[BREAKING NEWS (March 12, 2020): The AFP ICON in-person experience has been canceled. The AFP ICON VIRTUAL will still take place. Learn more by clicking here.]
The World Health Organization declares that the global spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) is now a pandemic. Nonprofit organizations around the world are beginning to limit non-essential travel, events, and even routine group interactions (e.g., sporting events, performances, classes, visitation, etc.). As the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference draws near, Mike Geiger, AFP President and CEO, continues to closely monitor the evolving situation.
With the AFP ICON scheduled for March 29-31, the organization issued two recent announcements:
- At this point, the conference will open as planned in Baltimore, MD. Both AFP and the Convention Center are taking precautions. You can learn more by clicking here.
- If you cannot or do not want to attend the AFP ICON in-person, you now have the option of participating online.
“AFP knows it’s not a normal time—and your organization may have placed a ban or restriction on your travel, or perhaps you’re unsure and concerned about traveling. But you still need to learn and develop your skills and be inspired by extraordinary speakers from around the world. You still need what AFP ICON can offer, which is why we’re offering AFP ICON VIRTUAL, your online fundraising conference,” says AFP.
Registrants for AFP ICON VIRTUAL will receive:
- Three days of AFP ICON sessions — that’s 9 different education sessions — featuring some of the best content and speakers that AFP ICON has to offer—and each one video-recorded so you can also watch them at your leisure;
- Q&A participation to help you get involved as if you were with us in Baltimore;
- Access to bonus materials including new live content, webinars and micro-learning videos in between education and plenary sessions;
- Keynote sessions with activist Zainab Salbi and Chef José Andrés; and
- Audio recordings of EVERY breakout education session offered at AFP ICON, so you still get all of the training you need to be an effective fundraiser!
The registration fee for AFP ICON VIRTUAL is $1,249 for AFP members or $1,499 for non-members. If you have already registered to attend the conference in Baltimore, AFP permits you to convert your registration to AFP ICON VIRTUAL if you choose.
There are a number of benefits to attending AFP ICON VIRTUAL:
- You can learn from great presenters without the worry about coronavirus.
- You can listen to sessions at your own pace.
- The AFP ICON VIRTUAL registration fee is $250 (members) and $400 (non-members) less than the fee for attending the conference in-person.
- You can save even more money by not having to pay for travel, food, and lodging.
Just as colleges and universities are leveraging technology to offer their classes online rather than on-campus during the pandemic, AFP is doing likewise. While attending AFP ICON in-person offers additional value by providing a great opportunity to network with thousands of other fundraising professionals and meet with service providers in the exhibit hall, AFP ICON VIRTUAL ensures access to an outstanding educational opportunity for those concerned about COVID-19 or who have a limited budget.
You can learn more about AFP ICON VIRTUAL and register by clicking here.
That’s what Michael Rosen says… What do you say?
