The Fundraising Institute Australia Conference is not an inexpensive exercise. No conference is! Flights. Hotels. Tickets. Time out of the office. For many charities, it is a five-figure investment for delegates and a lot more for sponsors and exhibitors once you add it up properly. If you are attending FIA Conference 2026 in Melbourne (25–27 February), treat it like a strategic initiative — not a professional holiday. The delegates who get the most from it do not “see what happens.” They plan, execute, and follow through.

Here is how to maximise the return.

Go in with a Clear Agenda (Not Just a Session List)

Before you land in Melbourne, answer three hard questions:

• What problem am I trying to solve this year?
• What capability does my organisation lack right now?
• What conversations do I need to have?

Are you:

• Trying to lift retention?
• Planning a CRM change?
• Building a bequest pipeline?
• Preparing for a capital campaign?
• Strengthening governance?

Select sessions aligned to those priorities — not just the ones with the most exciting titles.

Tip: Create a one-page “Conference Objectives” document. Bring it with you. Refer back to it after each session.

Be Strategic About Networking (Quality > Quantity)

The hallway conversations often deliver more value than the formal program.

But random networking wastes time. Instead:

• Identify 10 people you genuinely want to meet.
• Reach out before the conference and book coffee.
• Attend sector-specific meetups.
• Sit at different tables each day.

If you are a leader, seek peers who are one step ahead of where your organisation is now.
If you are an emerging talent, seek mentors and those with different specialisations.

Melbourne in February is ideal for early-morning coffees and evening rooftop conversations. Use the city. Do not just stay inside the venue.

Learn About Credentialing at FIA Conference

Seek out #CFRE International in the exhibit hall and find out how you can become a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

As about:

• Applying to sit for the exam.
• Exam schedule.
• Preparation for the exam/resources.
• Local colleagues who have achieved their CFRE.

While you are at the CFRE Networking booth, meet Reno Deschaine, the new CEO of CFRE International.

Treat Sponsors and Vendors as Strategic Conversations

Too many delegates avoid the exhibition floor. That is a mistake.

Technology, data, and compliance are reshaping fundraising faster than ever. The right 20-minute conversation with a CRM, digital giving, or data partner could save your organisation years of drift.

Go prepared:

• Ask vendors what Australian clients struggle with.
• Ask for case studies.
• Ask what is coming in the next 18 months.

You do not need to buy anything. But you do need market intelligence. Some of us are even giving away some fun items!

Take Notes for the Organisation — Not Just Yourself

Most conference notes are useless within a week.

Instead, structure your notes into three columns:

1. Insight
2. Relevance to Our Organisation
3. Action Required

If you cannot answer item two, the session may not have been the right one.

Your goal is not inspiration. It is implementation.

Divide and Conquer (If You are Attending as a Team)

If your organisation is sending multiple delegates:

• Split sessions deliberately.
• Cover different disciplines.
• Debrief daily over dinner.
• Assign ownership for post-conference action items.

This multiplies your return instantly.

Protect Thinking Time

Conferences are noisy.

Block 30 minutes each day to sit somewhere quiet — perhaps overlooking the Yarra or in your hotel lobby — and reflect:

• What challenged my assumptions?
• What am I avoiding at home?
• What needs to change?

Strategic clarity rarely happens in the middle of applause.

Build Relationships with Purpose

FIA Conference is also about professional identity.

If you are working toward your CFRE International credential — or maintaining it — conferences reinforce your commitment to standards and lifelong learning. Do not underestimate the signalling value of that.

Be visible:

• Ask thoughtful questions.
• Contribute insights.
• Connect with peers on LinkedIn immediately.
• Follow up within 72 hours.

Professional reputations are built slowly — and reinforced at events like this.

Plan the Post-Conference Debrief Before You Leave

Book a meeting with your CEO or leadership team before you attend.

Schedule it for the week after you return.

Your role is to deliver:

• Top 5 strategic insights
• 3 recommended actions
• 1 bold idea worth serious consideration

If you cannot distil the conference into those nine points, you were not paying attention.

Look Ahead, Not Back

Fundraising in Australia is shifting:

• Donor expectations are rising.
• AI and automation are changing operations.
• Governance scrutiny is increasing.
• Talent competition is tightening.

Use FIA Conference 2026 to position your organisation for where the sector is heading — not where it has been.

The best delegates do not just attend. They recalibrate.

Remember Why You are There

Beyond the tactics and tools, FIA Conference reminds us of something fundamental: fundraising is a profession. Standards matter. Ethics matter. Discipline matters.

Three days in Melbourne can:

• Expand your thinking.
• Sharpen your strategy.
• Strengthen your network.
• Reignite your purpose.

But only if you treat it seriously.

The investment is real.

Make sure the return is too.

Melbourne, 25–27 February 2026. Show up prepared. Leave with a plan.