Springing Into Conference Mode
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March has a lot going on: changing clocks, all things Irish, a few college basketball games, and muddy paw prints all over the house from the melting ice floes in the backyard (just me?). It also happens to be the time when preparations for the NASFAA National Conference kick into high gear as we begin the three-month (90-day!) countdown to the main event. No surprise, then, that this edition of A.M. News is heavy with conference information to help you prepare.
Let’s jump in!
In this edition:
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Welcome, New & Returning Associate Members!
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NASFAA welcomes our new and returning members! We're happy to have you with us:
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2026 LLCE Recap
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Another successful Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo (LLCE) is on the books! Thank you to the exhibitors and sponsors who joined us in Washington, D.C. last month to learn and engage with over 460 members of the NASFAA community. Post-conference surveys indicate:
- 81% of respondents enjoyed speaking with exhibitors.
- 77% of respondents indicated that exhibitors enhanced their learning experience.
We hope you’ll join us for next year’s conference at our new location, the Grand Hyatt Washington, from February 21-24, 2027 (one week after the Super Bowl).
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Register Now: April 1 Exhibitor & Sponsor Webinar
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 Did you ever wish you could ask all your NASFAA National Conference questions and get them answered live? Or get a preview of what to expect and tips to prepare before you get there? If you’re nodding yes, I have just the webinar for you!
Join me on April 1, 2026, for our first-ever webinar just for exhibitors and sponsors! The “NASFAA 2026 National Conference: Exhibitor & Sponsor Info and AMA” webinar will cover an Innovation Hall preview, conference logistics, an exhibitor services overview, marketing ideas, exhibitor success tips, and more! Registration is available online. While the session will be recorded, I highly recommend registering to ensure you receive the on-demand link.
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NASFAA 2026 Charity Info & Sponsorship
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 NASFAA’s conference charity events not only bring conference attendees together, but they also support a great cause and provide a fantastic sponsorship opportunity! This year’s events will be no different, and we’ve got another great local charity to highlight.
First Generation College Bound, or FGCB, is a grassroots, private non-profit celebrating over 35 years of college success. Based in Prince George's County, Maryland, FGCB offers youth and their families a “pipeline” of educational interventions, comprising academic readiness, supportive services, and guidance, to help them achieve high school graduation, college admissions, and earn a post-secondary degree.
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To help us raise funds to support our friends at FGCB, we’ve got a great lineup of events:
- Charity 5K - What better way to kick off the conference on Monday morning than a friendly walk or run along the National Harbor waterfront?
- Trivia Night - Join us on Tuesday evening to see who will be crowned this year’s trivia champions.
- Topgolf Game Play - If hitting golf balls is more your speed, sign up for this Tuesday evening event instead and join a team for fun golf games throughout the night.
Your organization can be part of these events and gain great exposure as a charity sponsor. For only $1,000, we’ll put your logo on the 5K race shirt, you’ll get a sponsor table at the 5K, the option to be a trivia or golf team captain, major NASFAA publicity before, during, and after the conference, and more! To learn about all the great charity sponsor benefits, visit our website or contact me by May 1.
See what it’s like to be a charity sponsor with this video:
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National Conference: March Checklist
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- Registration is now open! Exhibitors must register as attendees for the conference.
- Once you have registered, you will be able to book your hotel reservation.
- Rooms in the Gaylord National are expected to sell out, so don’t delay!
- Exhibitor information, including shipping details, setup hours, ordering services, deadlines, and more, is available in the service kit. Visit our communications & resources page to access the kit and to stay on top of important updates.
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National Conference: Emails & Lead Collection
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After piloting a conference attendee opt-in list last year, NASFAA is pleased to offer this benefit for the 2026 National Conference. At no additional cost, the email information for all attendees who opt in to marketing will be shared with all exhibitors and sponsors, both before and after the conference.
In addition to the opt-in list, exhibitors can purchase lead retrieval licenses to scan attendee badges in the Innovation Hall. Stay tuned for more information on pricing and deadlines for this option.
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Virtual Summit Sponsorship Opportunities
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NASFAA’s 2026 Virtual Summit is happening July 13-16, but the time to think about sponsoring is now! Sponsoring the Virtual Summit offers a budget-friendly option to promote your organization in front of thousands of online attendees with the following advantages:
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- Your sponsorship is conference-wide, not just limited to a single session.
- Our virtual summit sessions feature unique content only offered online, appealing to a larger audience.
- Additionally, on-demand viewing enables more attendees to continue accessing sessions and learning about your organization long after the conference ends.
- Registration for the virtual summit is offered at the institutional rather than the individual level. This increases access to more staff, from a wider range of departments and roles, thus providing greater exposure for your organization.
With the addition of a virtual exhibit hall for this year’s event, the sponsorship cost of only $2,500 offers tremendous value. If interested in becoming a Virtual Summit sponsor, please contact me by May 14, 2026.
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