“San Diego has such a rich nonprofit community… For me personally, to walk amongst my peers and to just rub shoulders and really encourage one another, it’s a blessing within itself,” said Brandon Steppe, founder and executive director at The David’s Harp Foundation.
Steppe was one of the more than 1,000 nonprofit professionals, fundraisers and philanthropic partners representing 600+ organizations gathered at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront September 9–10 for the sold-out 2026 San Diego Fundraising Conference presented by PNC Bank.
Now in its fourth year, the conference has grown into San Diego’s largest annual gathering of fundraising and nonprofit professionals. Its purpose is bigger than bringing people together for two days.
The conference strengthens fundraising practice in our region and, in turn, deepens the connection between people who want to give and the organizations working every day to improve our communities.
That focus felt particularly urgent this year.
“This learning space is one that’s really embracing how do we meet the moment in our city, in our country, with stewardship that is really full of integrity and centering humans,” shared attendee Lindsey Seegers, executive director of the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet.
Nonprofits are responding to rising community needs while navigating funding uncertainty and changing expectations from supporters, while people who give increasingly want to understand where their charitable support can make a meaningful difference.
That was the idea behind this year’s theme: Build for What’s Next.
Across more than 40 sessions, 50+ speakers explored how nonprofit professionals can strengthen relationships with supporters, diversify revenue, build resilient systems and lead their organizations through change. Just as important, attendees had space to learn from one another, compare experiences and build relationships.
Fundraising Starts with People
Across both keynote sessions, one idea came through clearly: strong fundraising starts long before the ask.
Opening keynote speaker Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP®, ACFRE, Vice President at Kindsight and author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making, explored the psychology and neuroscience behind generosity. Building on ideas from his book, his keynote examined how emotion, belonging and trust influence charitable decisions, and why understanding what motivates people can help fundraisers build stronger relationships with supporters.
Day 2 keynote speaker Dana Snyder, Founder and CEO of Positive Equation, carried that idea forward through the lens of recurring giving. Her keynote, Call In the Believers: Why Monthly Giving Is Won Before the Ask, challenged organizations to think beyond a single campaign or appeal and focus instead on building a community of people who understand your mission, believe in it and want to stay connected over time.
Together, the two keynotes reinforced a key takeaway from the conference: while fundraising tools and tactics continue to evolve, philanthropy remains deeply human.
Trust, connection and a sense of belonging shape how organizations build relationships and how people decide where to give, why they stay involved and what turns a contribution into a lasting connection to a cause.
Build Before the Crisis
The “Build for What’s Next” theme was also about helping organizations move beyond short-term reaction.
One particularly timely example came from Crisis Fundraising: Preparing for the Before, During, and After, where fundraising leaders from KPBS shared how the organization responded after permanently losing $4.3 million in annual federal support.
Rather than relying only on emergency appeals, KPBS built on existing donor relationships, personalized communication, stewardship and multiple fundraising strategies. The team ultimately raised and surpassed the additional $4.3 million while creating a framework for longer-term sustainability.
It was one example of a larger idea woven throughout the conference: build resilience before it is needed.
For nonprofit organizations facing funding uncertainty and rising community needs, preparing for what comes next does not mean predicting every challenge. It means investing now in strong donor relationships, diversified strategies and systems that give organizations more options when circumstances change.
More Than Two Days of Sessions
Learning and connection extended beyond the keynotes and breakout rooms.
Throughout the conference, attendees volunteered together to assemble 300 hygiene kits for San Diegans experiencing homelessness in partnership with San Diego Rescue Mission. The activity gave attendees an opportunity to turn the spirit of the conference into action while supporting a local nonprofit serving neighbors throughout the region.
That same energy carried into lunch roundtables, networking opportunities and conversations throughout the exhibit hall. Attendees exchanged ideas, talked through challenges with peers and built relationships with people working across different missions, organization sizes and areas of expertise.
Those connections are an important part of the San Diego Fundraising Conference. The expertise in the room comes not only from the stage, but from nonprofit professionals learning from one another and bringing those ideas back to their own organizations.
“A lot of nonprofit professionals, we’re on the grind with our heads down, trying to make decisions and serve our communities,” said Brandon Harrison, Executive Director of the San Diego Futures Foundation. “It’s great content, but most importantly, it’s a great time of connection.”
Attendees also left with resources to continue learning beyond the conference, including three books for their professional libraries: Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy, The Monthly Giving Mastermind by Dana Snyder and Easy Fundraising and Friendmaking for Board Members by Gail Perry.
The conference was made possible with support from presenting sponsor PNC Bank, our conference sponsors, exhibitors and partners, whose investment helped bring professionals from all nonprofits – big and small – together with learning, resources and connections they can carry forward.
Strengthening What Comes Next
The impact of stronger fundraising extends well beyond a development office.
For nonprofit organizations, it can mean more sustainable programs, greater stability and the ability to respond when community needs change. For people who give, stronger fundraising practices can create clearer communication, deeper relationships and greater confidence in how their charitable support advances the causes they care about.
San Diego Foundation responds to community needs in many ways, including grantmaking and partnerships that help nonprofits meet urgent needs. The San Diego Fundraising Conference represents another side of that work: investing in the long-term capacity, leadership and resilience of the nonprofit sector.
Emergency resources can help stabilize an organization in a difficult moment. Strong fundraising practices can help organizations prepare for what comes after. When nonprofits are strong and people feel informed, connected and inspired to give, philanthropy is stronger, and our entire region benefits.
For two days, more than 1,000 people came together to learn how to do that work better. Now comes the important part: putting those ideas to work.
The San Diego Fundraising Conference returns Sept. 14-15, 2027. Get your tickets now.
