The Indiana chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and several other local nonprofit associations will join forces on  Nov. 15 in honor of Indiana Philanthropy Day.

The unprecedented joint conference coincides with National Philanthropy Day and will offer a comprehensive array of topics, speakers and interactive sessions at the Indianapolis Hilton to assist more than 300 statewide AFP members and the nearly quarter million Indiana nonprofit employees as they prepare for the new and profound challenges facing their industry.

The nonprofit sector continues to be a major economic force in Indiana, accounting for nearly 1 out of every 11 paid jobs in the state, more than twice the number of construction or wholesale trade workers. It also exceeds the number of workers in the accommodation and food industry.

Opening the day-long series of workshops is Tom Ahern, international expert and author, on the science of fundraising communications. Thought-provoking author Dan Pallotta will close the conference as he discusses his premier book Uncharitable, and advocates somewhat controversial ideas for nonprofit sector innovation, including creating an anti-defamation league for philanthropy and other hard-charging initiatives.

Additional breakout sessions will help nonprofit professionals hone their skills as they prepare themselves to contend with the impact of falling government aid and a shrinking donor pool on the viability of their organizations. Topics addressed will include foundation funding, annual funds, capital campaigns, data mining, tax updates, cultivating high-net-worth women, social networking and other topics key to the profession.

Subject matter experts from several state colleges and universities will present, including Indiana, Purdue, Butler, Taylor and the Center on Philanthropy. Presiding is chapter president Phil Purcell, VP of the Ball State Foundation.

FACT: Nonprofit employment grew by 5.9 percent between 2005 and 2009, while overall employment fell 5.9 percent and for-profit employment declined by 8.6 percent.The more than 245,600 nonprofit employees earned $8.6 billion in wages in 2009.

Indiana Philanthropy Day is sponsored by local philanthropic consulting firm Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates. Several other organizations have contributed to the event, including the Lilly Endowment, Pentera, Loring Sternberg & Associates, Target Analytics, Fifth Third Bank, and BKD. Other local nonprofit associations joining AFP in presenting the conference to their members include CASE Indiana, Planned Giving Group of Indiana, and the Indiana chapter of APRA.

For the 29th year, AFP Indiana will be recognizing accomplishments by fundraisers during its annual Indiana Philanthropy Awards ceremony honoring individuals, civic organizations, foundations, corporations and small businesses, recognizing the important contributions they make to our communities across the state of Indiana every day.