Professional Development & Networking: AFP ICON
By: Frankie Chow, Fundraising Consultant, Sentinel Consulting
I am so excited to share that Sentinel Consulting will be participating as an Exhibit sponsor at this year’s AFP ICON (Association of Fundraising Professional International Conference) held right here in Toronto, Canada. ICON is happening from April 7-9, 2024 at the iconic Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Whether you just started your fundraising career or you are a seasoned veteran in the sector, you will have come across AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals). They aim to provide representation, mentorship, and professional development for fundraising professionals all across the globe. As I look back on my fundraising career in the past 10+ years, I was involved with my local AFP chapter (Greater Toronto Area) from the very start as a student of the Humber Fundraising and Volunteer Management Program. This included participating in the annual AFP Conferences and Fundraising Days as an attendee, volunteering in mentorship programs, being a part of the first cohort of the AFP Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship, and finally attending conferences as a vendor I feel like my journey has come full circle.
Being Prepared
Being one of the largest fundraising conferences in the world, if this is your first fundraising conference it can be very daunting. You might be asking yourself the question; How do I get the most out of ICON? Here are some of my tips on how to best prepare yourself for this amazing 3 days of learning, engagement, and networking!
This year’s theme is “Impactful Together”, bringing together fundraising professionals from across all different sectors to share their experiences and help each other make an impact with their organization’s mission. Over the years of attending conferences, aside from all the great learnings from the different sessions and speakers – my key takeaways have always been the relationships that I built through networking with other attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and volunteers. What you learn at ICON’s sessions is for your current job or project, but what you gain from networking and connecting with other fundraisers will guide your career.
Here is a checklist I received from my mentor during my days at Humber before attending my first AFP Conference:
Prepare a 15-30 second elevator pitch of your biography so you can showcase your passion, interests, and experience.
Get out of your comfort zone. Talk to as many people as you can (sit with strangers besides your colleagues during a session/lunch and try to give out 5 business cards a day). Don’t be afraid to ask questions – we are fundraisers, asking questions is pretty much what we do every day with our donors, volunteers, and stakeholders. Start with a question and see where the conversation takes you.
Review the next day’s schedule and plan your sessions, but feel free to change sessions if you hear great things about a speaker or session you weren’t aware of through your networking.
Bring your business cards!
Dress to impress – you are giving your first impression to potential mentors, business partners, and even employers after all.
Always follow up! Get people’s business cards, write a note to remind yourself of the conversation, and follow up via email or social media (I prefer LinkedIn) to thank them for their time – maybe even schedule a follow-up chat.
Try to show up early and attend extracurricular activities, such as the Speed Networking sessions. Even showing up early to breakfast before the opening planary (especially on the second day) can allow for some networking before everyone gets busy with their sessions. As the saying goes, “the early bird gets the worm” – attending these sessions sometimes gives you access to veteran fundraisers who may become a mentor or support your career growth.
Visit the Exhibitor Hall. I know I am an exhibitor this year and I promise I am not trying to get you to come visit our booth (although you are all of course invited!). However, as an attendee, I always enjoyed visiting the exhibitors just to have an understanding of the services that are available as well as getting to know the different companies and consultants in the sector. These folks may potentially work with you and your organization in the near future and it is a great way to build your networks.
Attend the After Party. Try to enjoy the conference, don’t just leave immediately after the last session has ended. As a fundraiser myself, I will say that a fundraiser’s favourite thing is FREE stuff and drinks. You or your organization paid for your registration to be at ICON, so be sure to attend all of the after-parties (both officially offered by AFP and by local groups or Exhibitors). This is the best time to network and connect with your fundraising peers, especially since being at ICON means there are many international fundraisers to connect with and learn from.
I hope my checklist is helpful whether you are attending ICON for the first time or you are a seasoned attendee (then hopefully this can be used as a refresher instead). Be sure to come visit and say hi at the Sentinel Consulting booth and I look forward to meeting you all in April at ICON!
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Sentinel Consulting is a consulting firm that focuses on helping non-profits strengthen their operational efficiency. We speak the same language as our clients because we were all fundraisers at some point in our careers.