The 20th annual Bridge Conference starts today and runs through Friday, August 1!
Every year, it brings together passionate nonprofit email and marketing pros—making it a highlight of our calendar.
We’re especially looking forward to connecting with our Civic Shout partners and industry colleagues.
Will you be there? Here are five can’t-miss sessions we’re looking forward to:
👉 Ctrl + Alt + Engage: The Digital Fundraising Reset to Power Future Growth
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | 3:15-4:30 PM | Maryland C
If your digital fundraising strategy needs a reboot, Jen Newmeyer of PBS is here to help.
Drawing on years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, Jen will share actionable strategies you can implement right away, regardless of your organization’s size.
We expect this session to be packed with practical, low-lift changes that can remove friction, improve donor experience, and drive long-term growth without fancy tools or a huge team—critical at a moment where emailers are increasingly expected to raise more with less capacity and resources.
👉 Sustaining Impact: Building and Nurturing a Robust Monthly Giving Program Through Digital Channels
Thursday, July 31 | 8:45 - 9:45 AM | Chesapeake I
If monthly giving isn’t part of your long game, it should be—and this session is sure to show you why.
With real-world examples from the International Rescue Committee and Faircom New York, you’ll learn how to predict and prevent donor churn, re-engage lapsed sustainers, and apply proven retention strategies that actually work.
Whether you’re looking to launch your first sustainer program or reboot an existing one that needs love, this session will help you turn monthly donors into long-term champions for your cause.
👉 Lead, Follow, Get Out of the Way: Data-Driven Lead Generation Strategies to Scale Digital Growth
Thursday, July 31 | 2:30–3:30 PM | Maryland 1,2
Is your acquisition strategy feeling like a black box? This session will flip the lights on.
A stacked panel—including Civic Shout CEO Josh Nelson—will break down how to better track, nurture, and scale your lead gen efforts across paid and organic channels.
Expect smart tips on structuring data, building dashboards that actually work, and turning more leads into long-term supporters.
👉 Revolutionizing Your Fundraising Through Donation Page Optimizations
Friday, August 1 | 8:00–9:00 AM | Chesapeake C
A non-donor just clicked through to the link to your donation page. But they didn’t convert.
If your email, ad, or text campaign is pulling its weight, but your donation page isn’t—you’re leaving revenue on the table.
This session from Streetlight Digital’s Lizzie Russell and BGCA’s Rupert Schutz dives into what makes a high-performing giving experience, from trust-building design to mobile optimization to offering modern payment options like DAFs and cryptocurrency.
👉 Donor Privacy + Fundraising: A Discussion Between a Privacy Expert and Fundraisers
Friday, August 1 | 9:10 - 10:10AM | Chesapeake 6
Fundraisers rely on digital tools to meet their goals, but what happens when those tools compromise donor privacy?
This session will bring together experts from the ACLU, the Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and MKDM for a timely conversation about the ethical trade-offs in digital fundraising, from tracking pixels to third-party platforms.
We anticipate attendees will walk away with practical strategies for reducing harm, building donor trust, and preparing for the evolving privacy landscape.
It’s a rare opportunity to hear from both privacy experts and seasoned fundraisers navigating this complex terrain in real-time.
If you’re attending Bridge and want to connect, keep an eye out for the Civic Shout crew or reply directly to this email if you want to grab coffee—we’d love to say hello!
And if you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time—visit the official conference website for last-minute tickets and details on session times, venue info, and helpful tips for making the most of your experience.
Other industry events
Action Network Deliverability Training
Thursday, July 31 at 1pm EST
Join Action Network for a deep dive into email deliverability — what it is, why it matters, and how to keep your emails out of spam folders.
Freewill Webinar – The Latest Research on Donor Psychology
Tuesday, August 5 at 12pm EST
Get a first look at brand-new insights into how donors think and what motivates them to give in 2025—and how fundraisers can put that research into action.
Small Actions, Big Shifts: New Digital Tools for Organizing
Tuesday, August 12 at 10am PST
Don’t miss this training from NewMode to learn how organizers are using the platform’s tools to turn big advocacy moments into lasting political pressure.
Check our events list for more or email [email protected] to submit one for consideration.