Nonprofit ConnectionFest 2026
Overview
The ultimate networking experience for nonprofit leaders and the ecosystem.
🛑 STOP! 🛑
This isn’t a webinar.
👇 New to Gatherly?
🎥 Watch this demo [60 secs]
Nonprofit ConnectionFest '26 is hosted in an immersive multi-floor venue that’s built for exploration and high-signal networking.
Most virtual events feel the same—
a lineup of presentations you half-pay attention to while catching up on everything else.
This is different.
You move around.
You see who’s there.
You join conversations when they’re interesting—and leave when they’re not.
It feels a lot closer to being in the room than sitting behind a screen.
What this actually is
ConnectionFest is a space for nonprofit leaders, operators, and partners to:
Have real conversations (not "scheduled networking”)
Explore ideas without being stuck in a session
Meet people you didn’t already plan to meet
Most of the day is open.
You can drop in, follow what’s interesting, and spend your time where it actually feels useful.
If you want structure, it’s there:
We’re running five tracks throughout the day:
Funding for the Future (finance)
Marketing for Better Impact (marketing)
Community is the New GTM (donor experience)
Getting Your Board Onboard (operations)
The Right Tools for the Right Impact (software as a strategy)
Join when something catches your attention. Ignore it when it doesn’t.
Live Agenda
**Expo Floors Are Open Throughout!
11:00 AM — Doors Open
11:15 AM — Welcome Remarks (Gatherly + Givesuite)
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM — Open Exploration & Networking #1
12:00 PM - 3:45 PM — Concurrent Activities
1) Main Stage Track Sessions
45 min per panel, all expo halls still open throughout
12:00 - 12:45 PM - Track 1: Funding for the Future (finance)
Panelists:
Daniel Gunstein
Kyle Ungerman
Leshem Brosh
Daryl Hatton
12:45 - 1:30 PM - Track 2: Marketing for Better Impact (marketing)
Panelists:
Jason King
Roger Starkweather
Steven Picanza
1:30 - 2:15 PM - Track 3: Community is the New GTM (donor experience)
Panelists:
Cherien Koshy
George Weiner
Pooya Pourak
2:15 - 3:00 PM Track 4: Getting Your Board Onboard (operations)
Panelists:
Orletta Caldwell
Victoria Boyd
Linda Lysenkowsky
3:00 - 3:45 PM - Track 5: The Right Tools for the Right Impact (software as a strategy)
Panelists:
Felicia Terry
Bracha
Dylan Basset
2) Live Podcast Recording for Beyond the Bottom Line (podcast lounge)
3) Sal’s Insider Look: The Donor Experience
Join Salvatore Salpietro for a hands-on, real-time donation review session! Each participating organization will get a 10–15 minute walkthrough, where Sal will navigate their website, make a small donation, and review the donor experience from start to finish.
Spaces are limited, register your org info in advance to participate and gain insights that could help enhance your donor experience!
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — Open Exploration & Networking #2
3:45 PM - 3:50 PM — Closing Remarks (Gatherly + Givesuite)
Final 10 minutes for open exploration and follow-ups
How it works
Once you click the join link, you'll join a digital venue.
You can move through the space the same way you would at an in-person event.
Walk into a booth.
Join a conversation.
Listen for a bit.
Move on.
No pressure to stay. No pressure to perform.
🎥 New to Gatherly? WATCH THIS! [60 secs]
Who this is for
If you’ve ever thought:
“There has to be a better way to meet the right people than this…”
You’ll probably feel at home here.
Executive Directors & CEOs
Fundraising and development leaders
Program and operations teams
Foundations, partners, and operators
About the hosts
Gatherly is what makes this feel real—it’s the environment that lets you move, explore, and interact naturally.
GiveSuite comes at this from a different angle.
Most nonprofit leaders I talk to aren’t asking for more tools.
They’re asking for things to feel simpler… clearer… less scattered.
GiveSuite is built to support that—helping teams manage fundraising, relationships, and communication without juggling disconnected systems.
This event is really an extension of that idea.
Join in the way that works for you
Stay for five hours.
Drop in for thirty minutes.
Come with a plan—or just see what happens.
If it sounds interesting, it’s probably worth experiencing once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to download anything? No. Everything runs in your browser. We recommend Google Chrome with your camera and microphone enabled.
Do I have to follow a set schedule? Not at all. The Expo Hall is open all day and there's no required path. Spotlight Sessions broadcast to every floor, so you won't miss them wherever you are.
Is this just another Zoom call? No. Gatherly is an immersive digital venue — you move between spaces, drop into conversations, and explore freely. It's built to feel like an in-person event.
Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners!
Partner with Nonprofit ConnectionFest!
Partnership includes exposure to our deep network of sophisticated nonprofit directors. All sponsor logos with links are included in our multiple broadcast emails that are sent to over 200,000 industry professionals.
👇 Email to learn more:
[email protected]
Subject: Partner with NonprofitConnectionFest 2026