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Call for Presentations

Submissions Now Closed. Submit your proposal for the 2025 Chicago Convention November 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

NFDA International Convention & Expo
October 20-23, 2024 | New Orleans, LA

Are you an expert in helping funeral businesses achieve higher levels of performance and service to families? Share your thought-provoking, innovative and practical presentations with funeral directors from more than 40 countries at the NFDA International Convention & Expo!

The best proposals include:

  • Entertaining and Engaging Presentations
  • Immediate Applicable Information
  • Tangible Takeaways

Educational sessions may not include product or company-specific sales pitches.

Interested in submitting a proposal? Apply the helpful tips below to write a proposal that sets your session apart!

Ready to submit your proposal?  When the Call for Presentations is open, please select the Apply Now button and you will be taken to a new webpage to complete your application. If you do not already have an account with Survey Monkey Apply, you will need to create one. Selected presenters are not eligible for NFDA Convention Scholarships.

1. Know Your Audience.

  • 67% of attendees' primary role is owner/manager
  • 60% of 2023 attendees listed education sessions as their primary reason for attending

Average-Age-Membership            Attendees-Primary-Position

2. Choose Your Topic Area.

Your one- or two-hour session should fall into at least one of nine topics, including business operations, compliance and legal, consumer care, disposition, embalming and restorative art, innovation and technology, marketing, and professional development.

3. Get Noticed! 

tips to create a workshop proposal that stands out!

4. Complete Your Proposal!

Proposals must be submitted via the online submission form. No more than two proposals may be submitted per individual and/or company.

  • write a clear and concise session description that specifies what attendees will learn 
  • include at least three distinct and specific learning objectives
  • include past presentation experience in your biography
  • adhere to word limits

All proposers will be notified via email by March 15, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone can submit a proposal. It is not necessary to be an NFDA member.

Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 5 p.m. CST.

NFDA strives to be fair, thoughtful, and transparent with respect to its speaker compensation policies as well as consistent with standards among non-profit associations. As such, NFDA does not pay volunteer presenters or cover travel expenses. All selected presenters do receive one complimentary full convention registration valued at up to $990.

NFDA Convention presenters receive valuable professional exposure at the largest and most prestigious gathering of funeral service professionals in the world. Your name and credentials will be promoted on the NFDA website, in a variety of print and electronic marketing materials, and the Convention App. Presenters are in a position to influence the practice of funeral service and the future of the profession. As an NFDA presenter, you will receive one complimentary full convention registration.

Individuals are limited to two proposals. In addition, no more than two proposals from any one company will be accepted.

Yes, you may have up to two co-presenters. Their contact information must be included in your online submission.

The Convention Education Task Force is comprised of NFDA members from across the country. The Task Force reviews fully complete, non-commercial proposals that meet the submission requirements. Selection criteria include:

  • A clearly written session description that offers new ideas, tools or strategies for funeral businesses to enhance service and growth
  • Specific business benefits and learning objectives are clearly stated
  • Value of the proposer's credentials, depth of knowledge and professional experience
  • Contribution of the content to the overall balance of the Convention programming

All proposers will be notified via email by March 15, 2024.

If you have any questions about NFDA’s Call for Presentations process, please email education@nfda.org.