Session Descriptions

Join Matthew Clark and Cyndi Caldwell for this informal planned giving chit chat session. Sample some spirited beverages & network! 

According to Dr. Russell James, "The fundraiser is the wise sage who guides the donor through the hero's journey." In this session, I will explore the natural partnership between the fundraiser, the charitable cause, and the local real estate agent.

New Hope for Families, a social service agency based in South Central Indiana, successfully partnered with local real estate agents in its recent capital campaign. I provide specific examples of this multi-faceted partnership, focusing on practical approaches that would translate well for other markets and causes.

Congratulations-you're funded! But your work is just beginning: in this session you'll learn how to work across teams and departments to implement the grant according to the proposal.

You (and your donors) now live in a world of continuous change, fast-paced innovation, and hyper-connectivity. We're always-on, can get anything on-demand, and benefit from personalized experiences everywhere.

Netflix lets you binge the latest season from the bathroom stall, the commute to work, at 10:30 in bed. Apple & Quartz curate the latest news you had to see and let you discover new stories you love. Stitch Fix sends the perfect workout and work day outfit recommendations. REI suggests camping stoves, hiking pants, and a sleeping bag fit for your climate just in-time for the fall camping season. Amazon delivers that latest book same-day. DoorDash delivers sushi rolls you had to have for lunch. Chewy ensures Duke never runs out of dog food.

On the contrary, most nonprofits still run 3-4 fundraising campaigns a year, host a handful of donor events, and send an annual report and a quarterly newsletter. Each is fueled by the organizations'needs and timeline.

Donor's live in a real-time, personalized world. Yet, nonprofits ignore this and rely on analog, fix fundraising strategies. Why the disconnect? In this session, we'll release you from the rusty handcuffs of analog fundraising strategies and showcase how modern nonprofits are using marketing automation, AI, and predictive donor journeys to hyper-personalize each donor's experience.

This session will discuss innovative ways to use partnerships with college students in order to advance the goals of your non-profit. We will discuss reasons to use educational partnerships to benefit both the student experience and the needs of your company. Ways that you can engage students, gain valuable insight, and move the needle forward on that "to do" list will be covered. Additionally, we will discuss "why" this matters to all parties involved (faculty, students, and non-profits).

In "Oh the Places You Will Go" Dr. Seuss told a lovely tale about what life might bring. Many new to seasoned fundraisers ask themselves, what next? This session will focus on fundraising career journeys, speak to the expected and unexpected, talk about transferrable skills, and focus on ways in which one's journey can prove fruitful and joyful, not just for the organizations fundraisers serve, but for themselves.

The ongoing evaluation of a nonprofit organization's life income gifts is essential to meeting the long-term objectives. Understanding the basics of

investing and the unique characteristics of various life income gifts should help inform your investment strategy and allow you to truly understand

What's happened in the past, what's occurring today and what might be the path moving forward. Join us to discuss the following: fundamentals of investing, considerations for the investment of CGA assets and the different types of charitable remainder trusts and impacts that can influence the success of your organization.

Development Officers are often more right brain/ relational oriented, while agency CEO's and Board members are more left brain, procedural oriented. So, how do we bridge the gap to increase Major Gifts results?

This session will be a detailed, practical look on how to effectively recruit, manage, and fundraise with a Board of Directors, including several case studies from local organizations that will be used for hands-on group discussions. Attendees will learn the lifecycle of a board, how the board should be involved during annual fundraising and campaigns, how to troubleshoot tricky relationships, and overall best practices of board management and fundraising. The session will be a combination of presentation plus breakout group discussions of several real-life case studies.

With so little industry standard data, it can be challenging for nonprofits to gauge the true effectiveness of their fundraising efforts. In this data-rich workshop, participants will gain invaluable insights into conducting deep comparator analysis and utilizing performance evaluation tools to unlock their organization's fundraising potential.

Through interactive discussions, hands-on exercises, and practical examples, this workshop will equip nonprofit professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the intricacies of market analysis tailored specifically to the unique needs of nonprofits.

Join us for this empowering workshop and gain the expertise needed to unlock your organization's fundraising potential through advanced comparator analysis and performance evaluation. Seize this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to fundraising and drive sustainable growth for your nonprofit.