Fundraising Festival
The largest European event dedicated to fundraising and the nonprofit sector
About Fundraising Festival
The Fundraising Festival in Riccione
The Fundraising Festival is the largest European event dedicated to fundraising and the nonprofit world. Every year, at the beginning of summer, it transforms Riccione (Province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna) into the capital of the Third Sector: for three days, the Palazzo dei Congressi (Congress Center) and the city's spaces host thousands of fundraisers, directors of associations, foundations, NGOs, and social enterprises from all over Italy and abroad to train, exchange ideas, and build relationships.
Founded in 2007 from an idea by Professor Valerio Melandri, who is now its director, the Festival has grown to become an internationally recognized benchmark, with over 4,500 participants, more than 600 organizations involved, and over 100 training sessions spread across three intense days.
A unique format: training, inspiration, and networking
The Festival's structure combines different moments that make it much more than a conference:
- Plenaries on the main stage, with keynotes from major figures in global fundraising and guests discussing choices, courage, and change.
- Special classes and in-depth workshops on specific topics: artificial intelligence applied to fundraising, email marketing, neuro-fundraising, major gifts, and corporate partnerships.
- Parallel workshops in dozens of rooms, designed for both beginners and experienced fundraisers.
- Experiential areas — Market Area with supplier stands, Welcome Area with Job Board and a session dedicated to «newcomers», terraces, and social moments.
A significant portion of the program is in English, with simultaneous translation, thanks to the presence of international speakers such as Alan Clayton, Tammy Zonker, Julia Campbell, Rachel Muir, and Josh Hirsch.
Evening events open to the city
The Festival is not just for insiders: every evening it offers free events open to the public in Piazzale Ceccarini and in the city center's venues, with guests who can speak to everyone about solidarity, inclusion, and civic engagement. This is when the event opens up to the city of Riccione and engages with its citizens and tourists on the Riviera.
Why it matters
In an era where the nonprofit sector faces enormous challenges — from digital transformation to the need to build trust with donors and companies — the Fundraising Festival is the place where the sector updates itself, discusses the hottest topics, and imagines its future. For those working in fundraising, it is the event of the year; for the city of Riccione, it is a valuable showcase that brings thousands of professionals from across the continent to Emilia-Romagna.
Fundraising Festival — edition 2026
The 19th edition of the Fundraising Festival was held at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Riccione from June 3 to 5, 2026, with the theme 'The courage to choose which side to be on'. Three days dedicated to training, inspiration, and networking for the nonprofit world, with over 4,500 participants and more than 600 organizations involved.
The program alternated plenaries on the main stage, in-depth special classes, and dozens of parallel workshops, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, digital fundraising, sustainability and ESG, major gifts, and corporate partnerships. The evenings were opened free of charge to the city with high-profile national guests.
Programme Fundraising Festival 2026
Wednesday, June 3
- 8:45 AM–12:00 PM — Parallel special classes: 'Fundraising with Small and Large Companies' (Giovanna Bonora, Giovanna Tedesco – AIRC), 'Human Fundraising with AI' (Josh Hirsch), 'Email Fundraising Lab' (Andrea Girolami), 'Neuro-Fundraising Lab: How Donors Think' (Mariano Diotto).
- 11:30 AM — Ribbon cutting and opening of the Market Area with supplier stands.
- 1:30 PM–3:00 PM — Mainstage, plenary 'You don't have the money because you don't know how to raise it' with Alan Clayton.
- 3:30 PM — 'From Request to Relationship: Major Gifts' with Tammy Zonker.
- 4:45 PM — 'New AI Tools for Nonprofits' with Darian Rodriguez Heyman.
- 5:45 PM–7:00 PM — Mainstage, plenary 'The courage to choose' with Bebe Vio, Paralympic champion and founder of art4sport ETS.
- 9:00 PM — Piazzale Ceccarini (free): 'If it seems impossible, then it can be done', Bebe Vio in conversation with the Festival founder Valerio Melandri.
Thursday, June 4
- 8:30 AM–9:45 AM — Mainstage, 'Internet, AI, and the New Map of Human Needs' with Giorgio Taverniti; in parallel 'Fundraising START – the first 60 days' (Valerio Melandri, Iole Ciliberto – Antoniano Onlus).
- 10:00 AM–11:00 AM — 'From Likes to Donations' with Alessandro Mazzù; 'The Minimalist Fundraiser' with Julia Campbell; 'The Era of Heroes in Fundraising' with Tammy Zonker.
- 11:45 AM–12:45 PM — 'Direct Mailing, Face to Face, and Legacies' (Angie Scala, Gabriele Ferretti, Paola Maggi); 'How to Launch a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign' (Ginger Crowdfunding).
- 9:00 PM — Piazzale Ceccarini (free): meeting with Gino Cecchettin in conversation with Eleonora Mazzoni.
Friday, June 5
- Concluding workshops and closing plenary (until approximately 3:30 PM).
- Sala Concordia, Palazzo dei Congressi (free): special address by Riccione artist Paolo Cevoli.
International speakers also included Rachel Muir, Bill Stanczykiewicz (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy), and Erik Tomalis. Program in Italian (84 sessions), English (7), and English with simultaneous translation (14). In case of bad weather, evening events in Piazzale Ceccarini were moved to the Sala Granturismo of the Palazzo del Turismo.
Highlights Fundraising Festival 2026
Prices Fundraising Festival 2026
Practical information — Fundraising Festival
Where
Palazzo dei Congressi di Riccione, Via Virgilio 17 (Province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna). Evening events open to the public take place in Piazzale Ceccarini and, in case of bad weather, in the Sala Granturismo of the Palazzo del Turismo.
How to get there
By train: Riccione station on the Adriatic line (Bologna–Ancona), a few minutes' walk from the center. By car: Riccione or Rimini Sud exits from the A14 highway. By plane: «Federico Fellini» Airport in Rimini, about 15 km away.
Registration
Participation in the three days of training is paid, with different types of passes (Smart, Level Up, Gold) and discounted rates for early registration, as well as group discounts. Evening events in Piazzale Ceccarini are free and open to all, subject to availability. Information and registration on the official website.
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Where does it take place — Fundraising Festival
Palazzo dei Congressi di Riccione
Via Virgilio 17, 47838 Riccione