Nicole Rodriguez, Chair

Building the Conference, Year by Year

The ADRP International Conference is our most visible program and represents the largest investment of volunteer time and staff support across the association. 

At the center of this enterprise is the International Conference Committee, volunteers who partner with the ADRP office to plan and execute the multi-day event. Our mission is simple in wording but significant in scope: deliver a conference experience that meaningfully serves ADRP members, non-members, and sponsors. Therefore, planning a conference of this scale requires structure, collaboration, and sustained effort over time.

Structured Committee Leadership

The International Conference Committee leadership is intentionally designed as a two-year commitment. A volunteer leader first serves as Co-Chair to learn the planning process and the strategic decisions involved, all while working closely with the sitting Chair. In the following year, they step into the Chair role. Ultimately, each year’s conference builds on the work and ideas of the last. 

Sub-Committee Collaboration 

The remaining committee works across multiple subgroups.

Some volunteers focus on marketing and communications to shape the messaging that connects the conference to the broader ADRP community. Other members identify session topics, develop learning pathways, and recommend speakers who offer relevant experience and insight to the event. Additional teams support sponsor engagement and partnerships, strengthening relationships with organizations that invest in the profession. Others focus on attendee experience; this subgroup encourages meaningful on-site member connections through networking activities and extra-curriculars. 

This is a sample of volunteer contributions. Each subgroup tackles a different part of the process, but the conference only comes together through coordination and collaboration across the entire committee. Together, we ensure that the ADRP International Conference remains a place where professionals gather to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen our field. 

Sustained Effort: Resilience and Reinvention

As you know, the 2026 ADRP International Conference takes place September 15-18, in Reno, Nevada. Planning is well underway. Education remains at the heart of the conference. It creates opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers to exchange ideas, explore new approaches to donor relations, and learn from one another’s experiences. One of the ways ADRP members help shape that learning is through session proposals. The call for proposals is open, and we encourage you to share the strategies, lessons, and experiences that have shaped your work. Take a step further and join us! There is still room for additional volunteer leadership on the 2026 International Conference Committee.