National Philanthropy Day Conference

Join us for our 2026 National Philanthropy Day Conference! 

We’ve planned a full day of activities to help fundraising professionals navigate the challenges of our times. By participating in the conference, you will learn about the latest trends in fundraising and find inspiration, education, and connections along the way!

During our conference at the DuPont Country Club, you will have the opportunity to:

• Celebrate the winners of our 2026 Philanthropy and F.A.C.E. Awards.
• Discover how to create a culture of philanthropy with our keynote speaker, Shannon L. Watts, M.A., CFRE.
• Learn how to build high-performing fundraising teams with our plenary speaker, Craig Shelley, CFRE.
• Collaborate with colleagues on a variety of strategic topics during our facilitated discussion session.
• Connect with your local colleagues during networking breaks.

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2026 Conference Registration Fees
(same as our 2025 conference!)

Early-Bird Rate (Available through September 25): $130/AFP Member; $160/Non-Member
Full-Day Conference: $150/AFP Member; $180/Non-Member
Awards Breakfast Only: $75/person

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Conference Schedule at a Glance

Doors Open/Registration/Breakfast Buffet Open: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Awards Breakfast: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Networking Break: 10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Keynote Presentation: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break: 11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Lunch: 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Plenary Session: 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Roundtable Discussions: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks: 2:00 - 2:15 p.m.

Approved for 3.0 CFRE Education Points
Full participation in the National Philanthropy Day Conference is applicable for 3.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

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Congratulations to the 2026 Philanthropy Award Winners! 

Please join us in congratulating this year's winners:

• Philanthropist of the Year: Laura Robelen, Delaware Hospice
  
• Volunteer of the Year: Linda Bariglio, Humane Animal Partners
  
• Social Justice Award: Aging in Place Senior Care Services
  
• Nonprofit of the Year Award: NeighborGood Partners
  
• Foundation of the Year Award: Delaware Community Foundation
  
• Youth in Philanthropy: SALSthon Team - Salesianum School, Ursuline Academy & Padua Academy
  
• Cam Yorkston Lifetime Achievement: Seth J. Katzen, Jewish Federation of Delaware
  
• Fundraising Executive of the Year: Anna Alinda, Padua Academy

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Keynote Presentation: Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Presenter: Shannon L. Watts, M.A., CFRE

Explore how to build and maintain a culture of philanthropy in your organization. During this interactive presentation, Shannon will explore the steps and barriers to building and maintaining a culture of philanthropy and how a culture of philanthropy can positively impact fundraising results, staff morale, and stakeholder relationships.

This session will provide you with:

A process for understanding your nonprofit organization’s philanthropic culture.Open discussion about barriers to building and maintaining a culture of philanthropy.Guidance on how nonprofit organizations are uniquely primed for a culture of philanthropy.A call to action for building and maintaining a culture of philanthropy.Recommended industry resources about a culture of philanthropy.

About the Presenter

Shannon L. Watts, M.A., CFRE, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota with an M.A. in Philanthropy and Development. Shannon earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2004 and has successfully recertified multiple times since then. Shannon is Principal Consultant of Key Fundraising, a consulting firm providing strategic, effective, and innovative fundraising results for nonprofit organizations. She has successfully owned and operated Key Fundraising since 2005. In Shannon’s 21 years as a fundraising and development consultant, she has raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations throughout Virginia.

Shannon currently serves as the President of the Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence (CVANE) Board of Directors. She is a three-time Past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Virginia Piedmont Chapter (2004, 2010/11, and 2023/2024). She is a two-time Co-Chair (2008 and 2013) of the Virginia Fund Raising Institute (VFRI).

Shannon is a two-time Past President of the Rotary Club of Lynchburg and holds the distinction of being the youngest president in the club’s 108-year history. Shannon is a Past Area Governor of Rotary District 7570 Area 5, providing guidance to seven Rotary Clubs, and is a Paul Harris Fellow +5.

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Plenary Session: Leading High-Performing Fundraising Teams
Presenter: Craig Shelley, CFRE, CEO, Schultz & Williams

High-performing fundraising teams don’t happen by accident. This session focuses on how leaders can build cultures of accountability, collaboration, and enthusiasm—without burnout. We’ll explore goal-setting, performance management, motivation, and communication strategies that empower fundraisers to do their best work and consistently deliver results. Participants will gain actionable tools to elevate both team performance and morale.

About the Presenter

Craig Shelley, CFRE, partners with ambitious nonprofit leaders to accelerate impact, bringing a creative yet practical approach to strategy, organizational development, fundraising, philanthropic marketing, and board leadership. As CEO of Schultz & Williams and a member of the leadership team of Carey & Co, he helps guide one of the nation’s most comprehensive nonprofit consulting platforms, delivering integrated expertise in fundraising, direct response, strategic planning, finance, human resources, and executive leadership.

Craig’s experience includes leading major fundraising and strategy initiatives for organizations such as the Center for American Progress, Co-Impact, Grameen America, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Mercy Corps, the Obama Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Third Way. He previously held senior leadership roles at another national consulting firm focused on helping nonprofits grow and with the Boy Scouts of America, where he guided development efforts nationally generating more than $250 million annually.

Following the acquisition of Lautman Maska Neill & Company (LMN), Craig provides leadership across the Carey & Co platform’s fundraising, direct response, and strategic planning practices, helping organizations access a full spectrum of services designed to strengthen performance and drive sustainable growth. While continuing to lead Schultz & Williams, Craig works closely with the LMN leadership team to integrate work across the two firms in service of building something truly distinctive: a firm capable of supporting organizations at every stage of growth and every level of donor engagement, from grassroots annual giving to transformational campaign philanthropy.

A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Craig is a frequent speaker and author on leadership and philanthropy. He is the Immediate Past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals–New York City Chapter, sits on the Board of Directors of The Giving Institute, and is an active member of the Lions Club of Oyster Bay.

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Facilitated Roundtable Discussions

Connect with fellow fundraising experts, spark fresh ideas, and inspire new approaches - everyone has a voice! Dive into key topics and then share your biggest takeaways with your peers.

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Scholarships Available!

A limited number of scholarships are available for the full program. Membership in AFP is preferred, but not required, to be considered. AFP Brandywine's National Philanthropy Day Conference will be held on November 17, 2026 at the DuPont Country Club.

Deadline to apply is Friday, October 16, 2026. 

If you are interested in applying, please complete this Scholarship Application. Your employer must be a nonprofit organization to be eligible.

Questions? Contact Matt Johnson, Scholarships Chair, at chapter@afpbrandywine.org.

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Become a Sponsor!

Your National Philanthropy Day sponsorship will provide recognition for your company in the community as a lead partner in our work. It also makes a significant impact by helping provide a full day of educational opportunities. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Michelle Neef, Sponsorship Chair, by clicking here.

The 2026 sponsorship packet can be downloaded here.

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