Request for Proposals

The session submission window will open May 8, 2024.

You can preview the proposal questions here.

The 2024 Conference for North Carolina’s Nonprofits, a two-day professional development and networking event, is the premier event for our state’s nonprofit sector.  Throughout its 31-year history, this Conference has provided a place where nonprofit staff and board leaders come together to learn, to network, and be inspired.

About the Conference

Participant profile:  The Center’s Conference attracts 300-500 nonprofit staff (executive directors/CEOs, fundraising, finance, human resources, program, and marketing/communications), board members, and volunteers representing all sizes, fields, and missions.  Participants also include foundation staff, corporate giving officers, consultants, and vendors who work with nonprofits.

Concurrent Sessions: Specifics

Topics We Seek

We encourage session participants to consider session topics that align with or address one or more of the twelve principles from the Center’s Principles & Practices: Best Practices for North Carolina Nonprofits: Advocacy and Civic Engagement; Board Governance; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Financial Management; Fundraising; Human Resources; Information and Technology; Legal Compliance & Transparency; Partnerships & Collaboration; Program Design, Management, & Evaluation; Strategic Communication; and Strategic Planning.  

Based on feedback from our Members, the following topics will be prioritized: fundraising; strategic planning; strategic communication; equity, diversity, and inclusion; and board governance. 

Past participants have given high marks to sessions that are interactive, inspiring, informative, and memorable.  We encourage you to propose a session that engages participants during the workshop time allocated and sends them away with several key takeaways and lessons learned.  

The Committee will consider topics directed toward both the new staff member and the experienced CEO.  Please consider participant statistics outlined below.  

Compensation   

Each concurrent session presenter is offered admission to all conference sessions and events taking place throughout the conference.  To keep registration fees affordable, presenters are not paid stipends for their services.  

Selection Process and Timeline 

Proposal submissions are reviewed by the Program Content Committee for review and final selection. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.  

Criteria for Conference Program Content Committee’s evaluation of proposals:

• Session presenter demonstrates past performance with presenting this topic in a similar scale and scope.
• Session proposal clearly identifies key takeaways and learning outcomes without the promotion or advertising of their business products/services.
• Session proposal demonstrates applicability to a statewide audience.
• Session proposal demonstrates working knowledge of a current nonprofit trend and/or issue framed by one or more of the Center’s twelve nonprofit management principles.
• Session proposal provides an engaging title and description to help market the conference and increase registration.
• Session proposal shows evidence of the ability to deliver an innovative, impactful, and engaging presentation including practical and applicable ideas and material.

Additional Selection Considerations

The Center is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. It is through this lens that we choose all our professional development program offerings and opportunities. We place a priority on presenters who avoid self-promotion, selling of products, or excessive promotion of one nonprofit. We place a priority on selecting presenters which are currently affiliated with the Center, such as a nonprofit member, funder, sponsor, conference exhibitor, or statewide partner.

The session submission window will open on May 8, 2024.

You can preview the proposal questions here.