2024 Chicago
​ ​¡Fundraising Con Ganas!
CONFERENCE

​February 29 - March 1, 2024
Chicago Langham Hotel
330 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, Illinois 

February 29, 2024 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
​(breakfast starts at 8am, and curriculum at 9am. Dinner reception from 6:30pm-8pm)
March 1st, 2024 from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Una experiencia única y poderosa aprendiendo fundraising con líderes y activistas latinos. Impartido por los principales fundraisers latinos del país.

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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 members to attend for the first time. 

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 Executive Directors with families to attend. 
• Who Attends? We require that all attendees 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, hotel room for one night, all food, and parking will be covered in the registration fee. This year we will allow three-person teams and individuals to register at their own tier price. This is intentionally inexpensive to make it accessible to any Latinx nonprofit and professional. 
  • Nonprofit organization (2-member team) Registration fee: $550
  • Nonprofit organization (3-member team) Registration fee: $800
  • Individual Member Registration fee: $450
• 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 that night

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Highlights Video from Fundraising Con Ganas , Pasadena, CA April 2023

Register to Attend!

Fill out this form to Apply and Register for this conference, since the conference is centered on Latinx focused non profits we review each application and approve each. The entire conference fee includes full access, hotel room, and meals. This event is for Somos El Poder member organizations and individuals only. If your organization is not a member, please go to our Become a Member page.  Membership Applications will be reviewed for approval according to the criteria detailed on that webpage.​​

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About the Venue
The Langham Chicago: Is one of the highest rated hotels in the US, including a Forbes 5 Star Rating since 2016. Langham has been highly supportive of the work of Somos El Poder and has made it possible to host you at their remarkable hotel. 

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What are people saying about Fundraising Con Ganas?

The Somos El Poder development training is the training that I wish I would have had when I first came to the Latino Policy Forum 15 years ago.  It would have saved me a lot of time and energy. It is substantive, comprehensive, and thorough. While there are other places to learn about fundraising, Somos El Poder is unique in being able to do it with other Latino non-profit leaders, and learn from some of the leading development people in the nation.  I so appreciate Armando’s vision and passion.

​​Sylvia Puente, Latino Policy Forum, Chicago. Attended FCG in Pasadena

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Curriculum 

• Introduction to 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Guerilla Prospecting: Live demonstration of prospecting using LinkedIn, Inside Philanthropy, Rocket Reach and other tools. All tools are inexpensive or free. Proven methods for engaging individual, corporate and foundation prospects.
• 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.
• Board Best Practices and Recruitment: Boards can be powerful allies or undermine your development work. To advance your institution, this covers best engagement methods, training and other methods to build a strong staff/board partnership. Also, strategic Board recruitment to strengthen your organization. (Taught in Separate Room)
• 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.
• Elevator Pitch “Shark Tank”: 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.
• Improving Your Foundation Giving/Grant writing: Strengthen your grant funding process, build your foundation support, develop roots at the foundation, and nurture your relationships.
• Cultivation Design: Designing a cultivation plan increases the success in building relationships, engaging the prospect and preparing to make the ask.
• Solicitation and Stewardship: This course explores improving the quality of their relationships with their donors and increasing support to organizations. 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.​
• Corporate Giving: 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.

 

Our Instructors- The Somos Team

Armando Enrique Zumaya- Founder and Executive Director, Somos El Poder, Alameda, CA
Diana De Jesus-Medina- Board Chair- Chief, External Strategy & Affairs, LatinoJustice PRLDEF- New York, NY
Yuri Casco-Director Donor Engagement and Special Events, Keck Medicine/USC- Los Angeles, CA
Josef Manuel-Lilles-Director of Prospect Management and Analytics, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Lisandra Lamboy-Senior Director of Development and Advancement, Knowledge House, New York, NY

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In the Media
Fundraising Con Ganas in the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Expensive Fundraising Conferences Perpetuate Inequity. It’s Time for a New Approach ​Large cost barriers allow rich nonprofits to learn the latest methods while smaller organizations, especially those led by and for people of color, get by on a few grants and fundraising efforts. It’s time to ask: Who isn’t there, and who needs to be?

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Gracias for the Support of the Chicago Community Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

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¡Juntos Nos Levantamos!

Conference Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does it cost to attend?
There are three price tiers for members only. If you are not a member, you will be asked to Become a member.

• Nonprofit organization (2-member team) Registration fee: $550
• Nonprofit organization (3-member team) Registration fee: $800

• Individual Member Registration fee: $450

What does the fee cover?
The registration fee covers the conference, food and hotel. Incidentals costs at the hotel, travel and other services 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 our special rate at the hotel but Somos El Poder is not responsible to pay for those nights.

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.

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