Call for Speakers Now Open for bbcon 2026!

Crystal Bruce · January 15

Exciting news!

We are now accepting speaker submissions for bbcon 2026 in Columbus, Ohio!

Are you thinking about submitting and/or want to run some ideas by the community? What topics would you love to see covered at bbcon? What topics have you loved hearing about in the past?

Let's get this discussion thread going!

Melanie Schoeneck · January 16

The Super User sessions that have been at past bbcon's are some of the best! I love it when there are a minimum of 2 of these sessions offered!

Jessica White · January 22

My colleague and I have submitted a session on how we (marketing and systems leaders) partnered together utilizing a variety of tools and strategies to power scalable stewardship. I would love to see a panel session similar to the "Ask the Super Users" format but focused on automations. I think it would be great if attendees could submit their ideal automation idea in advance and the panel could choose several and walk through how these could be accomplished. I think this would be a great opportunity to get those who love the idea of automation but aren't sure if it could work for their specific use case started out on their journeys.

Bill Connors · January 22

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/310062#Comment_310062

Jessica, are you aware of the bbdev days virtual conference June 2-4? That would be the best forum to do what you're suggesting. Not saying your idea can't happen at bbcon, too, but just be sure to attend dev days if you're into that.

Jessica White · January 22

https://community.blackbaud.com/discussion/comment/310071#Comment_310071

Hi Bill! Yes, I love devdays and hosted a few sessions last year. I'm far along in my automation journey, but was thinking this could be a session for a lot of peers I've spoken to about automation. It seems many feel that it is out of reach and they can't easily see how they could accomplish their own solutions based off of others' examples that are unrelated. I'm thinking that seeing or hearing one of their own problem's solutions could be the a-ha moment that accelerates their journey. By the way, I've attended your sessions in the past and they have been so helpful - thank you!

Sarah Krenicki · February 2

I've been wanting to create a session that help people who were "thrown into" Raiser's Edge. Back in 2017 I went from "I have no idea what a fundraising CRM even is" to "DBA" in SIX WEEKS. I needed all the help I could get!

I would love to find a co-presenter (or two!) who had a similar experience to do a session themed around first time users or people feeling like they're in over their heads in a "what I wish I knew/ things to prioritize/ I can't believe I did THAT" style session.

Fun title ideas include:

"Raiser's Edge 101 - Trial by Fire edition: what we wish we knew, what we wish we did, and what we sincerely wish we DID NOT do"

"I just logged in for the first time ever!…Now what?"

"This is not my beautiful Excel! This is not my beautiful comfort zone!; So you've inherited your first database."

Amy Bridges · February 9

My colleague and I submitted a session, From Call Lists to Connections: Using Blackbaud NXT Work Center Portfolios to Power an In-House Phonathon and Student Stewardship Program. Hoping to see other users in Ohio!

Keena Bait · February 16

I am planning to submit a proposal for 'How to work with and around Queue problems'. Some other ideas for sessions: 'What it takes to convert to a new CRM', 'Integrations with 3rd parties - the good, the bad, the ugly', and 'How are we going to live without database view?'

Sara Niemiec · February 19

@Angel Lawrence and I just submitted a proposal for building Policies & Procedures Manuals without the anxiety that usually comes with one. It's something we're both passionate about.

Call for Speakers Now Open for bbcon 2026!

Answers

Categories