will be attending, and we hope to have the opportunity to meet and work with you there. 

Cause Camp – A great chance for nonprofits looking to learn from the biggest and best organizations in the country.
April 20-21 
Price – Individual Ticket (Until 01/31): $375 Team Ticket (Until 01/31): $700
Lincoln, Nebraska

Forbes called Cause Camp one of the “must-attend nonprofit conferences of 2018,” and it is on many nonprofit-focused organization’s lists of nonprofit conferences to attend in 2020 –  including our partner Inside Charity’s. The conference is organized by the creators of NonprofitHub which is well-known for being a strong resource for nonprofit marketing advice. This year’s conference features speakers from nonprofits such as Annie’s List, Funraise, and the Pajama Program. Cause Camp is a great opportunity for you and other nonprofit professionals to come together and work through the real issues facing your organizations. 

Engage For Good – Perfect for nonprofits attempting to connect with corporate partners in the new year.
May 27-28 
Price – Members (Until 3/18): $995 Non-Members (Until 3/18): $1245
Austin, Texas

Formerly known as the Cause Marketing Forum, Engage For Good is focused primarily on cause-based marketing, and features an intersection of corporate and nonprofit causes. Engage For Good is attended by some of the largest nonprofits in the world including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Mayo Clinic, and the World Wildlife Fund. They also host the Halo Awards, which some consider to be North America’s highest honor in corporate social initiatives and cause marketing. While a bit pricier, this is a great opportunity to learn from and connect with the largest nonprofit organizations in the industry. 

2020 ANA Chicago Nonprofit Conference – This is a strong choice for nonprofits to learn about new techniques and strategies for fundraising.
August 5-7 
Price – (Until 7/6) $579-879$ depending on the tier
Chicago, Illinois

Sponsored by the Association of National Advertisers Nonprofit Federation, this conference is a great opportunity to learning about direct response marketing. Sessions are designed to teach attendees about direct mail, digital, and telemarketing fundraising techniques that they can use to further expand the reach of their missions. The ANA puts a heavy emphasis on group collaboration and networking to come up with answers for issues and situations that nonprofits are facing. This conference serves as a great resource for nonprofits looking to gain a better understanding of their donors and how they can better connect with them. 

Tango Alliance Building Bridges – A fantastic choice for organizations looking to strengthen their organization and increase operational efficiency.
September 16 
Price – Free
Hartford, Connecticut

One of the best parts of this conference is the price. Hosted by our partner the Tango Alliance, this event is great for helping nonprofits not only build bridges with each other but also with for-profit organizations. While this is a regional conference, we still highly recommend this conference for nonprofits in the area that are looking to learn more about partnering with socially conscious businesses to further their goals. The Tango Alliance has proven to be a strong resource for nonprofits looking to develop their organization and become more efficient. This year’s Building Bridges event looks to be a fantastic opportunity for nonprofits looking to learn operational best practices for every level of their organization. 

bbcon – bbcon is one of the best options for learning about the current digital marketing landscape and how that interacts with social good.
October 6-8 
Price – (Until 6/26) $950 
Seattle, Washington

At last year’s bbcon, Cause Inspired Media COO Sean Kerr worked with Google representative Shannon Crile to host a session explaining the benefits of using the Google Ad Grant to nonprofits in attendance. Suffice to say, we highly recommend attending bbcon 2020. Hosted by industry giant Blackbaud, bbcon is a great opportunity for nonprofit professionals to learn from and collaborate with industry experts. In past years, we have been very fortunate to be able to meet and share success stories with our peers from all over the industry. Attendees can choose from over 250 sessions to learn new concepts and acquaint themselves with current digital marketing and social good trends. We know that we will be going this year, and we look forward to seeing you there as well. 

Nanoe Board of Governors Convention & Expo – An excellent option for nonprofits that are attempting to grow and expand their mission in new ways.
April 20-21 2021
Columbia, South Carolina

While not taking place in 2020, we recommend attending NANOE’s conference in 2021. This biennial event is perfect for nonprofits looking to change the way they approach strategies for fundraising and building capacity. At 2019’s conference, Cause Inspired Media had the opportunity to give a presentation on how nonprofits can use the Google Ad Grant as a part of a comprehensive digital marketing strategy to reach and surpass their goals. NANOE 2021 is going to be a great opportunity for nonprofits to learn how they can apply for-profit marketing principles to their mission work. We are planning on attending, and we hope to be able to work with you there.

With how many nonprofit conferences there are and how expensive they can be, it is important to choose the best ones to attend. If you have any questions about the nonprofit conferences on this list, or you have questions about digital marketing in general, contact us and we will be in touch with you shortly.