Join us for the third annual Nonprofit Fundraising Summit hosted in Eugene on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Come network, share experiences, and learn from knowledgeable experts in the sector. This event will feature three tracks for fundraisers representing a variety of development programs, budgets, and experience levels: 

• Track A (Foundational) is ideal for small and/or rural nonprofits. This track will focus on the building blocks of fundraising to support those with limited fundraising experience. We will cover how to maximize your donor database, donor stewardship, and grant writing.   
• Track B (Intermediate) is designed for midsize nonprofits. Participants will build on their foundational skills and explore growth areas. Topics include development plan life cycles, finance for fundraisers, and a deeper dive into grant writing.
• Track C (Specialized) is intended to support large nonprofits. Participants will learn more advanced fundraising techniques and gain in-depth knowledge. This track will cover donor advised funds (DAFs), planned giving, and an in-depth look at grant funding trends from the past decade and what they reveal about today’s grant landscape.

Not sure which track is right for you? No worries – you have the option to attend sessions from different tracks. Choose your own adventure or stick to one track throughout the day! Registration is offered on a sliding scale based on your nonprofit’s budget. 

Following the Summit breakout sessions, attendees are invited to a Networking Reception with light refreshments and beverages. This relaxed gathering offers time to connect with fellow fundraising professionals, continue conversations from the day, and build new relationships across the sector. 

This Summit is an educational event and an opportunity to meet with other fundraising professionals. We look forward to welcoming you to Eugene for this day of learning and connection! 

Cost

Member Prices by Organization Budget

• Under $2M: $225
• Over $2M: $325

Nonmember Prices by Organization Budget

• Under $2M: $300
• Over $2M: $400

Registration will close on February 20 at 5 p.m. or when we reach capacity.

[accordion title="Agenda"]

[accordion-item title="Doors Open & Breakfast Served" info="8:00 a.m."]

Check-in at the registration table, enjoy a continental breakfast, and network with new and familiar colleagues.

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[accordion-item title="Welcome & Opening Plenary" info="8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. "]
Room: Willamette Ballroom

Join us bright and early for a candid look at where our sector stands and what lies ahead for nonprofit fundraisers. Jim White, Executive Director of NAO, will open the morning with an update on the current state of Oregon’s nonprofit sector, offering insight into the various realities shaping the nonprofit sector today. Jim will then be joined by Laurel McCombs of The Osborne Group for an honest and forward-looking conversation about the emerging challenges and opportunities facing fundraisers. Together, they will explore what is shifting in the years ahead, and where fundraisers can focus their energy for the greatest impact. This opening conversation is designed to ground the day in real-world context while offering clarity, perspective, and momentum for the sessions that follow. 

The plenary includes a hosted networking breakfast, intentionally designed to help attendees connect with peers in similar roles and fundraising contexts. Begin the day building relationships, sharing experiences, and finding common ground with fellow conferencegoers. 

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[accordion-item title="Break" info="10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. "]

Refill your coffee and make your way to the first breakout session.

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[accordion-item title="Breakout Session 1" info="10:20 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. "]

Session 1A – Foundational: The Power of Engagement: How Micro Events Create Big Impact 
Presented by: Laurel McCombs, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, The Osborne Group
Room: McKenzie Ballroom

Large galas and auctions aren’t necessarily the right fit for every organization – and in today’s fundraising climate, they can demand more time, money, and energy than many nonprofits can sustain. This foundational session will highlight how shifting away from “one big annual event” can open the door to more sustainable, relationship-driven fundraising and introduces micro events as a flexible, community-centered alternative. Learn how smaller, more intentional gatherings can deepen donor relationships, increase engagement, and still raise meaningful funds without the heavy lift of traditional large-scale events.   

Geared toward nonprofit professionals who are considering alternatives to traditional fundraising events like galas or auctions and who are looking for practical, approachable ways to engage their community in fundraising.

Session 1B - Intermediate: Financial Management for Fundraising Professionals 
Presented by: Brittany Kirk, President & Grant Practice Director, Cloudbreak Collective and Dan Tritch, Director, Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
Room: Columbia Ballroom

This workshop will teach fundraisers how to understand the basics of nonprofit accounting in service of stronger, more effective collaboration between finance and fundraising teams. Fundraising and financial professionals typically have different skill sets, risk tolerance levels, and perspectives on daily nonprofit work, yet we frequently need to collaborate and make decisions.  

Join a nonprofit finance specialist and a fundraising specialist as we unpack the conversations, systems, and decisions where finance and fundraising typically overlap, such as budgets, grant applications and reports, gift tracking and reconciliation, and revenue projections. Participants will leave this workshop with improved skills and knowledge to: 

• Communicate and collaborate with financial professionals (and understand frequently used nonprofit accounting jargon!) 
• Build meaningful budgets for grant applications and other fundraising strategies 
• Interpret financial instructions and attachment requirements in grant applications 
• Effectively set and track fundraising revenue targets throughout the year 
• Answer financial questions posed by board members and donors 
• Understand the financial implications of new grant or program growth opportunities 
• Untangle gift tracking discrepancies between fundraising and finance departments 
• Support accurate reporting and auditing 

Session 1C - Specialized: Understanding the Grant Landscape: Lessons Learned from a Decade of Funding Trends
Presented by: Megan Foster, Lead Executive Officer, PARC Resources
Room: Willamette Ballroom 

Developing a funding strategy is a key part of nonprofit development work. While this can be challenging during any year, it becomes increasingly complicated in times of uncertainty and change. What is really happening to grant funding today? What changes are predictable? What changes are new?   

In this interactive session, we’ll examine grant funding trends from the past ten years, exploring shifts in funding sources, priorities, and availability to better understand today’s grant landscape. The session will include facilitated peer discussion of what organizations are experiencing right now, with participants leaving equipped with key considerations for building a funding strategy that is responsive to today’s realities and grounded in long-term funding patterns.     

This session will be most valuable for seasoned development professionals working in organizations that significantly rely on grant funding to support their work. 

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[accordion-item title="Lunch" info="12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. "]

Enjoy lunch, network with your fellow fundraisers, and discuss what you've learned.

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[accordion-item title="Breakout Session 2" info="1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. "]

Session 2A - Foundational: Telling Your Story: Writing Clear and Compelling Grant Proposals 
Presented by: Hannah Cortez, Director of Outreach & Education, The Dotted i 
Room: McKenzie Ballroom

Grant writing gets a bad rap, but at its heart, it’s just storytelling with some rules and a word count. This beginner-friendly session introduces participants to grant writing as a clear, intentional way of communicating their organization’s work and impact. We’ll focus on practical ways to clearly and confidently describe community need, program activities, and impact through human-centered narratives that help funders quickly understand why your work matters and why they should care. Using real-world examples and simple writing strategies, participants will learn how to align their organization’s story with funder guidelines while still centering the community and participants they serve. Attendees will learn how to: 

• Apply basic storytelling principles to describe need, programs, and impact in a grant proposal. 
• Practice writing clear, concise responses that align organizational goals with funder interests. 

Ideal for early-career nonprofit professionals or first-time grant writers who want to improve their writing confidence and learn how to tell their organization’s story in a way that resonates with funders. 

Session 2B - Intermediate: From Ideas to Action: Aligning Teams & Strategy Throughout the Fundraising Life Cycle
Presented by: Sally Dadmun Bixby, Team Leader, Philanthropy Studio
Room: Columbia Ballroom

A development plan should do more than sit on a shelf. It should guide decisions, drive action, and adapt as your organization grows. The most effective plans are implemented, monitored, evaluated, and adjusted over time, while building a shared culture of philanthropy and a team-based approach to fundraising. 

In this interactive session, participants will focus on putting a development plan into action across the full fundraising life cycle. You will explore how to execute a comprehensive plan that spans donor acquisition, stewardship, and renewal, while aligning board, staff, and volunteers around shared goals, clear roles, and collective accountability. 

Participants will dive into stewardship planning, accountability structures, and performance tracking, with a strong emphasis on using key performance indicators (KPIs) to guide decision-making and adjust strategy as needed. This session includes ready-to-use templates and practical tools participants can immediately apply to strengthen execution, collaboration, and long-term fundraising success. 

Session 2C - Specialized: Demystifying Donor-Advised Funds
Room: Willamette Ballroom

Panelists:

• Ron Cohen, Associate Wealth Management Advisor, Clarity Financial Planning Group
• Maylian Pak, Director of Donor Relations, Oregon Community Foundation
• Grady Goodall, Senior Director of Development, Division of Arts and Sciences, OSU Foundation

Facilitated by: Jim White, Executive Director, Nonprofit Association of Oregon 

As donor-advised funds (DAFs) continue to shape the philanthropic landscape, nonprofits are navigating how to thoughtfully incorporate them into advanced fundraising strategies. This facilitated panel brings together community foundation leaders and a financial advisor to examine how DAFs are being used today, how they influence the flow and timing of charitable dollars, and what this means for nonprofit planning and sustainability. Moving beyond the basics, this discussion will explore practical realities, emerging trends, and strategic implications – equipping experienced fundraising professionals with greater clarity for navigating DAFs as part of a broader development strategy. 

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[accordion-item title="Break" info="2:15 p.m. - 2:35 p.m."]

Refill your coffee and make your way to the third breakout session.

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[accordion-item title="Breakout Session 3" info="2:35 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. "]

Session 3A - Foundational: Building Your Donor List
Presented by: Jennifer Monegan, Director of Membership, Development and Communications, Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Room: McKenzie Ballroom

A donor list is more than just a collection of names, contact information, and donation records. It’s a key resource that helps fundraisers maintain relationships and grow lasting support. In this session, we will unpack practical methods for building donor lists and learn how to use them effectively. 

Topics we will cover include: 

• Building & growing your list, starting with tried-and-true supporters, volunteers, and event attendees. Learn how to identify prospects and develop donor profiles. 
• Using donor databases, or customer relationship management (CRM) systems, to collect information, maintain clean data, track donor activity, and more. 
• Engaging & stewarding donors. Growing your list takes effort, but the payoff is worth it. Keep up the momentum by connecting with donors in ways that are meaningful to them to build trust and support. 

Session 3B - Intermediate: Developing Realistic and Compelling Grant Evaluation Metrics and Deliverables 
Presented by: April Christiansen, Grant Consultant, April Christiansen Grant Consulting
Room: Columbia Ballroom

You’re doing meaningful work to advance your mission and serve your community – but how can you measure your impact in a way that is both realistic and persuasive to funders? This session will guide you through creating grant evaluation metrics and deliverables that reflect your organization’s capacity and the type of grant you are seeking – whether operating support, project funding, capacity building, or capital. Learn strategies for tracking meaningful outcomes, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data, and collaborating effectively with partners to ensure measurement is accurate, actionable, and sustainable. 

By the end of this session, you’ll have tools to design evaluation metrics that strengthen your current grants and inform future proposals. Attendees will: 

• Identify what your organization can realistically measure and track for grant reporting. 
• Collect and use qualitative and quantitative data from program participants and stakeholders. 
• Leverage existing tools and data sources (e.g., census, school data) to support evaluation. 
• Establish clear agreements with partners on data collection and reporting. 
• Apply best practices for consistent measurement throughout the grant period. 
• Use metrics to strengthen future applications and build organizational credibility. 

Ideal for grant writers, development directors, organizational leaders, and program managers involved in grant planning, fundraising, program delivery, and reporting.

Session 3C - Specialized: Beyond the Bequest: Creating a Legacy Giving Culture
Presented by: Elena Fracchia, Founder, The Good Philanthropist
Room: Willamette Ballroom

Legacy giving isn't just about wills and estate plans. It's about inviting your most passionate supporters into a deeper relationship with your mission. This session reframes planned giving as a natural extension of donor cultivation and stewardship rather than a separate specialty. You'll learn why nonprofits must proactively lead these conversations rather than waiting for donors to raise the topic, how to weave legacy discussions into your existing development activities, and how to recognize the signals that donors are ready for deeper engagement. Perfect for organizations where development staff are wearing the planned giving hat alongside other responsibilities, this session provides a roadmap for building momentum with the team you already have. 

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[accordion-item title="Closing" info="4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. "]

Come together for a closing conversation to reflect on key takeaways and celebrate our collective learning from the day.

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[accordion-item title="Reception" info="4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. "]
Wind down and connect with colleagues during a relaxed networking reception with hors d’oeuvres and drinks. 

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[accordion title="Supplemental Event Info"]

[accordion-item title="Conference Exhibitors"]

We are thrilled to welcome exhibitors to the Nonprofit Fundraising Summit. Make sure to stop by their tables! 

• Amplify HR
• Bloomerang
• Cloudbreak Collective
• Kindr Foundation
• Oregon Pacific Bank
• Your Part-Time Controller

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[accordion-item title="Lodging"]

NAO has secured a room block at the Valley River Inn for February 25. Please refer to your event confirmation email for instructions on how to reserve a room. The cutoff date for guest room reservations is Wednesday, February 4. While staying at the Valley River Inn, guests have access to a number of amenities such as free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center, the onsite restaurant, pet-friendly rooms, and more. For information on additional lodging options, food, and activities, check out Eugene, Cascades & Coast.

Room rate:

• Deluxe Queen Queen: $139/night plus taxes and fees

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[accordion-item title="Parking"]

There is ample free parking available at this venue. The largest parking lot is just NW of the entrance.

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[accordion-item title="Menu"]

Coffee service all day.

BREAKFAST

• Freshly cut seasonal fruits and berries
• Vanilla-almond granola
• Individual Greek yogurts
• Whole bananas
• Hard boiled eggs
• Oatmeal served with brown sugar, raisins and milk
• Orange juice, apple juice, regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee and hot tea selections

LUNCH – ITALIAN BUFFET
Salad 

• Garden salad
• Caprese salad w/ tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and balsamic drizzle

Sides

• Garlic Bread
• Grilled Vegetables

Entrée

• Roasted chicken breast
• Italian meatballs
• Penne and Spaghetti pasta
• Marinara sauce
• Alfredo sauce

Dessert

• Tiramisu cupcakes

Beverages

• Lemonade & iced tea

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[accordion-item title="Cancellation and Refund Policy"]

• Substitutions: If you’d like to transfer your event registration to another individual, please email a request to [email protected]. We cannot apply your payment to a future training event.
• No Shows: If you are unable to attend an event and have not cancelled in advance, your payment will not be refunded. 
• Refunds: Refunds minus a 25% handling charge, will be accepted for the conference until Friday, February 20, 2026. Cancellations received after this time frame will not be refunded.
• If NAO Cancels an Event: We reserve the right to cancel any event or substitute presenters if needed. If we cancel an event, we will be sure to personally contact all registrants and offer a full refund.
• View more about NAO's refund, privacy, media, and accommodations policies.

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[sponsors title="Sponsors" description="] [/sponsors]