Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, 2026
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Indianapolis, Indiana
The North American Interfraternity Conference Annual Meeting of Members and Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Seminar are hosted together to build all aspects of fraternal industry success and encourage collaboration on all sides of our organizations. We know successful fraternities help sustain successful fraternal foundations and the educational initiatives of our organizations. We are excited to once again provide a dual program experience for the NIC Annual Meeting of Members and FFE Seminar. The Dual Meeting not only benefits executives but also a broad range of staff members and high-level volunteers. When fraternity and foundation leadership attend the dual experience, our organizations grow and find connections in our dynamic yet collective work.
Dual Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to:
2026 Registration (Opening on May 1)
Registration includes educational content and lunch/happy hour on Monday, August 31, as well as all programming and meals on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Individual access to digital resources from NIC & FFE educational programming will be available following the conclusion of the program.
Dual Meeting Registration Rates Per Person:
• Early-Bird Registration, May 1 – June 30: $625
• Standard Registration, July 1 – July 31: $725
• Late Registration, August 1 – 8: $825
Note: The above are already discounted FFE Member Organization rates. Is your organization’s foundation not an FFE member? An additional $200 will be billed to your account following registration if your organization’s foundation is not an active member organization. Contact FFE Executive Director Will Foran to join/renew your FFE membership and have this fee waived. Both standard and emerging foundation membership dues available.
Interested in registering 8-10 from your organization?
If you would like information about bundle pricing ($4,500 for up to 10 organization registrants) for your group to attend Seminar, contact Gretchen Foran by June 30 and include the number of attendees for both Dual Meeting and the CSO-Board Chair Symposium.
Awards of Distinction Reception & Dinner
FFE’s Awards of Distinction reception and dinner will take place on Tuesday, September 1. If you would like to purchase an additional ticket for another staff member not already attending Seminar or a spouse, family member, etc., they will need to register separately.
How to register: Log into FS Central and complete the 2026 NIC Annual Meeting & FFE Seminar registration form on the Events tab. Select “Monday & Tuesday – Dual Meeting and/or FFE Seminar” registration type.
2026 KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS
Everybody Pulls the Tarp | Monday, Aug. 31 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Andrew Moses, Host, Everybody Pulls The Tarp
Podcast host & leadership expert Andrew Moses will share his trademarked ‘Everybody Pulls The Tarp’ success mindset and some of the most powerful life & career lessons he’s learned from his conversations with over 250+ Olympians, pro athletes, TV personalities, Broadway stars, Grammy winners, bestselling authors, & other high-performers. You’ll hearimpactful stories, powerful inspiration, & actionable ideas to implement for your own personal and professional success.
Our State of the Industry — By the Numbers | Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Patrick Alderdice and Aaron Parker, Pennington & Company
For more than two decades, Pennington & Company has tracked the financial health of fraternity and sorority foundations keeping the interfraternal community informed on where the industry stands and where it’s headed.
How does your foundation compare? Patrick Alderdice and Aaron Parker return to unpack the latest IRS Form 990 findings, setting current results against a 20-year backdrop of asset growth, fundraising totals, grantmaking, and program spending. This year’s session goes a step further, digging into the nuances behind the numbers and what they mean for your foundation’s benchmarking.
Whether you’re navigating challenges or executing on the next visionary project, you’ll leave with fresh benchmarking context, trend analysis, and practical recommendations to help your foundation grow and thrive in the year ahead.
The New Philanthropic Reality: Understanding Affluent Donors in a Today’s Giving Landscape | Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Dianne Chipps Bailey, Managing Director, National Philanthropic Strategy Executive, Bank of America Private Bank
Charitable giving is changing—and fraternal foundations are on the front lines of that transformation. As philanthropy increasingly concentrates among a smaller circle of affluent donors, foundation leaders face rising expectations, generational shifts, and ongoing economic uncertainty.
Drawing on the Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, this keynote will deliver timely perspective on the realities fraternal fundraisers face today. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how affluent households give, volunteer, and make philanthropic decisions. Throughout the session, data‑driven insights are paired with practical considerations that professionals can apply in partnership with boards and volunteers––building confidence and increasing success when engaging high‑capacity donors.
Participants will leave with sharper clarity into what truly motivates major donors—including how economic and social forces are shaping donor behavior through 2026 and beyond. With access to the research report, foundations will be better equipped to include a data-driven lens when securing majors and transformational gifts, and to turn insights into lasting philanthropic impact.
Location and Lodging
The event will take place at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
- A room block is available at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown (IMD) for attendees. FFE rates start at $189/night + taxes/fees for reservations booked by August 17, 2026.
- In the event the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown room block is fully booked before August 17, attendees will be able to book their stay at a nearby property secured by NIC & FFE. Available room rates, proximity and room types will be communicated at that time.
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Cancellation Policy for FFE rate: Hotel cancellations made 48 hours or less before arrival will be subject to a charge of one night plus applicable taxes.
