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Years of watching the sunrise over Lake Superior have taught me that the sky belongs to no one nation. The same sun that greets me each morning also shines on friends and colleagues around the world. Across borders, beneath the same sky, we share a common humanity.

This will be my fourth year attending the International Fundraising Congress (IFC) in Noordwijk the Netherlands. It has been a remarkable progression—both in how the conference has evolved and how I have grown through it. The first year I attended the conference I saw what it meant to be part of a truly global fundraising community. The next two years I volunteered and was accepted as a session leader where I worked with 20 other people around the world to help make the workshops run smoothly. This year I have participated with 100 other people over ZOOM to continue the work throughout the year through IFC’s Leadership Program.  

In the past I have participated in hundreds of trainings, presented workshops, been to national conferences that have taught me more than I could ever articulate. The difference that I have received from attending IFC is a global perspective from people around the world. At IFC, ideas are not confined by borders or traditions but on commonality.  People are encouraged to speak their truth and to share their lived experiences. In a world where some voices go unheard, IFC amplifies them. Listening is as valued as speaking, and every person and story matters.

Sustainability and innovation define IFC: no paper, no printed schedules, no waste. Everything is digital, efficient, and people oriented. 

This year’s theme is “We Rise Together.” For more information click on the link https://www.resource-alliance.org/event/ifc-2026. I’d love to see you there.