UNITE: AFP Fundraising Collective
About this Event
Join us for UNITE: AFP Fundraising Collective, a dynamic, one-day professional development forum designed to empower and connect fundraisers and nonprofit professionals in the Saskatoon region. This year featuring an opening session and workshop with renowned fundraising expert Lynne Wester of the Donor Relations Group!
Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out, this event offers a low-cost, high-impact opportunity to grow your skills, expand your network, and earn CFRE continuing education credits.
📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
🕣 Forum: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. + Mix & Mingle: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
📍High Up Above Room, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Saskatoon, SK (discounted room rate available for attendees, see below for details)
Why Attend?
🎓Professional Development: Gain insights from experienced fundraisers and sector leaders through interactive sessions and group problem-solving.
✍️Hands-On Learning: Participate in creative, and practical sessions covering topics such as:
- The future of fundraising in the world of AI
- Fundraising communications and donor retention
- Innovative strategies to enhance the donor experience at your organization
🤝Community Building: Strengthen connections with peers across fundraising, stewardship, data/analytics, communications, and nonprofit leadership.
🍹Mix & Mingle: Wrap up the day with a mixer for all event attendees from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. to continue the conversation, expand your network, and get a complimentary headshot by Dave Stobbe!
Early Bird Pricing - Available until July 31, 2026
AFP Member Rate - $200
Non-Member Rate - $250
Regular Pricing - Available until September 25, 2025
AFP Member Rate - $225
Non-Member Rate - $300
Hotel Booking
STAYBRIDGE SUITES EAST – UNIVERSITY
1838 College Drive, Building #2
Saskatoon, SK S1N 2Z8
🛎 How to Book Your Stay
• Hotel Direct: 1-(306) 952-4888
• Or simply click the special booking link:👉 Group Booking Link
📅 Group Details
Group Name: UNITE Forum by AFP
Group Code: AFP
Event Dates: Oct 01–02, 2026
Cut-Off Date: Sep 01, 2026
🏨 Your Stay Includes
• Comfortable room accommodations
• Full American Breakfast Buffet every morning
• Complimentary Parking
Room Rate: $164.00 per night
For more information, please contact Andrea Hala, AFP Saskatoon Programming Chair at [email protected]
Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Registration open
🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:00 AM
Welcome and housekeeping
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM
The Future of Fundraising Is Human
Host: Lynne Wester
Info: As artificial intelligence continues to transform how organizations operate, many are asking what it means for the future of fundraising. The answer is simple: the future of fundraising is human.
Fundraising has always been built on relationships—trust, empathy, gratitude, and shared purpose. While technology can help us work faster and analyze more data, it cannot replace the human connection that inspires generosity. Donors give because they care about people and impact, not because of an algorithm.
In this thought-provoking keynote, we explore how AI is reshaping the nonprofit landscape and why the most powerful role it will play is as assistive intelligence, not artificial intelligence. When used thoughtfully, these tools can enhance our work and free fundraisers to focus on what matters most: building meaningful relationships with donors.
Technology will evolve. Tools will change. But the heart of fundraising will remain the same: people connecting with people to create change.
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Break
🕑: 10:00 AM - 12:15 PM
From First Gift to Forever: Reimagine Your First-Time Donor Experience
Host: Lynne Wester
Info: If you’ve ever worried about losing donors after their first gift, you're not alone. According to AFP’s Fundraising Effectiveness Survey, only ~18% of first-time donors are retained year-over-year. Translation? If you don’t make an impact early, you lose your chance at a meaningful, long-term relationship—and you can say goodbye to that future major gift.
In this data-backed, sample-rich session, we’ll walk through a jaw-dropping case study: how the Donor Relations Group (DRG) helped a client welcome 250,000 first-time donors to their nonprofit family in one month and built a mass communications strategy designed not just to thank them, but to keep them giving year after year.
Whether you steward 25 or 25,000 new donors a month, you’ll leave with:
• A framework for retention-focused donor journeys
• Real-world samples of donor communications that build loyalty
• Scalable ideas you can implement right away
• Tips to move from reactive to proactive donor relations
🕑: 12:15 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch (provided)
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Say It So They Repeat It: Inside RUH Foundation’s Brand Refresh
Host: Jennifer Molloy
Info: Four years ago, Royal University Hospital Foundation described itself with a long list of care pillars and a tagline that didn’t say what it does. In 2025, the Foundation refreshed its brand and rebuilt its messaging from the ground up: one core message, three supporting points, language short enough that people could repeat it.
In this session, Jennifer Molloy, CEO, and Jeanette Neufeld, Director of Communications, will walk you through what that work involved, what had to be cut to get there, and how they know it’s landing. You’ll spend part of the session testing your own organization’s message against what your colleagues and your website say. You’ll leave with a clear sense of whether you can explain your role in the community, and what to do if you can’t.
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:00 PM
Break
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM
Beyond the Cost of Caution: The case for the $raising resources your org needs
Host: Christy Miller
Info: Many fundraising professionals know what their organization needs to grow—but securing the budget, staff, or technology to make it happen can be one of the toughest conversations they face.
Building on the release of "The Cost of Caution", a new research report from Global Philanthropic Canada, this session explores why under-investment in fundraising often comes at a much greater cost than organizations realize. Through Canadian research, practical examples, and proven strategies, participants will learn how to reframe fundraising as a strategic investment rather than an administrative expense.
Whether you're seeking approval for a new position, a technology investment, professional development, or campaign resources, this session will equip you with practical tools to build a compelling business case that resonates with executive leadership and boards.
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM
Break
🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Inside the Donor’s Decision: What Makes an Ask Stand Out
Host: Don Gorsalitz
Info: What makes a donor take a closer look at one opportunity while passing over another? In this candid panel discussion, leading philanthropists will share how and why they give, what they look for in proposals, and how they navigate the many requests they receive. Panelists will offer practical insight into what builds confidence, what elevates an ask, and what can quickly undermine a potential gift. Fundraisers will leave with a clearer understanding of the donor perspective and practical guidance for developing more thoughtful, compelling and donor-centred approaches.
🕑: 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Headshots with Stobbe Photo - Mix & Mingle Event
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 200.00 to CAD 300.00
