Hosted by FreeWill and Charity Navigator
The most important event of the (end of) year
September 10, 2026
11:30am–6:00pm ET
5,000+
nonprofit organizations expected
26
expert speakers
20
focused learning sessions with actionable takeaways
6.5
hours of learning and networking
Built for your best end-of-year yet.
Turn year-end generosity into year-round impact with fast-paced, tactical sessions that will transform your organization's fundraising — at year-end and throughout 2027.
Giving season strategy
Walk away with the perfect year-end calendar, a strategy for maximizing monthly giving, and a plan for high-impact moments like Giving Tuesday.
Major & planned giving
How your peers are turning Q4 giving into momentum for ongoing legacy and major gift conversations.
Data from the biggest names in fundraising
What donor behavior looks like in Q4 across the industry, and how to apply those insights to your own planning.
The day at a glance
September 10 · 11:30am–6:00pm ET
Three tracks
Leading the way
Strategy and planning
In the trenches
Campaign execution
On the front line
1:1 donor cultivation
Leading the Way
In the Trenches
On the Front Line
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET
The state of year-end giving in 2026
Patrick Schmitt, FreeWill
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET
Leading the Way
From oversight to ownership: Activate your board for year-end smart giving
Nicole Walton, FreeWill
In the Trenches
Maximize your Charity Navigator score before Giving Season (and why this matters so much)
Laura Andes, Charity Navigator
On the Front Line
Finding untapped major giving potential within your existing donor base
Desirnai' Hicks, FreeWill
12:30 PM – 12:45 PM ET
Networking + break
12:45 PM – 1:15 PM ET
4 steps to reverse the small-dollar donor decline
Kyle Gardner, Charity Navigator
1:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Leading the Way
The types of gifts that matter most in 2026
Michael Thatcher, Charity Navigator | Patrick Schmitt, FreeWill
In the Trenches
The ideal year-end playbook for organizations of different sizes
Lauren Winther-Hansen, FreeWill | Kathryn Mastandrea, Connecticut Foodshare
On the Front Line
Must-use practices for conversations with major donors at end-of-year
Mallory Erickson, Practivated
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Networking + break
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Leading the Way
Keys to winning donor attention in an election year
Patrick Schmitt, FreeWill
In the Trenches
To Be Announced
On the Front Line
Three ways AI is actually helpful at year-end
Lauren Winther-Hansen, FreeWill
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Networking + lunch break
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET
Leading the Way
Crystallize your impact story before year-end
Lea Prince, Charity Navigator
In the Trenches
How to turn December donors into year-round supporters through monthly giving
Dana Snyder, Positive Equation
On the Front Line
How blended gifts can become your very largest donations
Nicole Walton, FreeWill
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET
How to unlock wealth-based giving at year-end
Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP, Texas Tech University
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM ET
Networking + break
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM ET
Leading the Way
To Be Announced
In the Trenches
Year-end mailed appeals your donors can't ignore
Josh Alcorn, Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
On the Front Line
World-class stewardship for your December donors
Lauren Winther-Hansen, FreeWill
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM ET
The DAF Opportunity: Winning Donor-Advised Fund gifts at year-end
H. Daniel Heist, Ph.D., DAF Research Collaborative | Lisa Barr, CAP®, National Philanthropic Trust | Trish Davis, Susan G. Komen
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET
Wrap-up and closing remarks
Some of the world-class experts you'll hear from
Dr. Russell James, J.D., Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech
Michael Thatcher
President and CEO, Charity Navigator
Patrick Schmitt
Co-Founder and Co-CEO, FreeWill
Mallory Erickson
CEO, Practivated
Lisa Barr, CAP®
VP Development-West, National Philanthropic Trust
Laura Andes
Chief Program and Operating Officer, Charity Navigator
Dana Snyder
Founder and CEO, Positive Equation
Josh Alcorn
Co-Producer, Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
Trish Davis
VP of Strategic Philanthropy, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
H. Daniel Heist, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, DAF Research Collective
Kathryn Mastandrea
Senior Director of Strategic Giving, Connecticut Foodshare
Nicole Walton
Senior Director of Major & Planned Giving Strategy, FreeWill
Lauren Winther-Hansen
Nonprofit Training Lead, FreeWill
Lea Prince
VP of Ratings and Methodology, Charity Navigator
Kyle Gardner
Senior VP of Development, Charity Navigator
Desirnai' Hicks
Principal Strategist, FreeWill
Built for development pros at every level.
Whether you're a one-person shop or running a team of 20, there's a track designed around your Q4 reality.
Leading the Way
You set the year-end strategy
For executive directors, VPs, CDOs, Board-level decision makers, and other leaders.
In the Trenches
You run the campaigns
For development directors, annual giving managers, campaign managers, direct response, and marketing and comms.
On the Front Line
You cultivate donors 1:1
For gift officers, development associates, and frontline fundraisers meeting with donors 1:1.
Co-presented by
What nonprofits say about conferences produced by FreeWill.
Questions, answered.
Is this really free?
Yes, 100% free to attend! Plus, recordings and bonus materials will be available to all registrants after the event.
Do I need to attend the whole day?
No. Register once and then visit the event Lobby to bookmark sessions that suit your interests and schedule. The day is organized into learning tracks, but you're free to bounce from track to track throughout the day. Recordings of all sessions will be available after the event.
Is this a sales pitch?
No. The summit is produced by FreeWill and co-sponsored by Charity Navigator. The majority of speakers are development practitioners, not vendors. All of the content is educational and intended to be immediately actionable, whether you are a customer of one of the sponsors or not.
Are CFRE credits available?
We're pursuing, and expect to receive, CFRE approval for eligible sessions. Details will be confirmed and communicated to registrants ahead of the event.
Who should attend?
Any nonprofit development professional, from VPs and planned giving directors to individual contributors managing campaigns or donor stewardship. There are sessions for every level. Be sure to use the Networking feature to connect with other attendees!
Will sessions be recorded?
Yes. All registrants will have access to session recordings and supplemental materials after the event.
Reserve your spot. It takes 30 seconds.
Can't make it live? Every registrant will receive the recordings and supplemental downloads.
