AFP Memphis Conference

*REGISTRATION CLOSES 8.15.25 AT 5 PM CT*

AFP Memphis Conference
Monday, August 18, 2025
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Children's Museum of Memphis

$175 per person

Includes light breakfast, lunch, networking, learning, and a whole host of other amazing speakers.

Register today!

A Picture-Perfect Opportunity only for Conference Attendees

Enhance your professional presence with a fresh headshot from our on-site photographer, Esmee Kyles of Incredibly Wee Photography. Sessions are quick, easy, and include three edited and lightly retouched digital images—perfect for LinkedIn, websites, and professional materials.

Special Conference Pricing:

• $99 when you book in advance
• $129 if booked on-site during the conference

Space is limited, so reserve your spot early to secure your preferred time and lock in the advance rate!

AFP Memphis Conference Headshots with Incredibly Wee Photography

2025 Conference Schedule

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Check-in, Coffee and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Opening Plenary

Big Ideas for Big Donors with Angelica Suarez

10:10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Morning Workshops

Developing a Fundraising Growth Strategy Using Data and Analytics with Tiffany Graham & Andrew Mathewes
Impactful Boards: How to recruit, Engage, and Activate with Raquel Miranda Capocaccia

11:10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

How I Met Your Donor: The Donor Connection Blueprint with Erik Tomalis

Lessons in Becoming a Fundraiser with Colleen McCartney

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Keynote Lunch 

Passion in Action: Shaping the Future of Fundraising with Art Taylor

1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Afternoon Workshops

In Our Stewardship Era: Donor Engagement at Every Level with Bailey Curtright

The Multi-Source Advantage: Building a Resilient Funding Base with Angelica Suarez

2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Afternoon Workshop

Personality Poker with Dr. Bev Vitali

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wrap Up
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour Networking Reception

Speakers & Topic Descriptions

Angelica Suarez
Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Big Ideas for Big Donors

Since big donors love big ideas, nonprofits need to cast vision and innovate to devise the major opportunities that captivate major gift donors. An easy-to-use framework for identifying a compelling vision, a six-step innovation process, and a paper clip will strengthen your ability to craft big ideas for big donors.

The Multi-Source Advantage: Building a Resilient Funding Base

This session will cover strategies to examine revenue streams and create a sustainable base of support through multiple funding sources, such as individual donors, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and special events. Participants will gain insights into assessing their organization's current revenue mix, identifying opportunities for diversification, and developing a comprehensive plan to balance and grow their revenue.

Tiffany Legington Graham & Andrew Jehl Mathewes

Founder & Principal Consultant Mission360 Strategies

Developing a Fundraising Growth Strategy Using Data and Analytics

In August 2025, with limited resources and growing demands, the question of whether to invest in your data strategy or hire your next great fundraiser can feel impossible to answer — but it’s a false choice, no matter your scale. In this session, Tiffany Legington Graham ("The Art") and Andrew Jehl Mathewes ("The Science") present a case study on their time leading the National Civil Rights Museum through a digital transformation, and how you can apply its lessons to wherever you are in your growth journey.

Raquel Miranda Capocaccia
Senior Director of Development at New Memphis

Impactful Boards: How to Recruit, Engage, and Activate

This session will guide you through building and sustaining a strong, aligned board. We’ll explore how to assess your organization’s strategic needs, recruit and secure candidates who bring the right skills and passion, and set clear, realistic expectations from the start. You’ll also learn how to create flexible and meaningful engagement opportunities that keep board members motivated and connected to your mission.

Erik Tomalis

How I Met Your Donor: The Donor Connection Blueprint

The world of generosity has changed. Your donors live in a hyper-personalized world where Netflix predicts their next binge, and their inboxes anticipate their next craving before they do. Meanwhile, too many nonprofits are still sending “Dear Friend” emails and one-size-fits-all appeals—hoping for connection but creating disconnect instead.

The result? Donors feel unseen. Teams work in silos. And generosity stalls.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Enter The Donor Connection Blueprint: a simple, structured framework with five actionable steps to help you meet donors where they are, break down silos, and create meaningful, scalable connections that drive results.

Bailey Curtright
Director of Development, Corporate Giving & Special Events at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

In Our Stewardship Era: Donor Engagement at Every Level

What can fundraisers learn from Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour? This session will use her fan-focused approach as inspiration for creating unforgettable donor experiences. We’ll cover strategies for engaging donors at every stage of the giving cycle, designing impactful stewardship programs that keep supporters coming back, and mastering the art of the thank-you — the most powerful tool in your fundraising toolkit.

Art Taylor
President and CEO of AFP Global

Passion in Action: Shaping the Future of Fundraising

Join us for an inspiring lunch keynote with Art Taylor, the new President and CEO of AFP Global, as he shares the organization’s bold new strategic plan and vision for the future of philanthropy. In a time when passion drives purpose, Art will offer fresh insights on what it means to lead with authenticity, steward change with intention, and elevate the fundraising profession globally. Discover how AFP Global is empowering fundraisers to meet today’s challenges with renewed focus, inclusive leadership, and values-based action. This session will reignite your passion for the work we do and the difference we make—together.

Colleen McCartney
Senior Director of Development, ARTSmemphis

Lessons in Becoming a Fundraiser

Stepping into a fundraising role without a development background can feel daunting — but it’s also an opportunity for growth and fresh perspective. This session explores lessons learned from making that transition, offering key insights for new fundraisers and strategies for supporting staff as they move from non-fundraising roles into development work. We’ll also share helpful resources to build confidence and expertise in the art and science of fundraising.

Our Generous Sponsors

Join us as a Gold Partner Sponsor, Bronze Community Sponsor, or Copper Supporting Sponsor. You can also purchase a full-, half-, or quarter-page ad in the program. For more information, see our Sponsorship and Vendor Packet below. Sponsorships, ads, and vendor spots can be purchased on our event registration page.

2025 Conference Sponsorship & Vendor Information

Bronze Community Sponsor

Copper Supporting Sponsor

Questions?

Francesca Biggam
Conference Chair
Fbiggam@gmail.com