Attending a conference is a great way to unplug from your daily routine, learn from experts and your peers, and renew your passion for your cause. In this article, we’ve listed several of the top nonprofit conferences in the U.S. 

We start with general nonprofit conferences that cover topics like fundraising, marketing, and technology. We also provide a list of conferences for sectors like animal welfare, child and youth services, environmental causes, and housing & homelessness.

If the information is available, we list the location & venue, conference dates, cost, and what the conference focuses on. We also include the conference’s website so you can learn more and register.

Conferences for Every Nonprofit

These conferences focus on topics like fundraising, technology, and marketing that every nonprofit needs to manage. They tend to be larger and run for multiple days. 

Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium

Nonprofit Technology Conference

  • Location: Portland, Oregon (virtual option available)
  • Venue: Hilton National Mall The Wharf
  • Website: https://www.nten.org/gather
  • Date: March 13–15, 2024
  • Cost: $775 members, $1,075 non-members
  • Details: Gather to learn and share best practices in the use of technology for nonprofits.

Engage for Good

  • Location: Minneapolis, MN
  • Venue: Marriott Minneapolis City Center
  • Website: https://tnpa.org/nonprofit-fundraisers-symposium-2024/
  • Date: May 14-16, 2024
  • Cost: Members $1795, nonmembers $1895. Early-bird pricing is available.
  • Details: Focuses on corporate-nonprofit partnerships.

Good Tech Fest

  • Location: The Sundance Resort, Utah
  • Website: https://www.goodtechfest.com/good-tech-fest-utah
  • Date: April 29-May 2, 2024 (virtual conference is May 1-2, 2024)
  • Cost: The onsite event is by invitation only ($2,500 registration fee if accepted). The virtual event is $250.
  • Details: Good Tech Fest is a global virtual conference on how you can responsibly use emerging technologies for impact.

P2P Professional Forum Conference

South by Southwest (SXSW)

  • Location: Austin, TX
  • Venue: Multiple locations
  • Website: https://www.sxsw.com/
  • Date: March 8-16, 2024
  • Cost: $1,595
  • Details: Not specifically a nonprofit-focused conference, but can be worthwhile for larger nonprofits to attend.

NIO Summit

  • Location: Indianapolis, IN
  • Venue: Old National Center
  • Website: https://www.niosummit.com/
  • Date: September 18-19, 2024
  • Cost:  $1,495 (early registration discounts available)
  • Details: Theme-based conference that uses experience-based learning to teach nonprofit fundraising best practices.

Nonprofit Marketing Summit

SOCAP

  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Venue: YBCA
  • Website: https://socapglobal.com/attend/
  • Date: October 28-30, 2024
  • Cost: $2,599 (early bird discounts available)
  • Details: A large conference with global attendance and multiple tracks focused on specific topics and sectors.

Cause Camp

  • Location: Colorado Springs, CO
  • Venue: Cheyenne Mountain Resort
  • Website: https://cause.camp/2024conference/
  • Date: October 21-22, 2024
  • Cost: Approximately $400 per person
  • Details: An affordable, smaller conference for sharing best practices with other nonprofit leaders.

Nonprofit Conferences by Sector

These conferences tend to be smaller, but more focused. They’re perfect for networking with other nonprofit leaders who share your cause.

Animal Welfare

Animal Care Expo 2024

  • Location: San Antonio, Texas
  • Venue: Henry B. González Convention Center
  • Website: https://humanepro.org/expo
  • Date: May 15-18, 2024
  • Cost: Advance rate registration is $250 through February 22, 2024.
  • Details: This conference offers professional development workshops, an exhibit hall, and networking opportunities​​.

The Solutions Summit 2024

The Annual Conference 2024 by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement

  • Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Website: https://theaawa.org/learn/conferences/
  • Date: November 18-20, 2024
  • Details: This conference will include tracks on fundraising, communications, strategic workforces/human resources, and industry innovations. Information about costs and registration specifics have not yet been announced​​.

Best Friends National Conference

Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) 2024

  • Location: Washington, D.C.
  • Website: https://www.humanesociety.org/events
  • Date: July 19-22, 2024
  • Details: This event is linked with Humane Lobby Day, encouraging participants to advocate for animal rights and welfare legislation. 

Arts & Culture

NAEA National Convention 2024

  • Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA (Remote option available)
  • Date: April 4 – 6, 2024
  • Website: https://my.arteducators.org/NAEA24
  • Date: April 4 – 6, 2024
  • Details: A professional learning experience for visual arts, design, and media arts educators.

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Creative Placemaking Summit

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Children and Youth Services

CWLA's 2024 National Conference

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Venue: Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
  • Website: https://www.cwla.org/
  • Date: April 17-19, 2024
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: This conference aims to bring together solutions from all sectors of child welfare and its related systems, furthering the shift toward an integrated, accessible, culturally responsive service system.

National Head Start Conference

  • Location: Portland, OR
  • Website: https://ectacenter.org/events/conferences.asp
  • Date: April 15–18, 2024
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: The conference focuses on early childhood education and development, specifically for Head Start programs.

National Training Institute on Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behavior

  • Location: Tampa, FL
  • Date: April 16–19, 2024
  • Website: https://ectacenter.org/events/conferences.asp
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: Aimed at addressing challenging behaviors in children, this conference provides strategies and effective practices for educators and caregivers.

International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute

  • Location: Chapel Hill, NC
  • Date: May 7–9, 2024
  • Website: https://ectacenter.org/events/conferences.asp
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: Focuses on inclusive practices in early childhood education, offering insights and strategies for educators and practitioners.

2024 OSEP Combined Leadership and Project Directors' Conference

  • Location: Arlington, VA
  • Date: August 6–8, 2024
  • Website: https://ectacenter.org/events/conferences.asp
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: The conference brings together leaders and project directors from various educational programs to discuss leadership strategies and project management.

Improving Data, Improving Outcomes Conference: Leading for Positive Impact

  • Location: New Orleans, LA
  • Date: August 25–30, 2024
  • Website: https://ectacenter.org/events/conferences.asp
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: This event is focused on the improvement of data collection and outcomes in early childhood education, aiming to lead to a positive impact.

DEC's 39th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families

  • Location: New Orleans, LA
  • Date: September 17–20, 2024
  • Website: https://ectacenter.org/events/conferences.asp
  • Cost: Not available
  • Details: Dedicated to young children with special needs, this conference covers strategies and research for supporting children and their families.

Environmental Conservation Nonprofit Conferences

These conferences offer great opportunities for learning, networking, and sharing the latest in environmental conservation and sustainability. 

National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER)

  • Date: Not specified for 2024.
  • Website: https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: NCER covers presentations dedicated to small and large-scale ecosystem restoration, with a focus on the challenges posed by climate change and drought.

NAAEE Conference

  • Date: November 6–9, 2024
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Venue: The Westin Pittsburgh
  • Website: https://conference.naaee.org/
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: The North American Association for Environmental Education's annual conference and research symposium focuses on environmental education.

Earthx2024 Congress of Conferences

  • Date: April 22-26, 2024
  • Location: Dallas, Texas
  • Venue: Hilton Anatole Hotel
  • Website: https://earthx.org/
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: Part of the EarthX Expo, this conference attracts environmentalists, conservationists, scientists, and other professionals engaged in the environmental space.

Food Insecurity Nonprofit Conferences

These conferences focus on addressing food insecurity in the United States, offering a platform for discussions on resilience, access, equity, and anti-hunger strategies:

National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

  • Date: June 3-5, 2024
  • Location: Washington, D.C. and Virtually
  • Website: antihungerpolicyconference.org
  • Details: Sponsored by the Food Research & Action Center in cooperation with the National CACFP Forum, this conference gathers hundreds of anti-hunger advocates from across the country. 

Housing and Homelessness Nonprofit Conferences

These conferences focus on agencies that provide shelter, affordable housing solutions, and homelessness prevention programs.

Habitat for Humanity National Affiliate Conference

2024 Housing Opportunity Conference

  • Date: February 20-21, 2024
  • Location: Austin, TX
  • Venue: Hilton Austin
  • Website: housingconference.uli.org
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: An annual event that convenes housing industry professionals to discuss expanding housing opportunities and addressing the nation’s residential housing crisis with cross-sector solutions​​.

2024 Washington Conference (NAHRO)

  • Date: April 8-10, 2024
  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Venue: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
  • Website: https://www.nahro.org/
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: Provides valuable industry education, professional development, advocacy, networking, and partnership opportunities related to housing and redevelopment​​.

2024 Summer Symposium (NAHRO)

  • Date: July 10-12, 2024
  • Location: Chicago, IL
  • Venue: Sheraton Grand Riverwalk Hotel
  • Website: https://www.nahro.org/
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: Part of NAHRO’s annual conference schedule, focusing on industry education and professional development in housing and redevelopment​​.

2024 National Conference & Exhibition (NAHRO)

  • Date: September 26-28, 2024
  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Venue: Marriott Orlando World Center Hotel
  • Website: https://www.nahro.org/
  • Cost: N/A
  • Details: The event includes advocacy, networking, and partnership opportunities, offering a platform for professionals to share best practices and innovations in housing and redevelopment​​.

Solutions for Housing Communications

  • Date: April 3, 2024
  • Location: Washington, D.C
  • Venue: The National Press Club
  • Website: https://nhc.org/
  • Cost: $175 (remote option available)
  • Details: Focuses on communication strategies for affordable housing.

Solutions for Affordable Housing

  • Date: December 4, 2024
  • Location: Washington, D.C.
  • Venue: The National Press Club
  • Website: https://nhc.org/
  • Cost: Not yet posted
  • Details: Discusses policy solutions and innovations for improving affordable housing across the country​​.

Conclusion

We hope you get a chance to attend at least one of these conferences in 2024. Chances are you’ll come back with renewed energy and focus, new techniques and best practices to bring to your nonprofit and connections that will last for years.

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About the Author:
Geng Wang

As CEO of Civic Champs, I lead our team of passionate change leaders to create technology solutions to create a seamless and rewarding volunteering experience for both volunteers and service organizations.