Meet the Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Yolanda F. Johnson
President
YFJ Consulting, LLC
Founder
Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)®
Morning Keynote — All the World's a Stage
Session Description
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts."
— William Shakespeare
Whether it is the boardroom, a major donor meeting, a social occasion or an annual work review, everywhere you go is your "stage." How can you get into character to make the ask in work and in life? We must prepare as though we're about to have the performance of our lives. When she was sitting in the private dining room of a major financial institution about to make an ask for a very large sum of money to a donor who was literally highlighting questions from her organization's Form 990 with a marker, Yolanda was unafraid, ready to go and knew that she was at a distinct advantage because of her years of being a professional musician and performer.
Yolanda F. Johnson has had a simultaneous career as both a successful fundraiser, DEI expert, philanthropy leader and acclaimed Lyric Soprano. Her extensive background as a successful performing artist, presenter and keynote speaker, has given her a unique, creative perspective on the communications and presentation aspects of everyday life and work.
With this in mind, she developed All the World's A Stage, a special workshop using performance practice for fundraising and philanthropy. She presents All the World's A Stage to professionals and leadership groups across the country. Through it, you will learn proven performance techniques and advice that will help you to project confidence when you are nervous; relax in high-pressure situations, and make the very best possible impression in your career in fundraising.
Bio
With a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, Yolanda F. Johnson, a leader in fundraising, philanthropy and Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, has developed training methods for boards and leadership groups in effective fundraising strategy and in racial and gender equity, in addition to successfully launching fundraising and marketing initiatives; creating special streams of earned income and special events, including creative strategies for partnerships and sponsorships; securing foundation, corporation and government funding, and cultivating a diverse major gifts portfolio. Her philanthropic work includes counseling philanthropists on where to direct their resources, and through her own YFJ Philanthropies, she personally gives back to causes supporting racial and gender equity, those with disabilities and the arts.
A trailblazing figure on the nonprofit landscape, from 2019 - 2022, Yolanda was the first African American President in the history of Women In Development (WID), NY, one of the NY Metro Area's premier professional fundraising organizations; she is the founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC) and the founder of Allies in Action Membership Network, specializing in transformational anti-racism training and programming for the nonprofit sector.
Yolanda is a sought-after keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator for various presenting organizations nationwide and internationally on topics related to DEI, Women's Philanthropy, Fundraising and Public Speaking. She spearheaded WID's first Diversity and Inclusion Task Force — a two-year endeavor — which culminated in a final report and accompanying article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, where she served on a DEI Advisory Committee. She also served on a special DEI committee for the fundraising sector, established by Salesforce. Yolanda also conducts Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the Inside Out, a special workshop on IED for nonprofit organizations. Her work has been featured in the recent publication, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Advancement: A Guide to Strengthening Engagement and Fundraising Through Inclusion, published through CASE. She serves on the Marketing Committee of Advisors in Philanthropy.
Her other leadership roles include serving on the Board of Directors of the Hudson River Museum, Lehman College Art Gallery and PowHer NY. She is also a Special Advisor to the American Composer's Orchestra and the former United Nations NGO Rep and current International Advisory Board Member for the Foundation for Post Conflict Development.
Yolanda's career as a successful performing artist and public speaker (www.yolandafjohnson.com) has given her a unique, creative perspective on the communications and presentation aspects of organizational development. With this in mind, she developed All the World's A Stage, a special workshop using performance practice for fundraising, philanthropy, and DEI. She presents All the World's A Stage to professionals and leadership groups across the country. Yolanda was awarded the 2021 Changemaker Award from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice and is a founding member of the Women's Philanthropy Alliance, a core group of industry experts and thought leaders on Women's Philanthropy.
Holly Hull Miori, PhD, MPA, MTS, CFRE
Senior Director of Development
University of Texas at Dallas
Luncheon Keynote — Millennial Philanthropy
Session Description
Are millennials interested in more than avocado toast and lattes? Join Dr. Holly Hull Miori — fundraiser, researcher, and elder millennial herself — to hear the latest (surprising) research on the next generation of philanthropists and volunteers.
Bio
Holly Hull Miori, PhD, MPA, MTS, CFRE has a nearly twenty-year career in fundraising and foundation work, where she has raised funds both locally and nationally in higher education, healthcare, arts and human rights and Holocaust education. She serves on multiple boards locally and nationally including AFP chapters, AFP Global Government Relations Committee, AWARE Dallas at The Dallas Foundation, and Paper for Water. She also teaches fundraising for graduates and undergraduates and is a sought-after speaker nationally usually dispelling the myths of millennials. Her book on millennial philanthropy will be published with Palgrave Springer, an imprint of MacMillan, in summer 2023. She also enjoys speaking on her other research which includes family foundations, conscious capitalism, faith-based fundraising, ethical fundraising, and the trends in philanthropy. Dr. Miori is a past recipient of the ARNOVA Fellowship, fellow of the Lake Institute at Lilly School of Philanthropy, and is the co-owner of CTD Initiative, LLC. Dr. Miori holds a master's and PhD in public affairs from The University of Texas at Dallas, her master's in theological studies from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and her undergraduate degree from Austin College in Sherman, TX.
Breakout Sessions — 9:35 AM - 10:30 AM
Michelle Crim
Dynamic Development Strategies
Kathryn Keaton
Program Director, Project Access Tarrant County
Tarrant County Academy of Medicine
How to Ignite Your Fundraising
Session Description
Are you struggling to
build diversified funding for your programs with a limited staff? Join Kathryn
Keaton with Tarrant County Academy of Medicine and Michelle Crim with Dynamic
Development Strategies to learn how they worked to build a base of fundraising
for Project Access, a little-known community project, into a fully funded
program with sustainable revenue from individuals and local foundations.
Session Objectives
- Identify pipeline strategies to engage new donors
- Demonstrate effective methods to cultivate foundations for new grant opportunities
Bio
Michelle is President of Dynamic Development Strategies, an award-winning, woman-owned company she founded in 2019 to provide interim leadership and strategic fundraising services to nonprofits.
Her 20-year career in fundraising and nonprofit management includes roles in higher education, healthcare philanthropy, and social service organizations.
She serves on the board of Charitable Gift Planners, Lone Star Chapter as Treasurer, is a board member of Camp Fire First Texas and is Program Co-Chair for the AFP Fort Worth Metro Chapter, and speaks on a variety of fundraising topics, nonprofit leadership, and received her CFRE in 2008. She is also a Grant Professionals Association-approved trainer.
Kathryn Keaton joined Project Access Tarrant County in 2011 and has been the director since 2013. Kathryn has developed and maintained relationships with Tarrant County community-charitable clinics and chairs a bimonthly committee that brings area clinics together for networking and resource-sharing. Through Kathryn's leadership, the Project Access network of volunteers and partners increases every year.
She is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University and serves on the board of Fort Worth Youth Orchestra.
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Missy Gale
President
M. Gale & Associates, LLC
Community Centric Fundraising and What it Means for American Generosity
Session Description
A relatively new movement called Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) is challenging American donors, volunteers, fundraisers and nonprofit professionals to "re-examine every fundraising philosophy and practice they have been taught, engage in vigorous ongoing conversations and explore fundraising in ways that reduce harm and further social justice "Guided by ten principles, CCF puts all people and community in the center of the fundraising, not just the donor, and focuses on equally valuing volunteers, staff, donors and board members. At the same time, The Generosity Commission, an independent project of the Giving USA Foundation, is conducting research and having conversations online and in person to contribute to national understanding about how individual givers and volunteers are reimaging generosity in powerful and positive ways, including giving that unmediated by charitable organizations, strengthening our society and democracy in the process. The momentum to reframe philanthropy beyond traditional donor-centric fundraising seems to be increasing. In this presentation, we'll take a deeper look at Community Centric Fundraising and the role it's playing in helping guide a new era of generosity.
Bio
Missy Gale, CFRE approaches her work with a sincere desire to help make nonprofit organizations stronger. As president and founder of M. Gale & Associates, LLC, she has dedicated decades to crafting unique solutions to complex fundraising projects and organizational issues that result in transformational fundraising success.
M. Gale & Associates is a strategic fundraising consulting firm dedicated to the success of the organizations it serves and boasts a team of experienced associates that forge strong alliances that produce transformational success! Missy takes pride in choosing only proven professionals from a variety of nonprofit sectors with a track record of success in fundraising practice. With nearly two decades of service, the firm has assisted organizations all over the country with developing campaign strategy, implementing major giving and relationship-driven fundraising programs, and elevating the fundraising prowess of staff, CEO's and board members.
Prior to founding M. Gale & Associates, Missy worked in fundraising and public relations in healthcare and cultural organizations. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and holds a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation. She has completed training in the Technology of Participation® Facilitation Methods and Strategic Planning conducted by the Institute of Cultural Affairs. She has presented at numerous international, national and regional conferences and has been recognized for effective communications and fund development. Missy was honored as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser in 2014 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fort Worth Metro Chapter. Missy has also served the fund development profession as national chair of the Association of Philanthropic Counsel (APC) and as a board member of the AFP Fort Worth Metro Chapter.
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Vanessa Hadox
Director of Institutional Giving
Nasher Sculpture Center
Demystifying Institutional Giving: Fundraising from Corporate, Foundation, and Government Sources
Session Description
This presentation will focus on practical skills and tips related to raising funds from corporate, foundation, and government sources. Each type of funder has a unique motivation and outlook on supporting non-profit organizations with grants, donations, or sponsorships--and this presentation will help demystify the process. Grantwriting skills are but one piece of a successful institutional giving program; this presentation will cover how to identify, cultivate, and steward a diverse range of institutional stakeholders for maximum impact.
Session Objectives
- Participants will learn about the unique characteristics and motivations for corporate, foundation, and government entities to support non-profit organizations
- Participants will learn practical skills related to identifying and reaching out to prospective institutional supporters
- Participants will leave with tips on how to make strong asks to institutional supporters, including via grantwriting, sponsorship decks, and face-to-face solicitations
Bio
Vanessa Hadox is an arts administrator with over ten years of experience in fundraising and communications. She is currently serving as Director of Institutional Giving at the Nasher Sculpture Center, where she focuses on generating significant contributed revenue from corporate, foundation, and government sources.
Prior to moving to Dallas in 2021, Vanessa spent eleven years living and working in New York City. Most recently, she worked as Associate Director, Development at BRIC, a multi-disciplinary art space in Downtown Brooklyn; Associate Director, Individual Giving at Public Art Fund, New York’s leading presenter of temporary public art projects; and Director of Development & Communications at Groundswell, a socially-engaged community mural organization.
She has lectured at the Temp to Perm public art conference and the Van Alen Institute, and led public art tours for the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program and the Municipal Art Society’s Jane’s Walk.
She is a frequent panelist and proposal evaluator, co-founder of the NYU Museum Studies Alumni Association, and served as an adviser in the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Emerging Leaders Program from 2018 to 2020. She is currently a Community Member at The Cedars Union and a Board Member at Texas Vignette.
Vanessa holds an MA in Museum Studies from NYU and a BA in History from the University of California, Irvine. Her master’s thesis Art at the Airport: Museums, Public Art, and the Non-Place examines public art through the lens of the sociology of space.
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Cameron Diane Hernholm
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Nexus Recovery Center
Superhero Fundraising Without a Cape
Session Description
Did you know there is now a Fundraiser Bill of Rights? Did you know that last year, 94% of fundraisers felt stressed and underappreciated and fundraisers' average tenures dropped from 18 months to 16 months? The nonprofit sector has always had a fundraiser shortage but now there is a crisis.
We as fundraisers can change our own job satisfaction, relieve our own work stress, create ideal work-life balance and still be SUPERHERO Fundraisers!
This course will cover establishing boundaries with staff, donors, and self; career negotiations; goal setting; and a fundraiser's role in community-centric fundraising.
Session Objectives
- Understand the Fundraiser Bill of Rights
- Determine appropriate fundraising goals
- Establish work boundaries
Bio
Cameron Hernholm, CFRE is a dedicated, results-oriented, and collaborative non-profit professional with over 20 years of experience in major gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, grant writing, special events, marketing and public relations. Since joining Nexus Recovery Center in January 2021, Cameron has launched a $10 million capital campaign, secured that campaign’s first major gift, raised additional campaign funds totaling over $4.5 million, and doubled Nexus’ annual philanthropic support.
Cameron’s passion for the nonprofit sector is not only reflected in her dedication to her craft, but also in her many volunteer activities. She currently holds board positions on the AFP Greater Dallas Chapter, Friends of Solar Prep and the University of North Texas Dallas County Alumni Association.
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Kelsey J. Picken, PhD, CFRE, CSPG
Director, Legacy and Gift Planning
Children's Medical Center Foundation
10 Ways to Use Planned Giving Conversations to Increase Your Fundraising Dollars
Session Description
Planned giving conversations are typically used to determine whether a donor has committed their ultimate gift to your organization; however, studies show that even asking about a planned gift can increase annual giving dollars. This session highlights 10 different ways that having a planned giving conversation with a donor can expand and deepen relationships, educate on alternative gift types, and to reconsider what legacy giving means and when it takes place.
Session Objectives
- Increase comfortability with how and why we have planned giving conversations
- Add conversational tools for advancing donor relationships regarding organizational trust
- Eliminate the myth that a planned gift fulfills the role of an ultimate gift
Bio
Kelsey Picken, PhD, CFRE, CSPG currently serves as director of planned giving at Cook Children’s Health Foundation. Prior to joining Cook Children’s, Kelsey served over a decade fundraising across higher education, museums, and health care sectors in Los Angeles. Her dissertation examines the power of the multitude to shift social and physical legacies through philanthropy. In addition, Kelsey serves as a board member for Fort Worth Public Library Foundation and the Lone Star Council of Charitable Gift Planners.
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Amy B Rasor
Fort Worth Regional Director
Better Business Bureau
Give.org Donor Trust Report 2022: Five-Year Review of Trust and Giving Attitudes
Session Description
This is the 5th year of the Donor Trust Report series. The report includes our usual indicators for public trust in the charitable sector and highlights charity types that experienced noteworthy shifts since we started tracking in December 2017. These results are based on an electronic survey of more than 2,100 adults across the United States and more than 1,000 adults in Canada conducted during December 2021.
Session Objectives
- Bring awareness to the charity side of Better Business Bureau.
- Share the findings of our recently released study on donor trust.
- Demonstrate how charities can use BBB to strengthen their level of trust.
Bio
Amy Rasor has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience in the Fort Worth Community. Amy has served in the arts, social services and membership areas of the nonprofit sector. She was the recipient of the 2015 40 Under 40 award from the Fort Worth Business Press and has had multiple articles published in professional development publications. Amy is currently the Fort Worth Regional Director for the Better Business Bureau. BBB is a standards-based nonprofit organization that is passionate about building better businesses and holds both a 501c6 and 501c3 designation as a membership organization and an Education Foundation. She has been with BBB for 4 years.
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Rebecca Gregory Segovia
GivingDNA
Netflix Does It, Shouldn't We: The Power of Personalization at Scale
Session Description
How do you activate those hidden donors in your constituent file? With the cost of external acquisition on the rise, how do you monetize the investments you've already made? Discovering the attributes of high potential donors in your file that have yet to give empowers you to activate their passions and their giving. Intentional personalization can deepen relationships, drive donor satisfaction, and increase lifetime value.
Bio
With over two decades of leadership experience spanning the disciplines of marketing, fundraising, and technology, Rebecca "Becca" Segovia is a seasoned fundraising executive with a strong vision and passion to help nonprofits reach more donors and raise more dollars to further their mission. At Pursuant, Becca is a creative leader providing guidance across client services, marketing and sales to help nonprofit organizations achieve breakthrough results. She has a special affinity for omni-channel and relationship-based fundraising strategies aimed at increasing donor lifetime value and nonprofit health. Most recently she has taken on a leadership role with GivingDNA, a donor engagement platform birthed out of Pursuant that helps nonprofits see the stories in their data, segment and engage constituents in a meaningful way to raise more money and achieve mission.
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Aaron H Stroman
Consultant
Stroman & Associates
Kent Stroman
Founder/Consultant
Stroman & Associates
Volunteer Leadership Training
Session Description
Every volunteer position has the capacity for leadership.
How would your organization change if you made an intentional effort to develop the leader within every volunteer? From the food pantry volunteer to the Board chair. The best word to describe the change is transformational. If you want to transform your organization, begin training your volunteers to become leaders!
Leaders will lead and volunteers will follow.
Most people will enter as a volunteer, but it's up to you to ensure they develop as a leader.
Session Objectives
- See every volunteer as a leader to be developed.
- Explore the primary volunteer leadership training principles.
- Discuss three lessons that should be a part of every volunteer leadership training.
Bio
Aaron Stroman has a passion for helping people. Aaron loves to love and hates to judge. He is a dynamic speaker, engaging crowds as near as Kansas City and as far as Queensland, Australia. He has invested in countless volunteers by recruiting, training, and activating them to use their strengths to push the vision forward.
Aaron is a proud father of two children; Josie and Caje. Parenting is the greatest joy Aaron has ever experienced, and he is extremely intentional with every moment of it.
Aaron has earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Ministry. He is a member of the inaugural class of the Asking Academy™. His favorite author is CS Lewis. He enjoys philosophy, creativity, and authorship. His works are available on Amazon:
-How the Bible was Made and How You Should Read It
-Legacy Leadership: Leadership Lessons for Parents and Children
-Teenagers Are Awesome: Biblical Wisdom for Teenagers
-Marriage is Awesome: Five dynamics of marriage every couple should talk about
-Volunteer Leadership Training: For Youth Ministry
Aaron is a life long adventurer. He enjoys power sports, Brazilian jiujitsu, yoga, and he works constantly at perfecting the art of the grilled steak. Aaron is also a Serial Entrepreneur-always working on a side gig, the currently striving to harness the power of freedom seeds.
If there was one way Aaron could help every person in the world, it would be sharing wisdom to eliminate regret - past, present, and future.
Building on a 17 year career in Christian ministry, Aaron rejoined Stroman & Associates in 2021, leveraging his deep experience in leadership and volunteer management to supplement the firm’s consultancy in fundraising, board governance, and strategic planning.
Kent Stroman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) whose counsel has been honed by more than forty years of experience in general development management, strategic planning, capital campaigns, major donor solicitation and financial management. Stroman's experience includes 25 years in higher education as a Professor, Vice President for Finance and Vice President for Advancement.
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Breakout Sessions — 10:55 AM - 11:50 AM
Vickie Lynn Allen-Brown, MA
Educational First Steps
Reach, Revenue, and Reputation (Goal Setting for Your Nonprofit)
Session Description
Setting goals of a nonprofit organization to meet its mission is one of the biggest challenges nonprofit leaders face. Clearly define your mission, goals and objectives through the 3Rs - Reach, Revenue, and Reputation.
Bio
Vickie L. Allen joined Educational First Steps in June of 2019. Previously, Vickie was senior vice president of development at United Way of Tarrant County. She has also worked for WiNGS and consulted in Texas and St. Paul, Minnesota. In St. Paul, she was an assistant professor/co-chair of the business department at St. Catherine University, co-founded Team Pact Consulting Group, which partnered with nonprofits, foundations and businesses; and worked for the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley.
Vickie also led the Jeremiah Program, a nationally recognized non-profit focused on eliminating generational poverty through education and employment. She led fundraising efforts, built relationships with philanthropic leaders, and secured the organization financially. She has also consulted for the Bush Foundation's Leadership Fellows Program, mentoring more than 20 fellows to navigate and lead systemic change.
Vickie started her career in sales for Fortune 500 companies and began using those skills in the nonprofit industry when she volunteered and served on boards for various nonprofits.
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Vickie received her bachelor's degree in business and sociology from Ithaca College and a master's in public administration from Harvard University.
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Ashley Gatewood
Communications & Marketing Director
CFRE International
How to Become a Certified Fund Raising Executive
Session Description
Have you thought about becoming a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) but aren't sure where to get started or if its right for you?
This session will walk you through everything you need to know about the credential.
Whether you haven't yet started your CFRE application or have one in-progress, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of how the process works — its benefits, eligibility requirements, completing the application, exam overview, formulating your study plan, discount for AFP members, taking the exam, two example test questions, and recertification.
Several updates were made to the CFRE program for 2023. This presentation will offer the most up-to-date information to ensure you are fully informed going into the process.
If it's time to level up your career, fundraising knowledge, and earning power, join us so you can be ready to take your next step.
Session Objectives
- Understand importance of ethical fundraising and donor scrutiny
- Learn how to successfully approach the CFRE process to bring a higher level of knowledge and mastery of fundraising best practices to your organization
- Learn how to carve a professional pathway for yourself to ensure you are renumerated fairly and have the tools to ascend in your career
Bio
Ashley Gatewood is passionate about the nonprofit sector and membership associations, having spent the bulk of her career in these areas. She loves talking about the CFRE credential and how it can help elevate fundraising professionals’ careers. Ashley has been with CFRE International since 2018. She believes nonprofits and the people within them play an integral role in shaping our world for the better. Previously, she was the events and marketing manager at the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand where she helped bring world-class fundraising programing to the country.
Ashley holds a bachelor’s from Towson University in Maryland and a master’s from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Joe Hancock
Vice President and General Counsel
HighGround Advisors
Katie Warren
Client Partner Communications Specialist
HighGround Advisors
Your Mission and Donor-Advised Funds
Session Description
There are over 1 million donor-advised funds, with a
combined total of $240 billion earmarked for charity. How can you put some of
those funds to work for your organization’s mission? We’ll provide a comprehensive
look at the popular charitable gift vehicle, covering what donor-advised funds
are, how they work, their tax advantages, and benefits both to donors and the
organizations receiving grants. We’ll also consider how nonprofit fundraising
leaders can attract and engage with donors about donor-advised funds.
Session Objectives
- Participants will learn how donor-advised funds work and the gift vehicle's benefits to donors and nonprofits.
- Participants will learn through statistical data how donor-advised funds are reshaping the philanthropic landscape.
- Participants will learn how to attract and engage with donors about donor-advised funds.
Bio
Joe Hancock, HighGround's Vice President and General Counsel, has more than 25 years of experience as a legal expert and esteemed speaker in areas of nonprofit, trust, estate and charitable tax law. At HighGround, Joe counsels clients regarding charitable law, gift requirements, issues affecting nonprofit status, and tax and estate planning. Joe holds a BBA from Baylor University as well as MBA and JD degrees from the University of Arkansas.
Katie Warren joined HighGround in 2020 and as Client Partner Communications Specialist, she is the primary donor relationship manager for HighGround's Donor-Advised Fund Program. Her role also includes developing marketing strategies and communications to increase brand awareness and promote HighGround's client solutions.
Katie's previous work experience includes recruiting, employee retention, marketing, and client service in the accounting and financial planning industries. She graduated with honors from Texas A&M University with a BBA in marketing.
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Diana Marquis
Founder/Chief Strategist
DMGroupConsulting
Fundraising and Ethics
Session Description
“Fundraising and Ethics” will be an interactive workshop
where participants will be given case studies and have the opportunity to discuss
them within an ethical framework.
Fundraising is not the place for half-truths, inuendo, false
claims, or a fast and slick pitch. Professional fundraisers, especially those
who are AFP members, should be held accountable to represent our organization’s
mission, vision, and goals honorably and truthfully.
Ethics is something we may talk about every October for AFP’s
Ethics Awareness Month when it should be embedded in every move we make as
professional fundraisers.
Session Objectives
- Increase awareness of AFP Code of Ethical Standards and Donor Bill of Rights
- How ethics should influence decision making and relationship with donors
- How to address an unethical situation
Bio
Diana is the Founder and Chief Strategist of DMGroupConsulting, a boutique consulting firm, specializing in nonprofit organizations. She uses her expertise, skillset, and knowledge to assess the needs and create the best plan of action to meet her client’s goals. Their success is her success: to resolve challenges, identify resources, and implement a plan.
Diana Marquis has been a fundraiser in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for more than twenty years. She worked for academic, social service, environmental education, and consulting/training agencies. Diana served various nonprofits as Executive Director, Chief Development Officer, and Manager of Major Gifts. In addition to two decades of professional fundraising, Diana also had a career in radio and television production, and small business development.
She served the AFP Dallas Chapter as President and held other board positions as well as chair for the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon. She is a Leadership Dallas alumnus, a Charter Member of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas and a founding member of the DFW Hispanic Communicators. She served four terms on the City of Dallas Cultural Affairs Commission.
After many years of being a part-time college student, Diana earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University when she was forty-one years old. She then joined the staff at her alma mater and earned her master’s degree.
Diana has lived in Dallas her adult life, but her roots are in the High Plains of West Texas.
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Victoria Mathews
Brad Cecil and Associates
PIVOT: Capital Campaigning During Uncertain Times
Session Description
This panel discussion will focus on the unique aspects of
launching the Metrocrest Services Building Our Future capital campaign in the
midst of a major public crisis and the associated hurdles that impacted the
project. Panelists will discuss
evolution of messaging, increasing the goal halfway through the campaign and
how strategies were re-evaluated at crucial points in the campaign to achieve
success. Vickie Mathews, of Brad Cecil
& Associates, will be the moderator.
Also joining from Brad Cecil & Associates is Brad Cecil and from
Metrocrest Services is Tracy Eubanks, CEO, and Nicole Binkley, COO.
Session Objectives
- Adjusting fundraising strategies in active capital campaigns due to outside influencers
- Adjusting campaign fundraising goal mid-campaign
- Donor stewardship practices to encourage bookend giving
Bio
Vickie brings 15 years of capital campaign fundraising and nonprofit experience to Brad Cecil & Associates. She has provided nonprofit support through various roles, including Director of Marketing for a national museum and Capital Campaign Manager for a new national memorial. Her comprehensive and proven experience across individual, foundation, corporate and cause-marketing fundraising allows her to help our clients develop a robust strategy to reach major fundraising goals and change the lives of those they serve.
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Joshua Meyer
VP, Demand Generation
Bloomerang
Keep them Coming Back: How to Use Stories to Drive Donor Retention and Authentic Relationships
Session Description
Stories can have a unique way of engaging an audience and inspiring them to give. But the best stories and storytelling techniques can help your nonprofit keep your donors involved in your mission and even help you get that second gift.
In this session, we'll dig into what nonprofits with the best first-time donor retention rates do to communicate with donors in order to double down on donor cultivation and retention.
Session Objectives
- A study of first-time donor retention and why donors lapse and how storytelling can impact this
- How to use empathy and emotions to connect to your audience and drive them to make their second gift
- The importance of segmenting your communications and employing the personal touch + examples of how real organizations are doing this
Bio
Joshua Meyer brings more than 20 years of fundraising, volunteer management, and marketing experience to his current role as the VP, Demand Generation for Bloomerang. Currently, as a member of the Bloomerang marketing team, Josh manages all of the organization’s growth marketing efforts. Through his previous roles at the Human Rights Campaign and OneCause, he has a passion for creating positive change and helping nonprofits engage new donors and achieve their fundraising goals.
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Kim Richardson
Pursuant
Harmonie Farrow
Children's Medical Center
Fatima Villareal
Children's Medical Center
Where Vision Meets Vision: The Critical Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Direct Response
Session Description
Panel discussion, case study: Future program strategies need to consider the audiences impacted by, and connected to, your mission. Do they see themselves in your ads, your appeals, your social media posts and your direct mail? Ask yourself if they feel represented — and if not, what changes or steps must be taken to create a more diverse and inclusive communication strategy?
Join this important discussion, as Fatima Villarreal & Harmonie Farrow from Children's Health and Kim Richardson from Pursuant share the importance of, and practical ways, that DEI can be incorporated into your direct response programs.
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Carole Rylander
Principal
Rylander Associates
Mark Parker
Director of West Coast Sales
DonorSearch
Using Smart Data to Drive Breakthrough Fundraising Results
Session Description
With only 49% of American's making gifts annually, and average retention rates hovering around 30%, fundraising has never been more challenging — and perhaps never more vital. Making the most of your organization's limited resources and maximizing fundraising growth requires data-driven planning and execution.
This session will confirm the most reliable, meaningful, and predictive data you can use, across all prospect levels, to grow your annual appeal or drive your capital campaign. Whether your organization invests in donor analytics or simply relies on in-house data and the internet, this session will help you focus in on the smart data which will help you drive breakthrough fundraising results.
Session Objectives
- Use data you already have to find major donors
- Find new donors based on proven criteria
- Understand the factors that best predict future philanthropy
Bio
Carole inspires and engages nonprofit leadership to maximize mission impact by strengthening fund development, planning and governance practices. She was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Dallas Chapter of AFP in 2006 and has held accreditation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive since 1990. She is a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer, Past President of the Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP and Faculty Member at The CNM. In addition, Carole is a frequent speaker and facilitator whose highly rated seminars and workshops benefit board and staff leadership.
Mark joined DonorSearch as the Director of West Coast Sales after a 25-year career in fundraising. He has led successful seven-figure annual fund campaigns and eight-figure capital campaigns for independent schools, museums, zoos, healthcare, and food banking, and led major gift efforts in academic medicine. From 2001 to 2010, Mark served as a Senior Executive Consultant with CCS Fundraising. A native North Carolinian, Mark holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of North Carolina.
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Sarah E Sebastian
Director of Corporate Communications
OneCause
Fundraising Event Marketing Tips to Bridge the Generational Divide
Session Description
We all know marketing and promotion are vital to the success of your fundraising events. But how do you reach the right donors on the right channels? Find out where 1,029 social donors of all ages told us they found out about their last social giving opportunity or event and where they are most likely to give (there were a couple of interesting surprises!). We'll share actionable tips and ideas to help market your next event to a diverse audience of supporters!
Session Objectives
- Which marketing channels donors of various generations prefer
- What event donors of all ages reported motivates them to give and how you can incorporate that into your marketing
- Tips and ideas you can use to successfully market your next event to donors of all ages
Bio
Sarah is the Director of Corporate Communications at OneCause. She is a marketer and brand geek with 8 years of experience in the nonprofit tech space in the form of technical writing, customer service, content strategy, brand management, public relations, and communications. After graduating from Florida State University with an English degree, she served as an AmeriCorps tutor and spent 8 years as a teacher and writing instructor. Outside of work, Sarah can be found reading, hiking, kayaking, and wandering around in the woods to photograph birds.
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Matthew Slay
Vice President
Brad Cecil & Associates
Tim Entzminger
Senior Account Manager
Brad Cecil & Associates
Growth Mindset: Explode Your Direct Response Program
Session Description
Most non-profit organizations know how to execute a fund development program. However, many aren't taking the steps necessary to move their direct response program to the next level. In this session we'll look at what causes programs to stall, how to maximize your existing donor lists and acquire new donors, and what systems and strategies need to be in place in order to reach more donors — which will ultimately increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your mission.
Session Objectives
- Identify what's limiting your program's growth
- Learn steps to prepare and execute a growth mindset fund development program
- Leave with practical next steps to increase your program's effectiveness
Bio
Matthew is Vice President of Client Service and Account Executive for Brad Cecil & Associates and serves some of the agency's largest clients. He is passionate about implementing data-driven strategies and communicating with donors of all giving levels through every channel. Prior to joining Brad Cecil & Associates, Matthew was Development Director for the Life School Education Foundation; and with Pursuant, a full-service fundraising firm specializing in digital fundraising where he was responsible for fundraising for some of the largest universities and national programs in the country.
Tim is a Senior Account Manager for Brad Cecil & Associates. He has spent his career working with non-profit organizations to implement data-driven strategies and communicate with donors of all giving levels through every channel. Prior to joining Brad Cecil & Associates, Tim worked for Earth. Vision Marketing as a client service and mapping specialist. He also worked with Pursuant, a full-service fundraising firm specializing in digital fundraising where he was also responsible for fundraising for some of the largest universities and national programs in the country.
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Tawnia Wise
Founder & CEO
Wise Resource Development
Persuasive Grant Writing: Stop Focusing on Your Need & Demonstrate Your Qualifications
Session Description
Change the lens through which you tell your story to grant
funders. The purpose of a grant application is not to explain why your
organization needs funding, but how it meets a demonstrated need. A grant
application should tell the story of why your organization is the most
qualified to be doing the work that you are doing. Accomplished grant writer,
Tawnia Wise, CFRE, will provide an overview of the key success factors that contribute
to a compelling grant application.
Session Objectives
- Participants will learn how to utilize data and other forms of evidence to support their expertise
- Participants will learn how to utilize asset-based language to demonstrate understanding and responsiveness
- Participants will learn how to utilize outcomes to demonstrate impact
Bio
Tawnia Wise blazes the trail for nonprofits in need of capacity and resources to support their mission. Harnessing over a decade of experience in leadership roles at notable organizations including Volunteers of America Texas, Irving Healthcare Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, American Heart Association, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, her expertise is comprised of major gift stewardship, annual campaigns, grant writing, special events, crowdfunding, talent recruitment, volunteer management, and board development. Tawnia has a Master’s in Public Administration and is a Certified Fundraising Executive.
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Breakout Sessions — 1:40 PM - 2:35 PM
Marcus D Cunningham
Director, Institutional Giving
Movement Strategy Center
Transforming Philanthropy Through Community-Centric Fundraising
Session Description
The work of fundraising is often rooted in harmful practices, both to our communities of focus and the fundraisers themselves. Embedding IDEA into individual and organizational fundraising practices is one way to mitigate this reality. In this session, Marcus will introduce Community-Centric Fundraising, a philosophy created by BIPOC fundraisers with the goal of transforming philanthropy and fundraising to center race, equity, and justice. He will provide insights into the many choice points individuals and organizations take during this journey, along with success stories and a deep dive into his institutional giving practices.
Session Objectives
- Participants will understand the history and philosophy of Community-Centric Fundraising.
- Participants will understand how they can apply Community-Centric Fundraising and other IDEA practices based on their job roles and level of responsibility.
- Participants will understand how to apply Community-Centric Fundraising and other IDEA practices in the context of institutional giving.
Bio
Marcus is an anti-racist fundraising professional with over ten years of experience in the social sector in Texas and with nationally-based organizations like Movement Strategy Center, New Leaders, Teaching Trust, and Reasoning Mind. He is also an organizer for the Community-Centric Fundraising movement, working to transform philanthropy and center the fundraising practice in race, equity, and justice. Marcus is a native of Dallas, TX, and has a Bachelor's in management from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He currently lives in El Paso, TX, with his partner, two cats, and one dog. In his free time, he enjoys watching, playing, and arguing about basketball, and attending pro wrestling events.
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Alexandra Dunn
Millionaire Grant Lady LLC
The Template for Grant Writing Success
Session Description
Grant writing is often an overwhelming task delegated to
general fundraising staff. This presentation will cover each major section of a
grant proposal. Within each section, we will cover what information is needed,
what questions need to be answered, and how to synthesize all of the
information into a compelling fundraising document. The presentation includes
specific statements to be customized for your organization that will wow your
funders. At the end of the presentation, all fundraisers who never wanted to be
grant writers can have the tools they need to be successful when grant writing
ends up on their plate.
Session Objectives
- Learn the key components of each section of a grant proposal.
- Learn how to make each section of a grant proposal a compelling piece of fundraising writing.
- Understand how to link the sections of the grant proposal into a cohesive and compelling grant document.
Bio
Alex Dunn, MSW, CFRE, is the Millionaire Grant Lady and the creator of the Area of FocusTM and Core CultivationTM strategies, the Attractiveness QuotientTM survey, and the Grant Writing Success Template. Alex uses her program and fundraising experience to increase grant funding for organizations — over $76 million in funding to date!
Alex earned a Bachelor's Degree from Texas Christian University, Master's Degree in Social Work from University of Texas Arlington, and her CFRE. She has been winning grants in DFW for 15 years. She is an AFP member and the Programs Chair of the North Texas Grant Professionals Association.
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Michel Hudson
Owner/Founder
501(c)onsulting
Can You Plan for the Unplanned?
Session Description
With so many things uncertain these days, it's hard to think about planning — either for the short-term or long into the future. Even though you may feel stuck in overwhelm, you can still plot a course in a strategic direction.
Developing a strategic plan is a great way to set goals, map out activities, and measure outcomes. This is true whether it's for an entire organization or just one department or program. It's more than just long-range planning, too — it's a continuing process that directs the organization to what is truly important.
We'll talk about:
- What Strategic Planning Is and Is Not
- Creating a Strategic Plan
- Adjusting Your Plan
This session will uncover how you can create a plan that will strengthen and position your organization for success — and also allow for the possibilities that might derail your plans at any point.
Session Objectives
- Understanding the basics of strategic planning
- Knowing how to make adjustments in plans
- Resources and real-world examples to get started on planning
Bio
Michel Hudson, CFRE, has more than 30 years experience guiding nonprofits in the roles of staff, volunteer, board member, and consultant. She now focuses on board retreats and strategic planning, and also works with many nonprofits by serving as an Interim Executive Director.
Michel has been honored with a number of volunteer awards during her career, including the 2022 AFP-Greater Austin Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year award.
An editor and author of more than 100 articles for professional journals, Michel has also been a frequent speaker at regional and international conferences for CASE, AHP, AFP, APRA, and TEFN, among others.
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James Ryan Jillson
Director of Development
Nasher Sculpture Center
Turning Around a Membershp Program . . . Twice
Session Description
Like many museums, the Nasher Sculpture Center faced a stagnating membership program in a challenging and competitive landscape. But by launching new donor research efforts (like member surveys and interviews), overhauling data strategy and donor communications, and rethinking key metrics, the museum achieved record growth in two years. Then, the pandemic struck, and after a five-month closure, the Nasher team set out to do it all again. Come explore the many lessons learned, both successes and setbacks, in a live case study with real data on turning around a membership program twice.
Session Objectives
- To offer an in-depth case study on how a local nonprofit has approached membership / annual giving during a period of significant external challenges
- To provide concrete, data-driven strategies for membership / annual giving program growth
- To host an engaging and actionable conversation at the intersection of donor research, CRM and analytics management, donor communications, and membership / annual giving
Bio
James Ryan Jillson is an arts manager with a passion for helping cultural institutions take data-driven approaches to developing strategy, navigating change, engaging audiences, and driving revenue. He currently serves as the Director of Development at the Nasher Sculpture Center, a nonprofit, modern and contemporary art museum in the Dallas Arts District. There, he leads a team in the planning, execution, and evaluation of the museum’s membership and annual giving programs, major gift efforts for exhibitions and special initiatives, and fundraising events. Previously, James worked with more than a half-dozen arts organizations and other nonprofits – including TACA (The Arts Community Alliance), The Meadows Foundation, Undermain Theatre, and others – in various capacities related to fundraising, marketing, planning, research, and operations.
James teaches arts management and arts entrepreneurship at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. He has led workshops and presented research on fundraising and marketing in the arts at industry conferences nationally and internationally. Additionally, he regularly volunteers as a grants panelist for the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. James has earned an M.B.A., an M.A. in Arts Management, and a B.A. in Music from SMU.
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Elizabeth Liser
Communities Foundation of Texas
Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Easily Super-Charge the Giving Process for Your New and Existing Donors
Session Description
When donors know what motivates them they can powerfully say "yes" or "no" to charitable requests based on whether the opportunity aligns with their own giving focus and personality. Elizabeth Liser of Communities Foundation of Texas will share how they have developed and deployed a simple but effective set of tools and conversations to help existing and prospective donors discover their core values, passions and philanthropic personality, in order to better decide when, where and how they want to invest charitably.
Session Objectives
- Learn how to help your donors and board members to hone in on the aspects of your mission they most want to invest in.
- Learn how to facilitate common giving goals among family members or groups making collective giving decisions.
- Help your donors easily create a personal giving statement to ground and guide their philanthropy.
Bio
Elizabeth Liser is the Sr. Donor Engagement Specialist for Communities Foundation of Texas. A CAP (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy) certified professional with over 10 years of development and donor stewardship experience, Elizabeth has helped build and evolve the GiveWisely curriculum and its applications within CFT’s work. In addition to facilitating GiveWisely, Elizabeth provides relationship management for CFT fund holders and their families, and works with prospective CFT clients to explore CFT expertise and services.
Before CFT, Elizabeth was the Director of Corporate Engagement for the North Texas Food Bank. She also spent 10 years with The Dallas Morning News and the local Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV, managing their community programs and sponsorships and creating corporate partnerships to support and promote local nonprofits.
Elizabeth has a B.A. in French and a B.A. in International Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
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Ashley Meruani
Vice President
CCS Fundraising
Holly Hull Miori
Director of Developmet and Alumni Relations
UT Dallas
Engaging Millennial Donors - From Theory to Action
Session Description
Join our keynote speaker, Dr. Holly Hull Miori, and Ashley Meruani, Vice President at CCS Fundraising, for a deeper dive into millennial donor engagement. You heard Dr. Miori provide an overview of motivations and key engagement factors for millennial and younger generations. Now, the team will provide ideas and examples to take the research to action. A combination of theory and practice, the team will provide case studies to help fundraisers take away meaningful ways of connecting with this generation. With a focus on millennial donors today, your organization can have a strong pipeline for support today and tomorrow.
Session Objectives
- Participants will learn active and effective ways to engage millennial donors at their organizations
- Participants will have a stronger grounding in why millennials make the philanthropic decisions they make
- Participants can put in place concepts at their organizations that will build their donor pipeline and are grounded in best practices
Bio
Please see https://www.ccsfundraising.com/people/ashley-meruani/
Thank you!
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Kelsey J. Picken, PhD, CFRE, CSPG
Director, Legacy and Gift Planning
Children's Medical Center Foundation
Values-Matching Kegacies: How to Build a Relevant Planned Giving Program in a Changing Society
Session Description
Understanding that philanthropy is rooted in a multi-directional exchange of social capital can lead to a better planned giving program that will be relevant for both today and tomorrow. In this session, you will learn how to build or adapt your fundamental program design to constantly changing social values, the shifting popularity of giving vehicles, and using updated persona profiles to fuel an increse in your fundraising dollars across your foundation's comprehensive donor pipeline.
Session Objectives
- To differentiate between who your members are and who you want your prospects to be
- To leverage the understanding of philanthropy as an exchange of social capital
- To reconsider the use of planned giving vehicles in more creative and donor-centric ways
Bio
Kelsey Picken, PhD, CFRE, CSPG currently serves as director of planned giving at Cook Children’s Health Foundation. Prior to joining Cook Children’s, Kelsey served over a decade fundraising across higher education, museums, and health care sectors in Los Angeles. Her dissertation examines the power of the multitude to shift social and physical legacies through philanthropy. In addition, Kelsey serves as a board member for Fort Worth Public Library Foundation and the Lone Star Council of Charitable Gift Planners.
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Sarah E Sebastian
Director of Corporate Communications
OneCause
Building a Foundation of Trust with the Generosity Ecosystem
Session Description
Trust is essential to nonprofit success. The belief that nonprofits will do the right thing and act with integrity is what motivates today?s donors and is key to generosity. With public trust in major institutions currently shaken after a pandemic, political division, and a stumbling economy, how can nonprofits build trust with their donors?
Using new research findings, we?ll explore how nonprofits can use the generosity ecosystem of motivators to unlock giving and deepen connection across varying demographics.
Session Objectives
- Top donor motivators for unlocking generosity
- How messaging, impact strategies, and technology build trust
- Strategies to boost transparency and steward today's donors
Bio
Sarah is the Director of Corporate Communications at OneCause. She is a marketer and brand geek with 8 years of experience in the nonprofit tech space in the form of technical writing, customer service, content strategy, brand management, public relations, and communications. After graduating from Florida State University with an English degree, she served as an AmeriCorps tutor and spent 8 years as a teacher and writing instructor. Outside of work, Sarah can be found reading, hiking, kayaking, and wandering around in the woods to photograph birds.
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Suzanne Smith
CSR As More Than PR — How to Leverage It for the Benefit of All
Session Description
August 19, 2019 was a turning point in American capitalism when the influential Business Roundtable adopted a "Statement of Purpose of the Corporation," which committed corporate America to not only maximizing profits, but also creating value for all stakeholders. Now, businesses — large and small — are rapidly developing strategies to help the community, foster an inclusive workplace, take stances on policy issues, and pursue philanthropic activities that have both real and perceived impact. Join us for a session that will unpack all the lingo — CSR, ESGs, SDGs — and give you proven tools and case studies for nonprofits to partner with business to go beyond PR to truly impact the community through defined action steps.
Session Objectives
- Discover the range of strategic opportunities, including CSR, strategic CSR, and Conscious Capitalism as well as tools for impact and measurement, including ESGs and SDGs and how to integrate DEI across all levels of the organization
- Connect with examples from the business and nonprofit partnerships to showcase the range of changemakers at small businesses and Fortune 500 companies pursuing the greater good
- Get your questions answered to bring this mindset as well as tools to your corporate giving strategy
Bio
Suzanne Smith, founder of Social Impact Architects, has been reshaping the business of social change for more than two decades. As an educator, writer and blogger, TEDx speaker, and coach to social sector organizations, she pioneers meaningful and sustainable social solutions to create real, scalable impact. Suzanne holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.
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Breakout Sessions — 1:40 PM - 3:40 PM (Workshops)
Pam Anderson
Nonprofit Mentor
Compacity
Get a GRIP (Grant Readiness and Intro to Process)
Session Description
This interactive two-hour workshop is a great introduction for nonprofit staff and volunteers interested in and/or new to grant writing. Topics incude:
- Types of Grants — definitions, ways to use them
- Basic Components of Grants — glossary, example, and discussion
- Agency Readiness
- Intro to Grant Research
Session Objectives
- Participants will identify the major types of grants available.
- Participants will gain understanding of the basic components of grants.
- Participants will learn tips and tricks for researching and writing successful grants.
Bio
Pam Anderson is a Nonprofit Mentor with over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit arena, working through the ranks from program staff to executive administration and board member. She has spent over twenty of those years supporting nonprofits with capacity-building services. Through her experience and training, Pam uses her knowledge of nonprofit struggles and challenges to design and facilitate seminars and individualized mentoring to assist nonprofits in building their capacity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/ Sociology Minor, a Nonprofit Management Certificate, and is BoardSource certified in Nonprofit Board Education.
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Beth Hatcher
Principal & CEO
Beth Interactive
All About The Data: How to Drive Your Giving Pipeline
Session Description
Many foundations cite donor acquisition as their top challenge, closely followed by donor retention. What if you could leverage data to strategically address both priorities?
This session will demonstrate how we use data from digital strategies to cultivate new donors, drive long-term giving and steward existing donors to major and planned gifts. We'll share best practices for smart segmentation and screening of patients, employees and prospects — as well as how these strategies have generated 74% greater giving through digital stewardship, 64% engagement from prospective donors, and 25% new donor acquisition in a recent campaign.
We'll offer tips to scale up your practices in a straightforward, manageable way. You'll walk away with new strategies and technological tricks to start harnessing information to drive a giving pipeline!
Bio
Beth Hatcher is the Principal and CEO of Beth Interactive, a digital philanthropy and communications agency in Chicago. With 17 years of experience in online fundraising, healthcare marketing and digital technologies, she specializes in crafting customized communications strategies for non-profits and healthcare foundations, both within and outside of the digital sphere.
A passionate storyteller, data nerd and accomplished presenter, Beth prides herself on bringing best practices to her non-profit clients nationwide—with the goals of engaging donors and increasing giving through intelligent strategies, thoughtful execution and full-service support.
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Clint Riley
M. Gale & Associates, LLC
Christina Cavalier
Salvation Army North Texas Command
Barbara Shelton
M. Gale & Asssociates
Capital Campaigns: Success Through Effective Leadership and Consultant Partnerships
Session Description
Launching a campaign can be an exciting and daunting endeavor for even the most seasoned organizations. Bringinig in outside counsel to understand and support all stages of the campaign lifecycle and how to build the appropriate plan and structure is a common first step. This session shares how an organization and its executive and fundraising leadership can transform the vision for success and achieve impactful, long-lasting results that maximize the relationship0s with staff, volunteers and donors. The leadership and consultant partnership is a vital cooperation that evolves from the launch f a feacibility studey through a campaign'sorganizational cycle with signifcant impact.
Bio
Clint Riley, CFRE joined M. Gale & Associates in 2019. He has spent a majority of his career in arts, culture and education. Prior to joining M. Gale, Clint was President and CEO of Texas Center for Arts + Academics. He has also served in positions with The Santa Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Dallas Theater Center, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Clint holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in mixed-media printmaking from the College of Santa Fe and he received his BMA from Cox School of Business and his MA in Arts Management from Meadows School of the Arts, both affiliated with Southern Methodist University. Clint and his wife currently reside in Benbrook, Texas.
Christina Cavalier is the Senior Director of Community Relations. In her role, she leads marketing and public relations initiatives and manages relationships with donors and volunteers to oversee fundraising campaigns and events that provide essential financial resources to the organization throughout the year.
In addition to leading campaign initiatives, she is the point person in the five-county region for building relationships and maintaining relationships with corporate partners, foundations, and donors. Over the past decade, Christina has been a thought leader in the nonprofit space for effective fundraising and corporate relations.
Barbara Shelton, CFRE is a veteran fundraiser and nonprofit executive working with a wide variety of nonprofit and faith-based organizations, specializing in human services. During her career, Barbara has led fundraising and communications efforts for organizations such as the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, the Diocese of Birmingham (Alabama), the Diocese of Fort Worth and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dallas. She also founded and operated a full-service philanthropic fundraising, marketing and consulting practice for more than a decade. Barbara is member of Leadership Fort Worth's Leadership Class of 2014 and holds training certificates in Nonprofit Board Governance and 3VQ Change Leadership and was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Fort Worth Metro Chapter in 2019 as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser. She has also served as past president of the Lone Star Council of Charitable Gift Planners and past Vice President of the Association of Philanthropic Counsel (APC).
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Carole Rylander
Principal
Rylander Associates
Your Impact Speech: Is it Boring or Compelling?
Session Description
Do you need to capture attention quickly and get your point across in a compelling manner? Is it possible that that your current messages are not what your listeners want to know or care about? Could you use a format for delivering a compelling message that is "scalable" and can be used to create a concise "impact speeches" or an entire rationale?
This workshop explores a unique method for crafting compelling, scalable messages that capture attention and engage listeners. Participants will craft and practice their impact speech in this workshop and leave with a practical format that has unlimited applications.
Session Objectives
- Learn a unique method for communicating compelling messages
- Draft and practice an impact speech
- Understand how to apply this unique method for creating compelling messages to development materials and communications
Bio
Carole inspires and engages nonprofit leadership to maximize mission impact by strengthening fund development, planning and governance practices. She was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Dallas Chapter of AFP in 2006 and has held accreditation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive since 1990. She is a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer, Past President of the Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP and Faculty Member at The CNM. In addition, Carole is a frequent speaker and facilitator whose highly rated seminars and workshops benefit board and staff leadership.
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Rebecca Gregory Segovia
GivingDNA
Leading Boldly in Volatile Times
Session Description
You are leading through unprecedented times, entrusted with a great mission. Discover the attributes of a breakthrough performance environment that allow you to predictably deliver on outcomes. How you lead matters now more than ever.
Bio
With over two decades of leadership experience spanning the disciplines of marketing, fundraising, and technology, Rebecca "Becca" Segovia is a seasoned fundraising executive with a strong vision and passion to help nonprofits reach more donors and raise more dollars to further their mission. At Pursuant, Becca is a creative leader providing guidance across client services, marketing and sales to help nonprofit organizations achieve breakthrough results. She has a special affinity for omni-channel and relationship-based fundraising strategies aimed at increasing donor lifetime value and nonprofit health. Most recently she has taken on a leadership role with GivingDNA, a donor engagement platform birthed out of Pursuant that helps nonprofits see the stories in their data, segment and engage constituents in a meaningful way to raise more money and achieve mission.
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Teri Walker
CommonTeri Services
Solutions for Sticky Salesforce Situations
Session Description
Are you a Salesforce user? Have you ever had data drama? Have you ever wondered if pressing one button would mess up everything? If so, this session is for you! With 16 years tenure in Salesforce for nonprofits, 8 certifications, and hands-on work with over 200 nonprofits, there is a good chance that Teri Walker, founder and CEO of CommonTeri Services, has seen a sticky situation similar to what you are working through right now. This workshop will first and foremost address the questions posed by the participants in the session plus tips, tricks, and best practices for making constituent data shine in Salesforce.
Bio
Teri founded CommonTeri Services in 2014 to combine her passion for technology and her heart for nonprofit professionals. She has 16 years of experience with Salesforce along with 8 certifications. Teri is also a certified in Agile Scrum.
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Breakout Sessions — 3:00 PM - 3:55 PM
Jonathan S Blum
Attorney
Holland & Knight
Anatomy of a Grant Agreement
Session Description
Grant agreements are the key to closing the deal of grant funding, but many think of the process as an afterthought once the organization is notified of the award. The agreement is where the work of the grant actually begins as the parties come to a meeting of the minds about the respective obligations and requirements of the award. This session will talk about the various aspects of the grant agreement and the motivations of the funder and the grantee. Understanding the friction from both perspectives allows fundraising professionals to anticipate issues early in the grant writing process and to facilitate the grants once awarded.
Session Objectives
- Understand the terms of grant agreements
- Differentiate the motivations of grantors and grantees
- Learn techniques for negotiating grant agreement terms
Bio
Jonathan S. Blum is a shareholder in the law offices of Polsinelli PC, specializing in tax-exempt organizations and nonprofit law. He can be reached at jblum@polsinelli.com or by phone at 214-661-5576. Prior to joining Polsinelli, Mr. Blum served as in-house general counsel for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation. Mr. Blum has previously served as an adjunct professor of law at the SMU Dedman School of Law. Mr. Blum graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 2000. Mr. Blum also earned a B.A. with special honors from the University of Texas with a double major in government and Plan II and a minor in Spanish.
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Amy R Britton
Owner
Britton Development Consulting
Taylor Bunn
Executive Director
Hope 4 All
Leading Off The Page
Session Description
Do you have those board members who just won't get on board? Or, a challenging donor relationship that just isn't going anywhere? These challenging leadership scenarios are something every fundraising professional experiences. With volumes of books on leadership and countless self-proclaimed leadership experts, it is difficult to know where to start and how to address these challenges. This intereactive workshop takes leadership theory and methods off the page and applies these principles to real-life scenarios that fundraising professional experience in the workplace.
Session Objectives
- Learner will have high level understanding of leadership literature and be able to differentiate leadership styles
- Participant will be equipped to apply concepts in real world scenarios by troubleshooting challenging leadership scenarios that fundraisers encounter in their work with nonprofit boards, leading volunteers, and in their work with donors.
- Participant will understand the importance of key components of a personal leadership philosophy and have tools to
Bio
Dr. Amy Britton is the founder of Britton Development Consulting and serves as the Regional Director of Development for the United States Southwest Region at Michigan State University. Dr. Britton holds a Doctor of Education in Learning and Organizational Change (EdD) from Baylor University and a Master of Arts (MA) in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holds a teaching certificate in adult learning. Dr. Britton’s consulting practice bridges education and organizational change theory with philanthropy. A Dallas, TX native, she has more than 20 years of experience advancing education and nonprofit organizations to maximize their missional impact. Research interests include education administration, leadership, organizational culture, and culture change. Britton’s research blends qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate organizational change within higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. She also volunteers as an executive board member for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and serves on the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Board.Dr. Taylor Bunn, founding Executive Director of Hope 4 All, has spent her career in public school districts and nonprofit organizations focused on education and the arts. She is a certified teacher, administrator, and project manager with two decades of professional experience in nonprofit leadership, programming, operations, and evaluation; curriculum development and alignment; public speaking; and artistic performance and production. She believes in the power of radical candor, learner-focused education, and strategic collaboration to balance systemic inequities. She puts her boots on the ground to activate these beliefs as a community volunteer, nonprofit board member, and peer-reviewed researcher. A lifelong learner, Dr. Bunn has an EdD in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University, an MBA concentrated in Strategy and Entrepreneurship and an MA in Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University, and a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of San Diego.
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Michelle Crim
Dynamic Development Strategies
Don't Try to "MacGyver" Your Grant Strategy
Session Description
Everyone loves the action hero MacGyver who can do
anything with a Swiss army knife and whatever he finds around him: duct tape,
bubble gum, and paper clips would always save the day. Your grant strategy
shouldn’t rely on a reactive approach. Having a well-organized grants ecosystem
will allow your organization to proactively manage your grant work to build
sustainable funding for your nonprofit.
Session Objectives
- Identify best practices in grant seeking
- Define the financial elements of grant preparations and grant management
- Collaborate with stakeholders to improve grant results
Bio
Michelle is President of Dynamic Development Strategies, an award-winning, woman-owned company she founded in 2019 to provide interim leadership and strategic fundraising services to nonprofits.
Her 20-year career in fundraising and nonprofit management includes roles in higher education, healthcare philanthropy, and social service organizations.
She serves on the board of Charitable Gift Planners, Lone Star Chapter as Treasurer, is a board member of Camp Fire First Texas and is Program Co-Chair for the AFP Fort Worth Metro Chapter, and speaks on a variety of fundraising topics, nonprofit leadership, and received her CFRE in 2008. She is also a Grant Professionals Association-approved trainer.
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Ashley Franks
Vice President Nonprofit Strategist (Institutional Asset Management)
PNC Bank
National Trends In Philanthropy
Session Description
This session will explore and expound upon Financial Stoytelling, Trust-Based Philanthropy, Equity, and Other Top of Mind Philanthropy Trends.
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Alexander Fruth
Director of Community Advancement
East Texas Food Bank
That's the Way We've Always Done It — How to Innovate While Sticking with Best Practices to Maximize Performance
Session Description
Are you looking to start a program considered best practice in fundraising that would be a major shift in your fundraising strategy? Do you have a really successful program and are worried that changing processess will negatively impact results? Do you hear something like "we've always done it this way and its working fine" from leadership or the Board? Then this session is for you. We will talk through tips and practices to combine innovation and best practices to create successful fundraising programs that will continue to get better each and every year.
Session Objectives
- To bring innovative practices to successful programs and programs that have room for growth
- To learn how to approach leadership with new ideas that will move the program or organization forward
Bio
Alex is the Director of Community Advancement for the East Texas Food Bank. His primary focus is to build and maintain relationships with donors and community partners, connecting their interests and passions to the needs of our neighbors facing hunger. He has a Master’s of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis where he studied Social Economic Development and Leadership. He has been a nonprofit professional for 8 years and has been in fundraising for the last 5 years. He recently received his Certified Fund Raising Executive distinction. He has worked in the spaces of education, healthcare/mental health, and philanthropy. He is the President-Elect of AFP East Texas and has served on the Board for AFP St. Louis and East Texas. He is a member of the South Tyler Rotary Club.
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Michael Halloran
Lone Star Chapter of Charitable Gift Planners
Planned Giving Presentation
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Bryce Johnston
Digital Strategy Director
Brad Cecil and Associates
How to Optimize Your Online Donation Page for Success
Session Description
In this session, we will discuss how you can make small changes to your donation page and see significant improvement in response. Some of the topics to be covered:
- What is a strong value proposition?
- What is donor friction and how to combat it?
- How to use images and or video to your advantage?
Session Objectives
- 1. What is a strong value proposition?
- 2. What is donor friction and how to combat it?
- 3. How to use images and or video to your advantage?
Bio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycefjohnston/
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Jeff Schreifels
Principal
Veritus Group
The Anatomy of a $28 Million Gift
Session Description
Every non-profit organization has the potential to secure a $28 million gift. But how do you get there? In this session, we'll walk you through a real-life relationship between a fundraiser and a donor that led to a $28 million gift. You'll learn the steps the fundraiser took to develop a meaningful relationship, deepen the donor's connection to the organization, and, ultimately, how a relational approach to fundraising resulted in a transformational gift from the donor.
Session Objectives
- To understand how to build meaningful, long-lasting relationships with donors.
- To learn a system and approach to help you stay focused on effectively managing your caseload.
- To learn how to create transformational giving plans.
Bio
For more than 32 years, Jeff Schreifels has been developing, planning and executing strategic fundraising and marketing programs with an emphasis on mid-level and major gift fundraising.
He’s served as Development Director at several nonprofits and was Senior Strategy Director at The Domain Group, where he helped to develop record-setting fundraising programs for the agency’s largest clients in addition to serving the community in a variety of charities.
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Lauren Fleming Zastany
Executive Director
Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center
Real Stewardship: Find the Donors who become Lifelong Supporters
Session Description
You have donors, volunteers, a database, and a fundraising plan,
but now what? How do you take this to create a true stewardship program that will
turn your most reliable donors into your biggest fans? This workshop will show
you how to identify those donors who are most likely to increase their gift,
reach out to their networks on your behalf, serve on your Board or committee, and
the best way to support them so they can champion your cause.
Session Objectives
- Identify your highest priority donors and those who are most likely to be receptive to your outreach
- Create a custom stewardship and cultivation plan for your highest priority prospects and donors
- Eliminate the cookie cutter approach and learn the best tools and tactics to stay on track with personalized stewardship activities
Bio
Lauren has served as the Executive Director of the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center since June 2022. Prior to joining NETCAC, Lauren ran a fundraising and development consulting firm for non-profit organizations in the Midwest. With 18 years of experience working with the executive leadership of multiple Fortune 500 companies and many diplomats, Governors, and members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, she brings a dynamic and unique perspective to projects. Prior to her work in fundraising and development, she led teams at various government and nonprofit agencies and organizations through change management and strategic planning initiatives, and worked directly in Public Relations and Public Policy for various state and federal elected officials. Lauren pursued graduate studies in analytics at Johns Hopkins University, holds a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University, and a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Tyler. Lauren currently resides in Mount Pleasant, Texas, with her husband Rob and their dogs Madison and Ricketts.
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We hope to see you on June 16, 2023!