AFP Coastal Bend

*In our careers and our day-to-day lives, we have to make many asks so that we can deepen our relationships with our planned giving donors, boards, volunteers and the people who are close to us in our daily lives. These hard asks can bring on anxiety, hesitation, and an endless loop of second guessing in our minds. The good news is that with the right Organization, Structure and Focus they can be made easy.*

Join us at the 2026 Education Conference for Philanthropy for our lunch keynote: “Hard Asks Made Easy ." In this inspiring and energizing keynote, Laura will share her “5 Laws of ASKING" that will be your personal playbook for getting exactly what you want, strip away your hidden expectations and assumptions and erase the 3 Devils that may be preventing you from asking, and help you discover how the power of "Listening with Presence" will reveal that in most instances you have been INVITED to ask, but you missed the clue. Bring the asks you need to make and walk away with the words and tone you can use to get YES over and over again!
About the speaker:

Laura Fredricks is an expert philanthropic advisor, international inspirational and motivational speaker, attorney, and best-selling author. She is the owner of her own consulting company, which provides expert fundraising counseling, training, coaching, and proven best practices to a select number of nonprofits and businesses, to raise significant money efficiently and effectively from a variety of existing and new sources.

Her 5 Laws on Asking and her prior six books have helped hundreds of global executives, industry trailblazers, boards, fundraisers, entrepreneurs, teenagers, artists, philanthropists, and everyday people get their best professional and personal life possible, just by asking. Her most recent book “Hard Asks Made Easy: How to Get Exactly What you Want,” is Amazon’s #1 for Business Mentoring and Coaching, #5 Personal Transformation and was named “One of the Top 15 Business Books for 2023 and 2024.”
About the conference:

The AFP TX Coastal Bend Education Conference brings together nonprofit professionals, fundraisers, board members, and community leaders from across the Coastal Bend for two energizing days of learning, networking, and inspiration in Rockport, Texas at the The-ROCC. Registration is open & you can save $25 on your conference registration by using promo code "EARLYBIRD" at sign up!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v9xcnh3?mode=preview&source_id=d87dd379-1a22-4a01-bcd2-584dcb76d0af&source_type=em&c=${Contact.encryptedContactId}

We're incredibly excited about this afternoon's screening of Uncharitable, presented by The NonProfit Group, at the Art Museum of South Texas - registration is still open and will be available at the door as well. Hope you can join us!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/yfr4d4a

We are pleased to announce that full participation in tomorrow's Movie Screening: Uncharitable has been approved for 1.75 point in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification!

This film is a thought-provoking documentary that challenges long-standing assumptions about the nonprofit sector and the way social impact organizations are funded, evaluated, and led. The film examines how traditional restrictions on overhead, compensation, and growth can unintentionally limit effectiveness and prevent nonprofits from scaling solutions to urgent social problems.
Following the screening, participants will engage in a facilitated Q&A and audience discussion designed to connect the film’s themes to real-world fundraising practice.

Thanks to our sponsor, The NonProfit Group, the first 25 AFP members who register can use promo code "NONPROFITGROUP" to unlock a free ticket for a non-member. This would be the perfect opportunity to engage your Executive Director, Board Members, or sponsors in a conversation abut the important work you do as a development professional!

Limited tickets remaining: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/yfr4d4a

We know that after a long workday, the last thing nonprofit professionals want is another meeting. That’s why this won’t feel like one!

This Wednesday, join AFP TX Coastal Bend for a special screening of Uncharitable — a documentary and community conversation about the pressures nonprofit professionals face every day and how we can build a healthier, more sustainable sector together.

This event is for:
✔ Fundraisers
✔ Nonprofit staff
✔ Board members
✔ Marketing & communication professionals
✔ Anyone passionate about strengthening mission-driven work

Come for the conversation. Stay for the community.
This Wednesday (June 3) | Art Museum of South Texas

Register here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/yfr4d4a

Thanks to our sponsor, The NonProfit Group, the first 25 AFP members who register can use promo code "NONPROFITGROUP" to unlock a free ticket for a non-member. This would be the perfect opportunity to engage your Executive Director, Board Members, or sponsors in a conversation abut the important work you do as a development professional!

*In times marked by economic uncertainty, changing donor behavior, rapid technological advancement, and rising expectations, nonprofit leaders are navigating extraordinary change. Yet in moments like these, the most important question is not how to control the future — but how to remain grounded in purpose and focused on what truly matters.*

Join us at the 2026 Education Conference for Philanthropy for our morning keynote: “Leading with Purpose:
Focusing on What Matters Most." In this inspiring and reflective keynote, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Global Board Chair Roger D. Ali explores what it means to lead with purpose — approaching leadership with humility, clarity, and trust rather than control or certainty. Drawing on personal experience, sector research, and conversations with fundraisers and leaders across North America, Roger shares practical insights on navigating complexity while staying rooted in mission and service to others.

Participants will gain perspective on the current realities shaping philanthropy, the importance of strengthening relationships and community, and how leaders can cultivate resilient organizations during times of change. Most importantly, attendees will leave with renewed confidence and a deeper understanding of how to focus on what matters most — serving others, building trust, and advancing mission-driven work with integrity, courage, and compassion.
About the speaker:
With more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Roger D. Ali is a seasoned professional with deep and broad experience as a fundraising executive, administrator, and consultant, committed to the industry and the discipline, as exemplified by his appointment as the Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Global.

Roger is a major gifts strategist with a proven track record of leading teams and comprehensive fundraising and marketing programs to raise $200 million+, including several capital and endowment campaigns. Some of his previous experience has included: President & CEO, Niagara Health Foundation, Vice President, Development, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and Executive Director, Bishop Strachan School Foundation.
About the conference:
The AFP TX Coastal Bend Education Conference brings together nonprofit professionals, fundraisers, board members, and community leaders from across the Coastal Bend for two energizing days of learning, networking, and inspiration in Rockport, Texas at the The-ROCC. Registration is open & you can save $25 on your conference registration by using promo code "EARLYBIRD" at sign up!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v9xcnh3?mode=preview&source_id=d87dd379-1a22-4a01-bcd2-584dcb76d0af&source_type=em&c=${Contact.encryptedContactId}

Don't forget to register for our upcoming screening of the film "Uncharitable" presented by The NonProfit Group with Paul Dunne, CFRE at the Art Museum of South Texas on June 3, 2026!

See the official trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtaPoh74LIo

This film is a thought-provoking documentary that challenges long-standing assumptions about the nonprofit sector and the way social impact organizations are funded, evaluated, and led. The film examines how traditional restrictions on overhead, compensation, and growth can unintentionally limit effectiveness and prevent nonprofits from scaling solutions to urgent social problems.
Following the screening, participants will engage in a facilitated Q&A and audience discussion designed to connect the film’s themes to real-world fundraising practice.

Thanks to our sponsor the first 25 AFP members who register can use promo code "NONPROFITGROUP" to unlock a free ticket for a non-member. This would be the perfect opportunity to engage your Executive Director, Board Members, or sponsors in a conversation abut the important work you do as a development professional!

Get your tickets ticket - seating is limited: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/yfr4d4a

*The future of social impact demands more than old roadmaps—it calls for bold new thinking, deeper collaboration, and the courage to adapt.*

Join us at the 2026 Education Conference for Philanthropy for our opening keynote: “New Maps, Bold Futures: Rethinking How Change Happens" and be challenged to embrace innovative, interconnected approaches to impact.

Through compelling storytelling and data-driven insights, attendees will explore how movements are built through collaboration, shared purpose, and adaptability—not rigid frameworks. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to navigate complexity, strengthen their organizations, and help shape a more sustainable future for the nonprofit sector.
About the speaker:

Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE is a frontline fundraiser with nearly 20 years leading both development and communications teams. She co-founded the AI Equity Project, the Staff Impact Staff Retention research project and the Community-Centric Fundraising Texas Chapter.

Michelle frequently writes and speaks on building healthier nonprofit systems and serves as the Vice Chair of Professional Development on the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Global Board of Directors.
About the conference:

The AFP TX Coastal Bend Education Conference brings together nonprofit professionals, fundraisers, board members, and community leaders from across the Coastal Bend for two energizing days of learning, networking, and inspiration in Rockport, Texas at the The-ROCC. Registration is open & you can save $25 on your conference registration by using promo code "EARLYBIRD" at sign up!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/v9xcnh3?mode=preview&source_id=d87dd379-1a22-4a01-bcd2-584dcb76d0af&source_type=em&c=${Contact.encryptedContactId}