NIO Summit Agenda
NIO Summit 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, September 30th with an all-day workshop (additional cost) and the Pre-Summit Opening Party.
Some details are still in the works, but fire up your flux capacitor and browse the agenda below to see what’s on the timeline!
Tuesday, Sept 30: Pre-Summit Events
PRE-SUMMIT WORKSHOP
** additional cost
Session Topic: Recurring Donor Acquisition
- 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- The Little Theater at the Kansas City Music Hall
Most conversations about what works to grow recurring revenue lack substantial data and evidence. While it can be inspiring to see examples from complex organizations that are seemingly “doing it right”, building and growing your recurring giving program doesn’t have to be as complicated as some would have you think.
In this optional workshop from NextAfter, we’ll demystify what it really takes to acquire new recurring donors and build a more sustainable revenue source for your organization.
Over the duration of this workshop, you will discover:
✔️ The power and impact of investing in a sustainable recurring giving program.
✔️ Tangible strategies to prompt one-time donors to give monthly—and even upgrade after their first gift.
✔️ How to develop and launch a dedicated recurring giving acquisition campaign.
✔️ Methods for automating your recurring giving acquisition so you can keep bringing in new recurring donors all year long.
We will have many hands-on activities planned during this workshop to make sure you walk away with concrete applications that you can implement in your fundraising program right away. So be sure to bring a laptop with you so you can get to work along with your colleagues and peers!
***The additional workshop fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and beverage breaks.
Sponsored by:
EArly badge pick up
- 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Kansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel
Do you want to skip the badge pick-up lines at the Opening Party or on Day 1 of NIO Summit? Come to the registration desk at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel to pick up your badge, swag tokens and NIO Summit 2025 collector’s pin. Then breeze right into the Opening Party.
NIO Summit opening PARTY (ALL ATTENDEES)
- 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
- No other pub at the power & light district
The best way to kick off an event? A party of course!
Kick off NIO Summit with a bang at the opening party at No Other Pub, located in Kansas City’s famous Power & Light District! Connect and network with fellow attendees, enjoy some friendly competition with video games, bowling, virtual golfing bays, Shuffleboard, Foosball, Ping Pong +more, and unwind with heavy appetizers and a beverage.
Pick up your name badge and don’t miss this chance to start the conference on a high note. We can’t wait to see you there!
Wednesday, OCT 1: NIO Summit Day 1
breakfast, exhibits & registration
- 7:30 AM – 8:15 AM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
Fuel up with some plutonium-grade coffee and breakfast in the Expo Hall, where you’ll mix, mingle, and make meaningful connections with fellow fundraising flux travelers. It’s the perfect way to charge your circuits before we accelerate into the day’s adventures!
NIO Summit Day 1 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
fundraising to the future: Hacking Time
- 8:15 AM – 8:40am
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Buckle up for a cinematic kickoff unlike anything you’ve seen at a fundraising event. This year’s NIO Summit launches with a wild ride through time, packed with familiar faces, futuristic discoveries, and a few surprise guests straight out of a beloved sci-fi universe. Trust us—you’ll want to be in your seat before the flux capacitor fires up. It’s the perfect way to accelerate into two days of unforgettable inspiration and insight.
SPEAKING SESSION: The Future of Fundraising Starts in the Heart
- 8:40 AM – 9:10 AM
- Jeff Giddens
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
TBD—Flux Capacitor Still Warming Up
What is a learning guide?
- 9:10 AM – 9:25 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Before each break our Learning Guides will hop in the DeLorean and take us back through the highlights of the previous speakers’ sessions. These brief, energizing recaps will connect the dots, reinforce big ideas, and help you lock in what matters most before stepping away to recharge. Think of them as your time-traveling copilots, helping you process what you’ve just heard so you’re ready for what’s next.
SPEAKING SESSION: Master the Chemistry of Change: Uncover Your Inner Change Enthusiasm®
- 9:25 AM – 9:55 AM
- Cassandra Worthy
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
The Change Enthusiasm® strategy presented in this presentation empowers the audience to self-assess their change emotions and redirect anxiety and fears into moments of opportunity.
This presentation is perfect for leaders and teams:
- Embarking upon or going through significant change or disruption.
- Constantly challenged and stressed by having to grow the business with less time, fewer resources.
- Dealing with the complexity and frustrations of changing the way they work through digital transformation, new software integration, and/or new business practices.
You will leave with:
- An inspired perspective that managing and championing significant shift is entirely possible and even enjoyable.
- Steps to cultivate a growth mindset to thrive in the face of stressful and frustrating change.
- The education, energy, and motivation to take the first step to becoming a Change Enthusiast.
Session Review w/ learning guides
- 9:55 AM – 10:00 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Our Insight Crew returns to beam us back through the biggest ideas and breakthrough moments from the last set of sessions to lock in the learning before the next adventure begins.
MORNING BREAK & ACTIVITIES
- 10:00 AM – 11:10 AM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
NIO Summit Day 1 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
Vendor Exhibits: (Clocktower Commons) Browse various products & services to help supercharge your fundraising program **Hint – this is where the snacks and beverages are located
Innovation Showcase: (Little Theater)
- Innovation Showcase #1: 10:10 AM – 10:30 AM – Presentation by TBD
- Innovation Showcase #2: 10:40 AM – 11:00 AM – Presentation by TBD
Optimization Station: (Clocktower Commons – NextAfter Booth) Come let the experts give you some pointers!
Birds of a Feather Town Square: (Clocktower Commons) Join your peers by job title, fundraising vertical, or nonprofit sector to discuss the challenges you face and the breakthroughs you’re chasing. It’s your chance to exchange warp-speed insights, spark new collaborations, and maybe even rewrite a few fundraising timelines—no DeLorean required.
Time Travel Movie Trailer: (Clocktower Commons) Record yourself in a Fundraising to the Future movie scene! Be a movie star and then share your adventure on your social media for swag tokens!
Swag Store: (Clocktower Commons) The only currency accepted at the Swag Store are Swag Tokens! And the only way to earn swag tokens is to visit with the vendors, attend the parties, post on social media, and lots more!
Swag Store Sponsored by:
SPEAKING SESSION: Philanthropy’s Hidden Goldmine: Meet Generation Jones
- 11:10 AM – 11:40 pm
- Jonathan Pontell
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Between the Baby Boomers and Generation X, Generation Jones represents a remarkably lucrative opportunity for digital fundraisers. Now 59 to 71 years old, Gen Jones is right in that sweet spot for highest charitable giving: 60-somethings. And this particular crop of 60-somethings is philanthropically special. Partly because Gen Jones has an especially robust affluent segment. Partly because of its huge size (the Gen Jones birth years are the most populous in U.S. history). Even more important: the Gen Jones collective personality is extraordinarily receptive to certain specific donor appeals. This receptivity stems largely from its upbringing, especially as impressionable children in the hyper-idealistic 1960’s.
This enormous opportunity with Gen Jones donors has largely not been capitalized on yet, because fundraisers are generally not aware of the special generational buttons to push. This presentation will provide you with many specific Do’s & Don’ts of successfully targeting Gen Jones donors with digital fundraising. These practical tips are based on extensive testing and experimentation of digital fundraising approaches specifically with this heretofore “lost” generation. The stunningly profitable results have been described by veteran digital fundraisers as “truly unprecedented.”
88 MPH Insights: The Case for Cultivation When You’re Short on Time, Tools, and Budget.
- 11:40 AM – 11:55 am
- Tristan Amaya
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
As a fundraiser, few things feel more paralyzing than
running into roadblocks and limitations while trying to make improvements to
your donor program.
Segmentation. Automations. Reliable data. A platform that
works with you, not against you. When all of that feels out of reach, the first
thing we tend to cut is cultivation. After all, how could emails that don’t
ask for money possibly raise more?
In this session, you’ll learn why everything you don’t have might be the best
reason to do the one thing that still works: send real, human cultivation that
nurtures donors and builds relationships.
Takeaways:
- Low-lift,
high-impact email examples you can send right away
- Why
“hit reply” might be your most powerful engagement tool
- The
data-driven case for how cultivation leads to long-term revenue
SPEAKING SESSION: AI for Content Strategy and Lead Generation
- 11:55 AM – 12:55 pm
- Andy Crestodina
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
There are infinite use cases for AI, some trivial, some powerful. Many are famous for boosting speed and efficiency, but for boosting quality? For finding insights? For generating an audience? These are less common topics.
Join us for a run-through of a comprehensive AI framework for content, traffic and conversion, based on hundreds of hours of research and experimentation. We’ll cover:
- AI methods for full-life cycle content strategy and find the topics that connect.
- AI methods for performance and conversion
Yes, we’ve entered a new era where AI has changed everything …or maybe not quite. Our audience hasn’t changed. Their needs and emotions haven’t changed. Their perception of quality hasn’t changed. In fact, the most important things haven’t changed at all.
This session will show you how to use AI to drive impact both at the top and the bottom of the funnel.
- How to let AI provide insights into your donors (persona generation)
- How to write more effective prompts for every marketing use case
- How to get AI to suggest the most provocative topics for any audience
- How use AI to identify content opportunities based on analysis on past performance
- How to spot the gaps on the key pages and improve performance forever after
Session Review w/ learning guides
- 12:25 PM – 12:30 PM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
As we coast into lunch, our Learning Interpreters are syncing up the timeline with a quick-hit recap of the morning’s most powerful moments.
LUNCH & NETWORKING
- 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
NIO Summit Day 1 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
Lunch: (Clocktower Commons & Patio Seating) Enjoy a lunch break and network with fellow attendees. Share insights, and recharge for the afternoon sessions. This break provides a perfect blend of nourishment and opportunity to foster new professional connections.
Vendor Exhibits: (Clocktower Commons) Browse various products & services to help supercharge your fundraising program **Hint – this is where the snacks and beverages are located
Optimization Station: (Clocktower Commons – NextAfter Booth) Come let the experts give you some pointers!
Time Travel Movie Trailer: (Clocktower Commons) Record yourself in a Fundraising to the Future movie scene! Be a movie star and then share your adventure on your social media for swag tokens!
Swag Store: (Clocktower Commons) The only currency accepted at the Swag Store are Swag Tokens! And the only way to earn swag tokens is to visit with the vendors, attend the parties, post on social media, and lots more!
Swag Store Sponsored by:
fundraising to the future: The wild west of fundraising
- 1:30 PM – 1:45 Pm
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Don’t miss the next chapter in our time-traveling fundraising saga! After lunch, we’re heading back to where it all began—the Wild West of digital fundraising. With cowboy boots, pre-pandemic air, and the first-ever NIO Summit, Act 2 delivers laughs, insights, and a few surprise twists. Trust us—you’ll want to be back in your seat before the DeLorean fires up again.
SPEAKING SESSION: 5 Messaging Moves That Raise Eyebrows…And Response Rates
- 1:45 PM – 2:15 Pm
- Nancy harhut
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Today, the thing that may not make sense is the thing that may work best. You know your target doesn’t always behave logically. Scientific research shows people often act irrationally, making decisions that aren’t as considered as we think.
Yet you can get more of them to consider you if you take advantage of certain surprising tactics.
Discover exactly what they are and why they work in this eye-opening session. See numerous market-tested examples from various verticals. And gain 5 counterintuitive ways to increase response. These marketing moves may not make sense, but they do make money!
88 MPH Insights: Just Add Plutonium: Design Tips to Fuel Your Digital Ads
- 2:15 PM – 2:30 Pm
- Kimberly Bottom
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
You don’t need a time machine to know that digital advertising is the future of marketing for nonprofits. In fact, a majority of nonprofits plan to increase spending around digital ads this year.*
So, how do you make sure your ads are driving the results you want?
In this session, we’ll cover:
- Advertising strategies to reach brand new donor/supporters
- Automated methods for engaging the donors/ supporters you already have
- Best practices on creative design
- Powerful examples (1.21 gigawatts, to be exact) from real nonprofits like you
SPEAKING SESSION: Growing Giving: Leveraging GivingTuesday Data Trends for Year-End Fundraising Strategies
- 2:30 PM – 3:00 Pm
- Woodrow Rosenbaum
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
In a moment defined by uncertainty, it’s easy to focus on risk. But the data tells a more hopeful story if we’re willing to see it. Drawing on new insights from the GivingTuesday Data Commons, this keynote will explore the real trends shaping generosity today, including persistent challenges and powerful opportunities that remain largely untapped.
We’ll unpack key findings on donor behavior, recurring giving, and community-driven fundraising, and challenge the assumptions that keep us locked into outdated models. This is not just a call for resilience, it’s a case for revival. Join us for a practical and provocative conversation about how fundraisers and nonprofit leaders can build more sustainable, participatory approaches to year-end giving and beyond.
Session Review w/ learning guides
- 3:00 PM – 3:05 PM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Before you power down for the break, our Recap Reactor crew is bringing you a quick burst of insights straight from the flux stream of our last sessions.
AFTERNOON BREAK & ACTIVITIES
- 3:05 PM – 4:15 PM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
NIO Summit Day 1 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
Vendor Exhibits: (Clocktower Commons) Browse various products & services to help supercharge your fundraising program **Hint – this is where the snacks and beverages are located
Innovation Showcase: (Little Theater)
- Innovation Showcase #1: 3:15 PM – 3:35 PM – Presentation by TBD
- Innovation Showcase #2: 3:45 PM – 4:05 PM – Presentation by TBD
Optimization Station: (Clocktower Commons – NextAfter Booth) Come let the experts give you some pointers!
Birds of a Feather Town Square: (Clocktower Commons) Join your peers by job title, fundraising vertical, or nonprofit sector to discuss the challenges you face and the breakthroughs you’re chasing. It’s your chance to exchange warp-speed insights, spark new collaborations, and maybe even rewrite a few fundraising timelines—no DeLorean required.
Time Travel Movie Trailer: (Clocktower Commons) Record yourself in a Fundraising to the Future movie scene! Be a movie star and then share your adventure on your social media for swag tokens!
Swag Store: (Clocktower Commons) The only currency accepted at the Swag Store are Swag Tokens! And the only way to earn swag tokens is to visit with the vendors, attend the parties, post on social media, and lots more!
Swag Store Sponsored by:
SPEAKING SESSION: Fast Pass to the Future: Email Marketing List Growth… the RIGHT Way
- 4:15 PM – 4:45 Pm
- Jessica Best
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
Email marketing almost certainly earns your highest return on investment of any marketing channel: it takes advantage of giving your donors and prospects control over what they get. Plus, 3rd party platforms like paid media and social media will continue to get harder to maximize in The Future™️.
It’s time to invest in your own 1st party data and GROW your email subscriber list. Email marketing can cultivate subscribers and convert to donors… but the first step is to capture them.
In this session, Jess will teach us the right way — and the wrong way — to grow your email list, from free tactics to paid campaigns, from quick wins to long-term strategies. Plus, she’ll point out how to get your program in order before you grow it to make sure you’re getting the most out of each subscriber.
What You’ll Learn:
- The WRONG way to grow your list
- Organic growth ideas (inexpensive)
- Paid and promotion-based growth ideas (fast)
- Keeping your list clean for better Future Fundraising
88 MPH Insights
- 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Fasten your seatbelt, fundraisers! This session may be short, but it’s packed with the kind of insight that bends space-time (and donor retention curves).
SPEAKING SESSION: Storytelling That Sticks: How to Craft Digital Narratives That Drive Long-Term Giving
- 5:00 pm – 5:30 Pm
- Nick Marino Jr.
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
The best fundraising campaigns don’t just ask—they tell stories that connect donors to the heart of your mission. In this session, I’ll share how to craft digital storytelling strategies that inspire action and foster lasting donor relationships. I’ll break down real examples from my work leading multimillion-dollar campaigns and show how authentic, mission-driven narratives can be your most powerful fundraising tool.
Takeaways:
- Learn the essential elements of storytelling that drive emotional connection and giving.
- Discover how to structure digital campaigns (email, social, video) around compelling narratives.
- Understand how to build continuity in your storytelling to keep donors engaged long after their first gift.
- Leave with a toolkit of prompts, templates, and content ideas to strengthen your next digital fundraising campaign.
Session Review w/ learning guides
- 5:30 PM – 5:35 PM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Before we fire up the flux capacitor for tonight’s festivities, the [Wisdom Wranglers] are here with one last jolt of insight to lock in your learnings from today’s ride.
fundraising to the future: Cyberpunk
- 5:35 pm – 5:45 Pm
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Before you head off to dinner and the Summit Party, join us for the thrilling next chapter in our time-traveling tale. The future of fundraising has gone dark, and only Marty and Doc can fix the timeline before it’s too late. What happens next could change everything—don’t miss it.
dinner on your own
- 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM
- Downtown Kansas City Area
Head back to your room, freshen up and grab a quick bite to eat. But don’t stray too far…you won’t want to miss the Official NIO Summit Party that starts at 8:30 PM at PBR Big Sky in the Power & Light District.
The official Summit Party
- 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM
- PBR Big Sky at the power & light district
The Official Summit Party Sponsored by:
We’re taking over PBR Big Sky—one of KC Live!’s largest and most dynamic venues. Known for its casual, high-energy vibe, featuring a mechanical bull, a live music stage, and plenty of room to mix, mingle, and dance. Whether you’re networking or just unwinding, this is the kind of night you won’t forget.
Thursday, Oct 2: NIO Summit Day 2
breakfast, exhibits & registration
- 7:30 AM – 8:15 AM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
Before we hit 88 MPH again, swing by the Expo Hall for a high-voltage breakfast and some time-warp-worthy coffee. It’s your chance to reconnect with old allies, forge new fundraising partnerships, and gear up for another day of big ideas and even bigger breakthroughs.
NIO Summit Day 2 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
fundraising to the future: REcap & announcements
- 8:15 AM – 8:40 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Strap in for a high-energy launch into Day 2 with Marty, Doc, and a little help from the space-time continuum. Our favorite time travelers return to the stage for a live recap and set the tone for another epic day. You’ll catch a special highlight reel featuring all the best moments from Day 1 and the Opening Party—because at NIO Summit, even the past is worth reliving in style.
SPEAKING SESSION
- 8:40 AM – 9:10 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
TBD – Hold on to Your Hoverboards—Info Incoming
88 MPH Insights: Future-Proofing Your Fundraising: Three Key Metrics to Boost Generosity
- 9:10 AM – 9:25 AM
- Gabe Cooper
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
What if you could predict your next growth opportunity before year-end? This keynote breaks down the seven most critical fundraising metrics shaping nonprofit strategy—and shows how leading organizations are turning numbers into smarter decisions.
Takeaways:
- Learn which seven metrics most accurately predict nonprofit resiliency and growth
- Understand how these benchmarks provide clarity across fundraising, marketing, and leadership teams
- Hear stories of organizations using metrics like donor lifetime value and mid-level growth to guide strategic planning
- Get inspired to rethink your KPIs to drive smarter, more confident decisions
SPEAKING SESSION
- 9:25 AM – 9:55 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
TBD – Unfolding in Future-Tense
Session Review w/ learning guides
- 9:55 AM – 10:00 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
The Learning Interpreters have recalibrated the timeline and are ready to drop a few fast, actionable insights from the last round of speakers.
MORNING BREAK & ACTIVITIES
- 10:00 AM – 11:10 AM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
NIO Summit Day 2 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
Vendor Exhibits: (Clocktower Commons) Browse various products & services to help supercharge your fundraising program **Hint – this is where the snacks and beverages are located
Innovation Showcase: (Little Theater)
- Innovation Showcase #1: 10:10 AM – 10:30 AM – Presentation by TBD
- Innovation Showcase #2: 10:40 AM – 11:00 AM – Presentation by TBD
Optimization Station: (Clocktower Commons – NextAfter Booth) Come let the experts give you some pointers!
Birds of a Feather Town Square: (Clocktower Commons) Join your peers by job title, fundraising vertical, or nonprofit sector to discuss the challenges you face and the breakthroughs you’re chasing. It’s your chance to exchange warp-speed insights, spark new collaborations, and maybe even rewrite a few fundraising timelines—no DeLorean required.
Time Travel Movie Trailer: (Clocktower Commons) Record yourself in a Fundraising to the Future movie scene! Be a movie star and then share your adventure on your social media for swag tokens!
Swag Store: (Clocktower Commons) The only currency accepted at the Swag Store are Swag Tokens! And the only way to earn swag tokens is to visit with the vendors, attend the parties, post on social media, and lots more!
Swag Store Sponsored by:
SPEAKING SESSION: Unlocking LinkedIn: Your Organization's Secret Weapon in 2026
- 11:10 AM – 11:40 pm
- Anthony Jones
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
This session delivers a practical blueprint for nonprofit professionals and leaders to turn LinkedIn into a powerful tool for visibility, trust, and mission growth.
The content focuses on two key outcomes:
- For Employees: How to build a strong personal brand on LinkedIn, even if they’ve never posted before. Attendees will walk away with a clear framework, practical content ideas, and a simple weekly checklist they can start using right away.
- For Executive Leaders: How employee visibility increases brand reach, builds donor trust, and attracts the right talent. Leaders will also learn how to lay the groundwork for an employee brand ambassador program that gives their organization a competitive advantage most nonprofits aren’t even thinking about.
88 MPH Insights: DeLorean Data: Powering Nonprofit Impact from Yesterday's Insights to Tomorrow's AI
- 11:40 AM – 11:55 AM
- Brad Duff-Hudkins
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
In this session, attendees will explore how nonprofits can accelerate their impact by strategically leveraging data and Artificial Intelligence. Moving beyond traditional reporting, we will delve into practical applications of AI to transform fundraising and operational efficiency. We will also address the crucial ethical considerations, emphasizing the importance of data privacy, bias mitigation, and maintaining the essential human touch. Attendees will leave inspired with actionable steps to begin their own AI journey, ensuring a smarter, more impactful future for their organizations.
Key Takeaways:
- AI as a Force Multiplier: You will discover how AI acts as a powerful co-pilot, amplifying human effort and unlocking deeper insights for fundraising and operations.
- Practical Applications: You will learn tangible ways to use AI for personalized donor engagement, predictive fundraising, and operational automation.
- Ethical Foundations: You will understand the critical ethical considerations, including data privacy and bias, to ensure responsible AI adoption.
Actionable First Steps: You will receive clear, actionable advice on how to start experimenting with AI, emphasizing data quality and a “human in the loop” approach.
SPEAKING SESSION: Marketing Attribution Is a Scam: How to Make Better Decisions Without It.
- 11:55 AM – 12:25 pm
- Moni Oloyede
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Marketing attribution is one giant, expensive guessing game.
And in the nonprofit world where budgets are tight and every dollar counts, playing that game can cost you more than it helps.
In this session, I’ll expose why attribution will never tell you what you actually need to know, which is where to spend your money to get results. Spoiler alert: it’s not because your tools are broken—it’s because the entire concept is flawed.
You’ll walk away with a smarter, simpler approach to making confident marketing decisions—without buying new tech or hiring a team of data scientists. This session is for nonprofit marketers who are tired of dashboards that lie and reports that don’t move the needle—and who are ready for a practical, principle-driven way forward.
Session Review w/ learning guides
- 12:25 AM – 12:30 AM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Before we grab lunch and recharge our flux cores, the Insight Crew is here with a quick snapshot of the morning’s top takeaways—fuel for the conversations ahead.
LUNCH & NETWORKING
- 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
NIO Summit Day 2 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
Lunch: (Clocktower Commons & Patio Seating) Enjoy a lunch break and network with fellow attendees. Share insights, and recharge for the afternoon sessions. This break provides a perfect blend of nourishment and opportunity to foster new professional connections.
Vendor Exhibits: (Clocktower Commons) Browse various products & services to help supercharge your fundraising program **Hint – this is where the snacks and beverages are located
Optimization Station: (Clocktower Commons – NextAfter Booth) Come let the experts give you some pointers!
Time Travel Movie Trailer: (Clocktower Commons) Record yourself in a Fundraising to the Future movie scene! Be a movie star and then share your adventure on your social media for swag tokens!
Swag Store: (Clocktower Commons) The only currency accepted at the Swag Store are Swag Tokens! And the only way to earn swag tokens is to visit with the vendors, attend the parties, post on social media, and lots more!
Swag Store Sponsored by:
fundraising to the future: That New Old Sound
- 1:30 pm – 1:45 pM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
The adventure continues—don’t miss what happens next. After lunch, the story picks up with a pivotal moment that could change everything. Expect surprises, some seriously fun throwbacks, and a reminder of why generosity always wins. Be in your seat… the timeline depends on it.
88 MPH Insights: Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Siloes
- 1:45 pM – 2:00 pM
- Tony Cavicchi
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Too many nonprofits expect supporters to take a single, narrow path to the summit of the donor mountain. In this sharp and practical session, Tony Cavicchi challenges the status quo of siloed systems and one-size-fits-all donor journeys. You (probably) don’t have Biff Tannen’s almanac, but you can still win the future with data. Tony will unpack how to start using all of your donors’ data—whether you’re cleaning it for the first time or beginning to prospect your own 2nd-party audiences. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for breaking down the barriers between your channels, your teams, and your donors. Because if your fundraising strategy still depends on isolated channels… you’re not ready for 88 mph.
SPEAKING SESSIONS
- 2:00 pM – 2:30 pm
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
TBD—Temporal Glitch—Details in the Next Timeline Update
AFTERNOON BREAK & ACTIVITIES
- 2:30 PM – 3:40 PM
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
NIO Summit Day 2 Meals and Breaks Sponsored by:
Vendor Exhibits: (Clocktower Commons) Browse various products & services to help supercharge your fundraising program **Hint – this is where the snacks and beverages are located
Innovation Showcase: (Little Theater)
- Innovation Showcase #1: 2:40 PM – 3:00 PM – Presentation by TBD
- Innovation Showcase #2: 3:10 PM – 3:40 PM – Presentation by TBD
Optimization Station: (Clocktower Commons – NextAfter Booth) Come let the experts give you some pointers!
Birds of a Feather Town Square: (Clocktower Commons) Join your peers by job title, fundraising vertical, or nonprofit sector to discuss the challenges you face and the breakthroughs you’re chasing. It’s your chance to exchange warp-speed insights, spark new collaborations, and maybe even rewrite a few fundraising timelines—no DeLorean required.
Time Travel Movie Trailer: (Clocktower Commons) Record yourself in a Fundraising to the Future movie scene! Be a movie star and then share your adventure on your social media for swag tokens!
Swag Store: (Clocktower Commons) The only currency accepted at the Swag Store are Swag Tokens! And the only way to earn swag tokens is to visit with the vendors, attend the parties, post on social media, and lots more!
Swag Store Sponsored by:
SPEAKING SESSION: The Mindset Delorean: Built to Go Beyond Limits
- 3:40 PM – 4:10 Pm
- John Michael Morgan
- Clocktower Commons (Municipal Arena)
Great Scott! It’s not tactics that are holding you back. It’s your mindset.
In this energizing and time-bending closing keynote, John Michael Morgan will take you on a journey into the most powerful fundraising tool of all: the way you think. John Michael will show you how to leave behind scarcity thinking and step into a future defined by belief, clarity, and confident action.
You’ll learn:
- Why abundance isn’t just a mindset—it’s a multiplier
- The identity trap keeping fundraisers stuck in the past (and how to break free)
- How to rewire your internal story to unlock external results
- Simple daily practices to shift from fear-based fundraising to bold, magnetic messaging
If your mission matters, your mindset must match it. This keynote is your invitation to step into the DeLorean, punch in the coordinates for impact, and floor it toward the future your nonprofit was meant to create.
learning guides wrap up
- 4:10 pM – 4:15 PM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
As we park the DeLorean and power down the time circuits, our [Insight Crew] returns for one final reflection—highlighting the moments that mattered most on this unforgettable journey into the future of fundraising.
fundraising to the future: What’s Next After This?
- 4:15pm – 4:30 pM
- NIO Summit Theater (Music Hall)
Whatever you do, don’t head back to 1985—or the airport—just yet. The final chapter of our time-traveling journey will unfold in one more time jump you won’t want to miss. In the epic conclusion to our fundraising adventure, Marty, Doc, and the gang return for one last twist that brings everything full circle—and hints that their work (and yours!) is far from over. It’s fun, heartfelt, and the perfect sendoff after two days of inspiration, insight, and innovation.
Then… boom! The moment you’ve all been waiting for: the reveal of where (and what?) NIO Summit 2026 will be. Hang around ‘til the very end to be the first to find out—and score the absolute lowest ticket price we’ll ever offer. This special deal is reserved for those brave and loyal time travelers who stick with us to the final spark.
Experience nio summit in person
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Back to the future: back to kansas city!
NIO Summit 2025 will take you (back) to Kansas City, MO on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2025.
We have a block of rooms reserved at a discounted rate at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.
Kansas City Marriott Downtown
200 West 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
Just across the street from Kansas City Music Hall!
The Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization Summit is presented by NextAfter. 5810 Tennyson Pkwy, Suite 102, Plano, TX 75024