2026 Northern California
¡Fundraising Con Ganas!
Fundraising Training for Latinx Focused Nonprofits & Fundraising Professionals
April 9-10, 2026
Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
3287 Mount Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette, CA 94549
Thursday, April 9, 2026, 8am - 5pm (Dinner 6:30-8pm)
Friday, April 10, 2026, 8am - 3:30pm (Closing session 3:30-4pm)
¡Fundraising Con Ganas!
Fundraising Training for Latinx Focused Nonprofits & Fundraising Professionals
April 9-10, 2026
Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
3287 Mount Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette, CA 94549
Thursday, April 9, 2026, 8am - 5pm (Dinner 6:30-8pm)
Friday, April 10, 2026, 8am - 3:30pm (Closing session 3:30-4pm)
Una experiencia única y poderosa aprendiendo fundraising con líderes y activistas latinos. Impartido por los principales fundraisers latinos del país.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Most fundraising conference are expensive, culturally irrelevant and designed for organizations with large budgets and development teams. This conference is designed for small/medium Latinx focused nonprofits. Our hope is that you will attend and use what you learn to launch new types of fundraising at your organization. Furthermore as Somos El Poder members the training and support doesn't end when the conference is over. We are a service organization and support, counsel, train our members long after the conference.
This conference is also focused on nonprofit organization teams of 2 each. We have space for 40 organizations. We will also allow a limited number of individual professional members to attend.
Here are the key components that make this conference unique and potentially game changing for Latinx focused nonprofits. ¡Mira Esto!
This conference is also focused on nonprofit organization teams of 2 each. We have space for 40 organizations. We will also allow a limited number of individual professional members to attend.
Here are the key components that make this conference unique and potentially game changing for Latinx focused nonprofits. ¡Mira Esto!
- Duration: The conference is one night, two days at a regional location to help make it easier for leaders with families to attend.
- Who Attends? We require that all Nonprofit Teams to come with a Board Member. So each nonprofit will be represented by two people. We do this to improve chances of implementation and support for long term fundraising work. One should be the staff person responsible for fundraising whether that's an Executive Director or Director of Development.
- Where? We hold it, intentionally at a beautiful, comfortable location, because we believe in honoring our nonprofit leaders. You and your board member will have a remarkable experience.
- What will we you Learn? The curriculum is designed to help nonprofit leaders jumpstart fundraising. We teach the essentials for leaders with limited time and budget to begin fundraising (see curriculum below).
- Who will Teach? You'll be taught by national Latinx leaders in fundraising, proven leaders in their area of expertise.
- The Cost: The conference fee includes access to the sessions, valet parking, meals, and if applicable hotel room(s), & dinner. This is intentionally inexpensive to make it accessible to Latinx nonprofit teams, professionals, and allies. Please note, this conference was specially designed for Nonprofit teams and the rates reflect that.
- Individual Professional – $850 (Includes 1 hotel room for the night of April 9; price does not change with/without hotel room)
- Team of 2 – $650 (No Hotel Rooms)
- Team of 2 – $850 (Includes up to 2 hotel rooms for the night of April 9)
- Team of 3 – $975 (No Hotel Rooms)
- Team of 3 – $1,275 (Includes up to 3 hotel rooms for the night of April 9)
- Team of 4 – $1,300 (No Hotel Rooms)
- Team of 4 – $1,700 (Includes up to 4 hotel rooms for the night of April 9)
- Long-term support through SEP: Unlike most conferences attendees will be Somos El Poder members who can receive long-term support in their implementation.
- Funder Lunch: Day two will feature a lunch that includes regional and national funders for networking for organizations.
- Dinner: We will have a gala Latino Menu and Entertainment the night of April 9, 2026.
About Fundraising Con Ganas!
REGISTRATION FORM
Centered on Latinx focused nonprofits. Conference fee includes access to the sessions both days, self-parking, meals, dinner on June TBD, and lastly, if applicable, hotel rooms. This event is for Somos El Poder members ONLY! If your organization is NOT a member, please go to BECOME A MEMBER PAGE> before registering.
ABOUT THE VENUE
Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
3287 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, CA 94549
3287 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, CA 94549
Curriculum
DAY 1, Thursday, April 9. ADVANCE TRACK
DAY 1, Thursday, April 9. INTRODUCTORY Track
DAY 2, Friday, April 10. ADVANCE Track
DAY 2, Friday, April 10. Introductory Track
DAY 1, Thursday, April 9. ADVANCE TRACK
- Principles of Fundraising. This course is an overview of everything one needs to know about the fundraising process, fundraising as a career, and standards of professional practice. We will also cover unspoken obstacles such as attitudes toward fundraising, money, Latino giving, planning, racism and Board support.
- Starting and Growing a Small Major Gifts Program: A comprehensive view of major and principal gift development work. Understanding the philosophy and strategies implemented in major gift development including prospect identification, how to initially engage a potential major gift donor, the process of cultivation and move management.
- Creating a More Diverse and Effective Board. Strategies to recruit and build an engaged, strong staff/board partnership to advance your institution. Also, strategic Board training to strengthen your organization.
- Solicitation and Asking for Money. Developing appropriate fundraising strategies and plans for their donors including: ways to involve potential donors before and after donations, and providing ongoing recognition and opportunities for giving.
- Mini-session: Implementing a Monthly Donor Campaign. How to launch and sustain a monthly giving program.
- Fundamentals of Prospect Research and Prospecting. Prospect research is key to getting the most of your relationship with major donors. This course covers each step to identifying and prioritizing the funders that are most likely to support their organization.
- Corporate Fundraising Strategies. Tapping local corporate funding requires consideration of scale, geography, mission, and network. Organization can identify supporters from the business world, build relationships, prepare for, and launch a plan to tap into corporate funding.
DAY 1, Thursday, April 9. INTRODUCTORY Track
- Principles of Fundraising. This course is an overview of everything one needs to know about the fundraising process, fundraising as a career, and standards of professional practice. We will also cover unspoken obstacles such as attitudes toward fundraising, money, Latino giving, planning, racism and Board support.
- Workshop: Designing a Development Plan. Develop a plan to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward sustainable funding sources by building ongoing relationships, utilizing existing donors as partners, promoting growth, accountability and improving processes.
- Mini-Session: Essentials of Grant Writing. A beginner’s guide to crafting compelling grant proposals. Plus a worksheet that can be used to train new volunteers or staff in the process of grantwriting.
- (En Español) Creación y desarrollo de un programa de pequeños eventos de grandes donaciones. Pequeños eventos enfocados en donaciones grandes puede ser la mejor estrategía de implementación para el desarrollo de donaciones importantes. Identificación de prospectos, cómo involucrar inicialmente a un posible donante importante, el proceso de cultivar la relación y solicitar la donación.
- Organizational Marketing Essentials: What Every Nonprofit Needs. Overview of the Marketing Checklist with items every nonprofit should have for a strong foundation.
DAY 2, Friday, April 10. ADVANCE Track
- Shark Tank: Elevator Pitch Practice. This will be a group practice session for the first time you get on the phone with a Program Officer from a Foundation that has the potential to make a grant or large gift to your nonprofit. It's a critical moment and you have to sell your organization, quickly, clearly and honestly.
- From Zoomers to Boomers: Data-backed Strategies to Engage & Inspire Donors of All Ages. By Bloomerang. Engaging donors of all ages (from Gen Z to Baby Boomers). An organization'soutreach should be optimized through a generational lens to ensure the right audienceis being reached with the right message. Teaching development teams to unlockhidden potential with donors based on generational giving trend.
- Workshop: Helping your board understand and invest in fundraising. Guidance on educating and engaging board members for stronger fundraising outcomes. Boards can be powerful allies or undermine your development work.
- Cold Calling and Getting the First Appointment: Every organization has their top prospects they would love to reach, perhaps they aren't billionaires, but they are the people who can make those game changing gifts! We ask Development Officers to reach new major gifts prospects. But often nobody realizes that getting a difficult or first appointment is a learned skill.
- Hands-on Activity: Prospect Research. Techniques for identifying and researching potential donors, using publicly available data sources and tools to better understand donor interests, giving capacity, and alignment with their organization’s mission.
- Story Telling and End-of-Year Giving. Every organization needs a giving community, network of donors that share the interest of your organization; personal, interactive, and engaging communities of donors that can participate and support its mission. Preparation to sharing your story for your end of the year giving campaigns.
DAY 2, Friday, April 10. Introductory Track
- Shark Tank: Elevator Pitch Practice. This will be a group practice session for the first time you get on the phone with a Program Officer from a Foundation that has the potential to make a grant or large gift to your nonprofit. It's a critical moment and you have to sell your organization, quickly, clearly and honestly.
- (En Español) Cómo encontrar tiempo para la recaudación de fondos. Gestión del tiempo y cómo mantener la concentración en el trabajo.
- Workshop: Cold Calling Practice for Individuals and Foundations. This is a practice session to improve negotiations and on cold call conversations.
- (En Español) Desarrollo y formación de la junta directiva. Creando una junta directiva más diversa y eficaz. Capacitación y creación de un sistema en el que ambos, su equipo y los miembros de la junta directiva, estén involucrados para lograr mejores resultados en la recaudación de fondos. La junta directiva pueden ser una diferencia poderosa en el trabajo de desarrollo.
- Mini-session: Improving Your Foundation Giving. Strengthen your grant funding process, build your foundation support, develop roots at the foundation, and nurture your relationships.
- Story Telling and End-of-Year Giving. Every organization needs a giving community, network of donors that share the interest of your organization; personal, interactive, and engaging communities of donors that can participate and support its mission. Preparation to sharing your story for your end of the year giving campaigns.
Sponsors
KEY SPONSORS
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Your Instructors
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Armando Zumaya, Founder & Executive Director, Somos El Poder.
Armando has been in fundraising for over 38 years in a variety of roles that have given him a unique perspective on all aspects of development offices, fundraising culture and Latinx in the US. |
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Diana DeJesus-Medina, Chief Development Officer, LatinoJustice PRLDEF
With more than 25 years of expertise in nonprofit management, Diana specializes in organizational, leadership and fund development, as well as strategic planning. |
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Lisandra Lamboy, Senior Director of Advancement for The Knowledge House
Experienced non-profit executive with a demonstrated commitment to social justice. Skilled in Individual Fundraising, Grant Writing, Corporate Partnerships, Donor-Centric Communications, and Salesforce. |
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Yuri E. Casco, CFRE, Director, Donor Engagement & Special Events, USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation
Fundraising professional with over 22 years experience in non-profit management, capital campaigns, government grants, corporate giving, annual giving, employee giving, special events, and planned giving. |
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Josef Manuel Liles, Ph.D.
A prospect research and analytics professional with over a decade of experience and post-graduate training in research methods. |
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Marco Corona, Senior Development Officer at Southern Environmental Law Center
Marco is a veteran fundraiser with over 20 years experience serving in development roles. |
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does it cost to attend?
You must be a Somos El Poder Member only to attend this event. If you are not a member, you will be asked to Become a member. Here are the price rates:
What does the fee cover?
The conference fee includes access to the sessions, valet parking, meals, and if applicable hotel room(s), & dinner. Incidentals to your room (such as ordering food), travel to and from the location, and other services by the hotel are not covered by the fee and are the responsibility of the attendees.
Who can attend?
Attendance is ONLY for Somos El Poder members. Your organization can join on the Membership Web Page if it meets our criteria for membership. Go to Become a member page> Conference is open to all Latinx focused nonprofits that are Somos El Poder members, membership parameters can be found on our website at https://www.somoselpoder.org/become-a-member.html
What if I want to stay more nights at the hotel?
If you want to stay the night before or after the conference you can get the special rate at the hotel but Somos El Poder is not responsible to pay for those nights. Once you arrive at the hotel, they will ask for an ID and a credit card. The card is for incidentals to the room. The night of February 20, 2025 might be included in your registration based on price tier that you selected, and there will no cost for that. Any incidentals you order (food or drinks) to your room will not be covered by Somos El Poder.
What are the deadlines to sign up?
CANCELLATION POLICY:
To ensure the smooth running of the Fundraising Con Ganas Conference and to minimize financial losses, we kindly request that all registrants adhere to our cancellation policy. You can cancel your registration 3 weeks prior to get a full refund (see deadlines above). Registrants who need to cancel must do so at least following the hotel policy of 48 hours before their scheduled arrival to avoid cancellation penalties. This means cancellations must be made by April 7 at 3:00 PM PST for arrivals on April 8, and by April 8 at 3:00 PM PST for arrivals on April 9. Failure to cancel within this timeframe will result in the following: (1) For registered teams: Your organization may be invoiced for unrecoverable costs related to your reservation. Costs can vary from $200 to $850 per person, depending on hotel rooms reserved and expenses incurred. (2) For sponsored teams: The organization that sponsored your team will be notified of your attendance status. (3) Organizations or individual attendees will risk scholarship privileges in the future. All participants benefit from substantially discounted registration fees and accommodations. When cancellations occur, these pre-paid resources cannot be reallocated. Therefore, late cancellations or no-shows without prior notice to the Somos El Poder team may result in your organization being billed for the additional costs incurred for reserved accommodations and meals for you and/or your team. This policy helps ensure fairness, accountability, and the sustainability of our programming. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
More details to be aware of:
You must be a Somos El Poder Member only to attend this event. If you are not a member, you will be asked to Become a member. Here are the price rates:
- $850 - Individual Professional (Includes 1 hotel room for the night of April 9; price does not change with/without hotel room)
- $650 - Team of 2 (No Hotel Rooms)
- $850 - Team of 2 (Includes up to 2 hotel rooms for the night of April 9)
- $975 - Team of 3 (No Hotel Rooms)
- $1,275 - Team of 3 (Includes up to 3 hotel rooms for the night of April 9)
- $1,300 - Team of 4 (No Hotel Rooms)
- $1,700 - Team of 4 (Includes up to 4 hotel rooms for the night of April 9)
What does the fee cover?
The conference fee includes access to the sessions, valet parking, meals, and if applicable hotel room(s), & dinner. Incidentals to your room (such as ordering food), travel to and from the location, and other services by the hotel are not covered by the fee and are the responsibility of the attendees.
Who can attend?
Attendance is ONLY for Somos El Poder members. Your organization can join on the Membership Web Page if it meets our criteria for membership. Go to Become a member page> Conference is open to all Latinx focused nonprofits that are Somos El Poder members, membership parameters can be found on our website at https://www.somoselpoder.org/become-a-member.html
What if I want to stay more nights at the hotel?
If you want to stay the night before or after the conference you can get the special rate at the hotel but Somos El Poder is not responsible to pay for those nights. Once you arrive at the hotel, they will ask for an ID and a credit card. The card is for incidentals to the room. The night of February 20, 2025 might be included in your registration based on price tier that you selected, and there will no cost for that. Any incidentals you order (food or drinks) to your room will not be covered by Somos El Poder.
What are the deadlines to sign up?
- March 9, 2026. The deadline for discounted rates for additional room nights at the expense of the attendee, that's $249 + taxes (9.7%) & fees.
- March 19, 2026. Final day to cancel to get full refund of your registration cost.
- April 3rd, 2026. Deadline to make changes to the names on your registration. Contact [email protected]
- April 7, 2026. Deadline to contact the hotel's team to make changes to the names on your hotel rooms.
- April 7, 2026. For those with hotel rooms, this is the safe deadline to cancel attendance without incurring penalties as per the cancellation policy below.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
To ensure the smooth running of the Fundraising Con Ganas Conference and to minimize financial losses, we kindly request that all registrants adhere to our cancellation policy. You can cancel your registration 3 weeks prior to get a full refund (see deadlines above). Registrants who need to cancel must do so at least following the hotel policy of 48 hours before their scheduled arrival to avoid cancellation penalties. This means cancellations must be made by April 7 at 3:00 PM PST for arrivals on April 8, and by April 8 at 3:00 PM PST for arrivals on April 9. Failure to cancel within this timeframe will result in the following: (1) For registered teams: Your organization may be invoiced for unrecoverable costs related to your reservation. Costs can vary from $200 to $850 per person, depending on hotel rooms reserved and expenses incurred. (2) For sponsored teams: The organization that sponsored your team will be notified of your attendance status. (3) Organizations or individual attendees will risk scholarship privileges in the future. All participants benefit from substantially discounted registration fees and accommodations. When cancellations occur, these pre-paid resources cannot be reallocated. Therefore, late cancellations or no-shows without prior notice to the Somos El Poder team may result in your organization being billed for the additional costs incurred for reserved accommodations and meals for you and/or your team. This policy helps ensure fairness, accountability, and the sustainability of our programming. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
More details to be aware of:
- We have a limited number of seats for the conference.
- Please let us know in advance if you have dietary restrictions.
- Instruction will be in English, some materials might be in Spanish and English.
- Health and Safety- Anyone is welcome to wear a mask we are not requiring testing at this time.
- Please Bring your laptops. Some classes might require that, especially to see the presentations on your laptops.
