Keynote Speakers

OPENING KEYNOTE
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 12:00 PM

Rachel Muir, CFRE

Founder, League of Extraordinary Fundraisers


Keynote description -
Winning Campaigns That Hit the Fundraising - Be inspired and delighted with eye-candy fundraising campaigns you’ll want to steal! See best-of examples from budgets large and small and get secrets from for-profit brands to delight donors and keep them loyal for life. You're guaranteed to walk away with proven tactics and a truckload of inspiration for your next fundraising campaign.
 
Rachel Muir CFRE
When she was 26 she launched Girlstart, a non-profit empowering girls in math, science, engineering and technology in the living room of her apartment with $500 and a credit card. Several years later she had raised over 10 million and was featured on Oprah, CNN, and the Today show. Today Rachel delivers workshops and offers a monthly membership, League of Extraordinary Fundraisers, transforming people into confident, successful fundraisers. Learn more about Rachel at rachelmuir.com
 
 

MAINSTAGE MINI
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 1:30 PM

Aaron Sheklin

Farther

Transforming the Donor Conversation: A Focus on Investment 
Today’s most effective fundraisers are shifting their donor conversations from cash to wealth and unlocking transformational giving in the process. In this dynamic session, we reframe the donor relationship through the lens of investment strategy, helping development professionals deepen engagement with high-capacity donors and collaborate more effectively with financial advisors, estate planners, and investment professionals.

MAINSTAGE MINI
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 1:30 PM

Mark Becker

Cathexis Partners

Real World AI Uses 
An interactive, example-driven discussion showcasing how nonprofits are applying AI today to reduce manual work and support more effective fundraising. Learn how to evaluate where AI can add efficiency without added risk, including how to distinguish between low-effort, high-impact applications and use cases that require more planning, governance, or change management. Understand how to identify practical AI use cases nonprofits are already using to streamline everyday operational and fundraising tasks, and assess which ones are most relevant for their own organization.

MAINSTAGE MINI
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 3:50 PM

Jess Cronk Brandt

Bloomerang

The Abundance Mindset in Fundraising
In this session, Jess unpacks what it means to operate from an abundance mindset—where scarcity thinking hides in plain sight, how it shapes the donor experience, and what becomes possible when your strategy matches what donors are telling you.  The assumptions beneath our work shape everything—how we ask, plan, and lead. Over time, they create real friction between us and the donors whose generosity powers our mission.

MAINSTAGE MINI
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 3:50 PM

Roger Ali, MBA, CFRE

AFP Global Board Chair

Leading Lightly: What Matters Most in Times of Change
In a time marked by economic uncertainty, shifting donor behavior, rapid technological advancement, and rising expectations, nonprofit leaders are navigating extraordinary change. But in moments like these, the most important question is not how to control the future — it is what truly matters most.  In his inspiring and thoughtful remarks, Roger explores what it means to “lead lightly” — to choose clarity over certainty, connection over control, and progress over perfection. Drawing on personal experience, sector research, and conversations with fundraisers and leaders across North America, Roger shares practical insights on navigating complexity with purpose and presence.

OPENING KEYNOTE
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 11:00 AM

Chris and Martha Thomas

Co-founders, The Defensive Line


Keynote description -

Turning Pain into Purpose: A Family’s Mission to End Youth Suicide

As nonprofit professionals, we dedicate our careers to causes that matter deeply — but in the midst of fundraising goals, campaigns, and daily demands, it can be easy to lose sight of the “why” behind the work.

In this powerful and inspiring closing plenary, Chris and Martha Thomas, founders of The Defensive Line, share their family’s journey following the loss of their daughter, Ella, and how they transformed grief into a mission to end youth suicide and change the conversation around mental health.

Through honesty, resilience, and purpose, Chris and Martha will challenge and encourage attendees to reconnect with the passion that drives their own work in service to others. Their story is a moving reminder of the impact nonprofits can have on individuals, families, and communities — and why the work of advancing meaningful causes matters more than ever.

Participants will leave inspired to lead with renewed purpose, advocate with compassion, and continue investing their talents in missions that create hope and save lives.


Chris Thomas is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Defensive Line, a national nonprofit dedicated to youth suicide prevention. With more than 30 years of corporate leadership at Procter & Gamble, Frito-Lay, and Alberto Culver, Chris brings a drive for excellence and an innate ability to connect people to the mission. Following the loss of his daughter Ella in 2018, he and his family channeled their grief into purpose, building an organization that equips adults with the tools to intervene in a mental health crisis. Chris advocates at the state and national level, serving on the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Operation Happy Nurse, and Touched By Suicide, and as a Faculty Member for the American Academy of Pediatrics' ECHO Program. A recipient of the 2019 AFSP Lifesaver Award alongside his wife Martha and son Solomon, Chris is known for his big laugh, relentless optimism, and unwavering belief that connection saves lives.
 
Martha Thomas is co-founder and Chief Education Officer of The Defensive Line, a national nonprofit dedicated to youth suicide prevention. With more than 30 years as an educator, she translates classroom insight into life-saving curriculum through the organization's Suicide Prevention Workshops and D-LINES training. Martha left teaching in 2022 to honor her daughter, Ella by equipping parents, coaches, and communities with the tools to recognize mental health distress and intervene. A 2025 D CEO Leadership Excellence Award winner, she is a sought-after keynote speaker, trusted podcast guest, and the steady heart of an organization transforming pain into purpose.