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BRIDGE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES


This document addresses:
  • Questions? Contact Registration
  • Registration Overview
    • Group, Small Nonprofit or Student Registrations
    • Cancellation and Refund Policy
    • Substitutions
    • Badge Reprint Fee (on-site)
    • Dietary Restrictions
    • Hotel Reservation Changes
  • Bridge Conference Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
  • Attendee Standards of BehaviorAnti-Harassment Policy
    • ADA Accessibility
  • CFRE Credit
  • Children at the Conference
  • Consent to Use Images and Share Information
  • International Attendee Registration
  • Volunteers Needed
  • Program Cancellation
  • Gaylord National Hotel COVID Initiatives

Questions? Contact Registration

For questions related to the program, registration and hotels, contact Registration@bridgeconf.org and your inquiry will be properly directed.

Registration Overview

The Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference (aka Bridge Conference) is produced by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Washington DC Metro Area Chapter (AFP DC) and the Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW).

Both organizations welcome professionals who work in and serve the fundraising and marketing sectors.  Members of the AFP DC, DMAW, as well as our partners, The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA) and the Direct Marketing Fundraising Association (DMFA) are all eligible for a discounted registration rate. Special rates are offered to small nonprofit organizations as well as group registrations for 3 or more from one organization. Special rates are offered to students as well. Please see Registration Rates tab for details.
 

Group, Small Nonprofit or Student Registrations

Group Definition: Register 3 people from your organization and receive a discount!

3 or more registered with the same nonprofit or same company. The group must be registered at the same time and paid for with one form of payment. Only applicable to full conference registrations.

Small Nonprofit Definition: For organizations with a total revenue under $1,000,000. Limited number of registrations available on first-come, first-served basis.

Student or Intern: Fulltime student or Intern. Limited number of registrations available on first-come, first-served basis. Some scholarships are available. Please contact registration@bridgeconf.org for details. 

Please note: For the Group Registration Rate, all team members must be registered by one person at the same time using the same form of payment. All team members must be listed using the same organization-based email domain; registrants having public domain addresses (e.g., @gmail.com) will not qualify in the count for the group rate.
 

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

The cancellation deadline is Friday, June 14, 2024. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to the registrar at Registration@bridgeconf.org by June 14.  If a registrant cancels on or before this date, the registration fee will be refunded to the individual minus an $100 cancellation fee.  Cancellation disqualifies you from receiving attendee benefits and publications.

No refunds will be provided for cancellations received after June 14 or if a registrant does not show up for the conference.
 
All cancellations must be submitted in writing to the registrar at Registration@bridgeconf.org.
 
Substitutions:
Please contact the registrar (Registration@bridgeconf.org) to request a registration substitution within the same registered organization.  A $45 substitution fee will apply to any substitutions made after June 14, 2024.

Badge Reprint Fee (on-site)
Your conference badge serves as your admission to the conference, so please treat it carefully. Badge reprints at the conference will incur a $25 badge reprint fee. Badge sharing or splitting is strictly prohibited.

Dietary Restrictions
The Bridge Conference provides buffet style meals allowing options for a variety of dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free. The Bridge Conference will provide special kosher and halal meals to registrants who notify the conference in advance at time of registration or in writing to Registration@bridgeconf.org at least 14 calendar days prior to the event.

Hotel Reservation Changes
All new hotel reservation bookings and changes to any existing reservations must be made directly with the Gaylord National Hotel. Reservations can be canceled up to 48 hours prior to arrival without penalty.  

Bridge Conference Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

The convening organizations of the Bridge Conference value the diversity of experiences, ideas, people, and organizations in our community. We believe diversity makes our sector stronger. We strongly encourage and seek speakers and sessions from people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, women, men, people with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQI individuals, and/or from professionals working for organizations serving those groups.

Attendee Standards of Behavior and Overview

By registering for the 18th Annual Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as laid out in these Attendees Standards of Behavior and Overview. Failure to abide by these policies will affect your eligibility to participate in the Bridge Conference this year and possibly in future years.

Standards of Behavior: Electronic devices must be turned off or set to silent mode during educational sessions. Disruptive or objectionable conduct, activities and related materials (megaphones, signage, etc...) as determined by The Bridge Conference, are strictly prohibited in every area of the conference unless specifically approved by show management in writing.

No weapons of any kind are allowed at the Gaylord Hotel or any of the conference facilities. Explosives, fuel, combustible, or hazardous materials are strictly prohibited.

Attire: Business casual and traditional business attire is preferred. No Accessibility: The Bridge Conference provides, upon request, alternative formats, and services necessary for all individuals to participate in all programs and services provided by our organization. Requests for accommodations should be given at the time of registration or submitted at least three weeks in advance of the conference.

Suitcasing (on-site):
We value the financial investment that our exhibitors and sponsors have made in The Bridge Conference, particularly with their participation in the Solutions Showcase. Please note that while all meeting attendees are invited to the exhibition, any attendee who is observed to be soliciting business in any public spaces or in another company’s booth, and does not have a booth themselves, will be asked to leave immediately. Other penalties may be applied. Please report any violations you may observe to The Bridge Conference Staff.

Educational Session Rooms
In accordance with everyone’s physical comfort as well as the local fire regulations, we will be monitoring the attendance in our breakout session rooms. As our educational sessions are not ticketed, all seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Consequently, plan appropriately to ensure you gain access to the sessions you want. Once all seats are taken in a room, no one will be allowed to enter.

Anti-Harassment Policy
The Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference and its owners/organizers, AFP DC and DMAW are dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the event organizers.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

Exhibitors in the Solutions Showcase are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualized clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualized environment.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the Conference a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the conference.

We expect participants to follow these rules at all sessions and Bridge Conference event-related social activities. We think people should follow these rules outside event activities too!

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible to a member of The Bridge Conference staff. Harassment and other code of conduct violations reduce the value of our event for everyone. We want you to be happy at our event.

You can make a personal report by contacting a staff member at the registration area. Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure you feel comfortable giving your report and deciding next steps.
 

ADA Accessibility

The Bridge Conference welcomes all attendees and complies fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please notify The Bridge Conference at the time you register, or in writing to customer service at least 14 calendar days prior to the event, if you need a sign language interpreter or other accommodation related to audio, visual, or mobility needs.

The Gaylord Hotel is quite large and the Conference has educational sessions in different parts of the building. If you have any mobility challenges, be sure to allow plenty of time to get from one point to another.

 

CFRE Credit

The Bridge Conference is applying for CFRE credit for fundraisers seeking initial certification or recertification of their CFRE. We anticipate being approved for up to 8 points for the Faith & Fundraising Forum and Bridge TECH; 5 points for a Wednesday Bridge Workshop and up to 12.00 points for Thursday-Friday Bridge Conference tracks.. Further details to be posted within a month before the conference.

Children at the Conference

No one under the age of 18 is permitted to attend any conference events. If you bring children to The Bridge Conference, you are responsible for childcare arrangements. Children are not permitted in the exhibit hall, general sessions or in any educational sessions in the hotel.

Consent to Use Images and Share Information

Media Release: Registrant gives The Bridge Conference permission to photograph and video/audio record the Registrant and to use the same in Bridge publications, promotions, and other media. Registrant understands that The Bridge Conference has exclusive rights to these visual and audio recordings.

Photographs, videos and recording will be taken at the event for use on the Bridge Conference website, conference print collateral, in the press, future marketing materials and social media. By attending this event, you consent to The Bridge Conference photographing, taking video, and using your image and likeness.

By registering for The Bridge Conference, you agree that we may provide your registration information to our sponsors, partners, and affiliates who helped make this conference possible and that they may contact you with offers that may be of interest to you. If you do not want us to share your information, to opt out notify submit a written request to Registration@bridgeconf.org.

International Attendee Registration

Please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html for the latest guidelines.

If you require an invitation letter from the Bridge Conference for your visa application to attend the conference, please email info@bridgeconf.org with the following information:

Letters will be provided for the conference only and sent as attachments via email.

Volunteers Needed!

We need volunteers to help make the conference a great experience for everyone! Fully registered attendees are invited to volunteer. To volunteer write to Registration@bridgeconf.org.

Program Cancellation

The Bridge Conference and its producers, AFP DC and DMAW, reserve the right to cancel any individual sessions or, in the case of a force majeure event, the entire conference. In the unlikely occurrence of a force majeure event, and The Bridge Conference is cancelled in its entirety, all registrants will receive full refunds as applicable. The Bridge Conference is not responsible for reimbursing travel costs, or any costs related to travel.

Gaylord National Hotel COVID Initiatives

The Gaylord Hotel brand, part of Marriott Hotels, has initiated many protocols relating to: Health & Safety Expertise; Commitment to Clean; Gaylord Technology; COVID Case Notification; Specific Protocols for Public Spaces and Leisure Amenities; Safe and Clean Guest Room Environments; Healthy & Safe Meetings, Conventions & Events – feel free to read about them all here: Gaylord Hotel Health & Safety Protocols