When you work for the same organization for a while, sometimes things can get stale. It can start to feel like you have “been there, done that!” How do you keep your fundraising ideas fresh?

Although I have been in fundraising for over 20 years, I am still learning and looking for opportunities to learn. Learning new things and different perspectives helps me to see something I have done before with new eyes. If you need to shake things up a bit and get out of the “same stuff different day” mode, try one of these learning opportunities:

Rocky Mountain Philanthropy Institute
The Association of Fundraising Professionals hosts this quick and affordable conference, coming up quickly on September 8-9, 2016. My favorite part: going up to Breckenridge and getting away from the office, and sessions that are all about fundraising.

CNA Fall Conference
The Colorado Nonprofit Association hosts a conference in Denver every October, and this year it will be Oct. 20-21, 2016. The conference is packed with tons of speakers on every topic. My favorite part: it’s in town so you can sneak away for a day of inspiration.

CausePlanet Book Summaries
If you don’t already subscribe to CausePlanet, you need to check it out. They provide book summaries (think Cliff Notes, but better) about current books that apply to nonprofit leaders. We’re all pressed for time. These summaries help you quickly gather the most important information from the latest thought leaders, so you can stay on top of trends and best practices. My favorite part: it’s the short-cut we’re all looking for.

AFP Coffee Chat
Sometimes you just want to talk to other people who “get it.” I get to do that every month at Coffee Chat, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. From organic conversations to informal presentations, I can count on a group of Fundraisers coming together to talk about what’s working and what isn’t. My favorite part: the group changes and I always learn something new.

We all have different learning styles. So whether you enjoy a conference with workshops presented by expert speakers, reading books or book summaries in your office, or an informal chat with other professionals (or all of the above) – find what works for you. I promise that when you keep learning, the every day stuff is more interesting.