Fundraising Con Ganas
2025 Southern California
May 29th-30th, 2025
Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton
2101 Mandalay Beach Rd, Oxnard, CA 93035
May 29th, 2025, 8am - 5pm (Dinner 6:30-8pm)
May 30th, 2025, 8am - 3:30pm (Closing session 3:30-4pm)
2025 Southern California
May 29th-30th, 2025
Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton
2101 Mandalay Beach Rd, Oxnard, CA 93035
May 29th, 2025, 8am - 5pm (Dinner 6:30-8pm)
May 30th, 2025, 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.
A Special Video Invitation from our Executive Director and Founder
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 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!
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 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. Limited hotel rooms available under this pricing (70 rooms for May 29 total); First come, first served! Limited hotel rooms available—only 80 rooms for night of May 29. First come, first served!
All teams registration and special hotel pricing listed below are already discounted and cover only 25% of the actual attendance cost; this means no further discounts available and it's exclusively for Somos El Poder members.- Individual Professional – $850 (Includes 1 hotel room for the night of May 29; price does not change with/without hotel room)
Team of 2 – $650 (No Hotel Rooms)
Team of 2 – $750 (Includes up to 2 hotel rooms for the night of May 29)
Team of 3 – $975 (No Hotel Rooms)
Team of 3 – $1,125 (Includes up to 3 hotel rooms for the night of May 29)
Team of 4 – $1,300 (No Hotel Rooms)
Team of 4 – $1,500 (Includes up to 4 hotel rooms for the night of May 29)
- Individual Professional – $850 (Includes 1 hotel room for the night of May 29; price does not change with/without hotel room)
- 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 May 29th, 2025.
Special Video Invitation from Armando, Our Founder
3 Minute Video About Fundraising Con Ganas- Recorded at our First FCG in Pasadena
INITIAL REGISTRATION FORM
Centered on Latinx focused nonprofits. Conference fee includes access to the sessions both days, parking, meals, dinner on May 29, 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.
REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
(SOLD OUT)
No longer accepting registrations.
(SOLD OUT)
No longer accepting registrations.
About the Venue
Zachari Dunes at Mandalay Beach, A Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton
An all suite hotel right on the beach in Ventura County California. One hour from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Ca.
Curriculum
DAY 1, Thursday, May 29. Introductory Track
DAY 1, Thursday, May 29. ADVANCED Track
DAY 2, Friday, May 30. Introductory Track
DAY 2, Friday, May 30. Advanced Track
DAY 1, Thursday, May 29. 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.
- 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.
- (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.
- (En Español) Discusión y diseño del ciclo de recaudación de fondos: Identificación, Cualificación, Cultivación, Solicitud, y Agradecimiento. Este ciclo representa las bases esenciales en el proceso de recaudar fondos. Herramienta para planificar y ejecutar actividades de recaudación, desde pequeñas ventas hasta campañas grandes. Puede lograr colaboración de su equipo y junta directiva al involucrarlos en uno o más aspectos del ciclo de fundraising.
- 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) Invirtiendo en tu misión. Técnicas para identificar los mejores candidatos a empleo en recaudación de fondos, utilizando fuentes de datos y herramientas disponibles públicamente para comprender mejor los intereses, habilidades, y experiencia de candidatos a empleo que ayuden a crecer la misión de su organización.
- Organizational Marketing Essentials: What Every Nonprofit Needs. Overview of the Marketing Checklist with items every nonprofit should have for a strong foundation.
DAY 1, Thursday, May 29. ADVANCED 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.
- Board Development and Education. Guidance on educating and engaging board members for stronger fundraising outcomes. Boards can be powerful allies or undermine your development work.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 2, Friday, May 30. 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.
- Donor Cultivation and Stewardship, Discussion and Design. Designing a cultivation plan increases the success in building relationships, engaging the prospect and preparing to make the ask.
- 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.
- (En Español) Diseño y creación de un plan de recaudación de fondos. Desarrollar un plan para identificar, cultivar, solicitar y administrar fuentes de financiamiento sostenibles mediante la construcción de relaciones continuas, utilizando a los donantes existentes como socios, promoviendo el crecimiento, la responsabilidad y la mejora de los procesos.
- Implementing a Monthly Donor Campaign. How to launch and sustain a monthly giving program.
DAY 2, Friday, May 30. Advanced 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) 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.
- 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.
- 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: 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.
Our Instructors
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Marco Corona, Senior Development Officer at Southern Environmental Law Center. Marco is a veteran fundraiser with over 20 years experience serving in development role
Frequently Asked Questions:
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). Registrants with hotel rooms who wish to cancel their attendance the week of the conference are subject to the hotel's 24-hour cancellation policy. This means that you will have until the day before your arrival no later than 3pm to cancel with no hotel room penalty costs. Failure to cancel within this timeframe will result in your organizations being billed for the full conference cost, and if applicable hotel rooms. This is $1,300 per every person. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
More details to be aware of:
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?
- Monday, May 5, 2025, 2pm PST. The Cut-Off Deadline for discounted rates for additional room nights at the expense of the attendee, that's $219 + taxes (9.25%) & fees.
- Monday, May 5, 2025, 2pm PST. Final day to cancel to get full refund of your registration cost.
- May 27, 2025. Deadline to make changes to the names on your registration. Contact [email protected]
- May 27, 2025. Deadline to make changes to the names on your hotel rooms. Contact hotel's team for name changes.
- May 27, 2025. 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). Registrants with hotel rooms who wish to cancel their attendance the week of the conference are subject to the hotel's 24-hour cancellation policy. This means that you will have until the day before your arrival no later than 3pm to cancel with no hotel room penalty costs. Failure to cancel within this timeframe will result in your organizations being billed for the full conference cost, and if applicable hotel rooms. This is $1,300 per every person. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
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.
Brought to you by the generous support of these donors and volunteers of Somos El Poder
