Concurrent Sessions 1

1A: The Power of Moments: Broad and Personalized Stewardship Strategies 

Join us as we delve into the art of cultivating meaningful stewardship approaches by dissecting two powerful dimensions: broad and personalized strategies. Discover how these two methods can converge to form a highly integrated and scalable stewardship program that engages a wide donor base no matter your organization's size. We'll explore best practices and actionable insights, providing guidance on how to navigate the evolving landscape of donor engagement. We look forward to exploring these essential approaches, empowering you to enhance your stewardship strategies by creating powerful moments of engagement, leaving a lasting impact on your organization's mission.

Discover how powerful moments create the essential keys to effective donor stewardship in this insightful session. Explore the dynamic interplay between broad and personalized strategies to maximize impact and foster sustained support.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Amy Minerich has over 17 years of experience in development with a background that has focused primarily on major giving and stewardship & donor relations. In her position at the Hoag Hospital Foundation, Amy oversees the vision and strategy for the department to ensure the successful management of the donor stewardship and donor recognition team. In her role, she leads and introduces strategies around innovative, personalized stewardship for major and principal gift donors and/or prospects and works closely with the communications team to drive donor centric stewardship projects forward.

Deanna Blanchet is the Donor Stewardship Director at Hoag Hospital Foundation in Newport Beach, California, where she excels in creating impactful donor experiences such as elevated meetings and tours, video messaging, and personalized reports. She leverages data and her experience in marketing and events to enhance stewardship strategies, working closely with development officers to develop thoughtful plans. Deanna emphasizes strategic planning to generate proactive suggestions and maximize the effective use of resources.

1B: Campaign Readiness: Before, During, After (and Always)

Whether your institution is in active campaign mode, celebrating the conclusion of one, or planning for the next; there is lots for donor relations professionals to be thinking about to be sure you're ready for where you are and what comes next. This session will share key considerations for planning so that donors understand their impact, are recognized appropriately, and are engaged meaningfully in all phases of your Campaign and always.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Jen McGrath is the Deputy Executive Director of Donor Engagement and Communications for Resource Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT.) Her team creates and implements strategies to support donor engagement, fundraising, and stewardship while showcasing and building the MIT story of philanthropy. Jen has been working in development for more than 25 years with experience in nonprofit, small liberal arts college, and large university settings. In addition to her work in donor relations and communications, she has served in reunion campaign, annual giving, and corporate and foundation relations-related roles. As a past conference presenter for ADRP, as well as CASE, Jen has addressed topics of particular interest to both new and seasoned professionals. She was a member of the ADRP Board of Directors from 2015-2020, serving as President of the Association 2018-2019.

1C: “Why? How Come? What For?” ABCs for Donor Relations Questions

In donor relations, understanding your institution, programs, and donors deeply is crucial for crafting compelling stories and accurate reports. However, workplace dynamics often lead to a reliance on outdated practices, discouraging proactive inquiry and exploration. This session will showcase how Rice University's constituent relations team adopted a strategy called Asking Bravely and Constructively (A.B.C.), inspired by the natural curiosity of childhood, to foster a culture of inquiry and collaboration. Participants will learn how to recognize and overcome common barriers to asking questions, adopt effective communication techniques to pose challenging questions with confidence, and implement structured methods for gathering essential information to support strategic goals. Join us to discover how becoming an 'investigator' can advance your philanthropic mission through thoughtful questioning and sustainable practices.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Small Shop, Medium Shop

	Bree Bridger is a Constituent Relations Officer at Rice University, primarily responsible for fund stewardship and reporting, developing resources and database tools for campus partners, and advising on appropriate fund use and acknowledgment best practices. Bree is the project lead for Rice's digital stewardship program, and brings project management insights to Rice's stewardship efforts. She earned a B.A. in theater and political science from Texas A&M University, is a freelance theater practitioner, and volunteers at local parks and conservation organizations. She is completing a 200-Hour YA yoga teacher training program.
	Anna Won is a Constituent Relations Officer at Rice University, primarily responsible for student thank you note outreach and impact report building for Rice's digital endowment reports using Ovrture. Anna partners with departments across the university to streamline the scholarship impact reporting process. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin.
	Kat Kosted is a Constituent Relations Officer at Rice University primarily responsible for facilitating the bimonthly Stewardship Resources Network presentations, open to stewardship champions across the university. She also participates heavily in department outreach and impact report building in Ovrture for Rice's digital endowment stewardship project. Kat loves to dabble in flexing her creative skills when the opportunity presents itself. Outside of Rice, she loves to explore Houston restaurants and natural spaces. She earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

1D: Flip the Narrative: Craft Empowering Stories for Lasting Impact

Join us for an immersive journey into the transformative art of storytelling, tailored specifically for fundraising and donor relations leaders. In this captivating presentation, you'll discover how to craft powerful narratives that resonate with donors and stakeholders, compelling them to take action. Learn how to transform beneficiary stories from tales of victims into narratives of empowered individuals. This proven approach enhances both fundraising efforts and donor engagement. Gain effective storytelling techniques and participate in hands-on exercises to ensure these lessons are deeply ingrained. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your storytelling skills and make a meaningful impact through compelling, empowering narratives.

All Audiences  ⬧  Newcomers, Early-career  ⬧  Small Shop, Medium Shop 

Veronica Vasquez, founder of JMM Dance Co., a non-profit offering SEL dance programs to disadvantaged individuals, holds a BA in Mass Communications, certification in non-profit management, and serves as a coach and consultant for women leaders. With eighteen years of experience in program development and collaboration with various organizations. She is excited to share her knowledge in this year's ADRP conference.

1E: Becoming Besties: Elevating the Donor Experience Through Collaborations/Integrations with Annual Giving

Discover how developing strategic collaborations with Annual Giving can elevate donor engagement. Join us for an engaging session where we explore the seamless connection between teams and delve into strategies for fostering a strong partnership with your Annual Giving colleagues. Gain valuable insights into crafting collaborative approaches that can significantly boost your organization's fundraising efforts, increase donor retention rates and champion more inclusive giving initiatives. Walk away empowered with actionable ideas to strengthen your donor pipeline and amplify community impact.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Medium Shop, Large Shop

Heather Mourer is a mission-driven fundraising professional with nearly two decades of experience in development and marketing for higher education institutions and performing arts organizations. Throughout her career, Mourer has been interested in fostering deep connections, centering communities, dismantling systemic white supremacy culture and being a catalyst for change from within the nonprofit industrial complex.

1F: Never Be Picked Last for Kickball Again: Equipping Yourself with Metrics to Elevate Donor Relations with Leadership

In this session, we’ll discuss the power of using metrics to show the value of DR and share tips to make the case to expand the scope of DR in your organization. We know our profession has grown beyond sending acknowledgements and sending impact reports. We’ll explore outside the box ways DR can enhance the donor pipeline. Come learn how to translate the value of donor relations into the language that your leaders speak.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Angela Altamore has accumulated a wealth of expertise in donor relations and understands how to create meaningful donor experiences that breathe life into nonprofit missions and resonate in donors’ hearts. She believes there is no better feeling than seeing the joy on a donor's face as they truly understand the impact their generosity has made on another human being. In her role at BWF, Angela focuses on her passions for donor relations, stewardship, and donor experience and how each intertwine to drive impactful fundraising. She enjoys collaborating with peers and clients to find new and improved ways to surprise and delight donors. Angela strives to leave the world better than she found it and hopes her life’s work becomes a legacy lasting beyond her lifetime. Angela has served as a former president, treasurer, and board member for the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP). She has also been a guest instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she taught a course in fundraising management.  Her favorite pastimes include reading, visiting independent bookstores, riding her motorcycle, baking, and kayaking. She also has a love of stationery and enjoys spending time picking just the right card for the right occasion or person.

1G: Time-Traveling Tips: Crafting Resilient Fund Terms for Tomorrow!

In today's rapidly evolving landscape, organizations face the challenge of ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of our funds. This interactive session delves into the crucial strategies and best practices for future-proofing fund terms to ensure sustainable philanthropy. Join us as we explore the changing expectations of donors and how our teams can align their fund terms with these evolving needs. While we've covered many scenarios, we know there are situations we haven't seen. We invite participants to contribute their invaluable experiences, sharing the hard-earned lessons they've lived through and offering innovative solutions. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of preserving donor intent while ensuring organizational sustainability, leveraging collective wisdom to forge robust agreements that stand the test of time.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

		After college, David Hough started his own theater company. Several years later, looking for a job that paid, he started his career marketing for the performing arts, then moved on to community relations and fundraising in the social service field Then, seventeen years ago he started in the donor relations department at Northeastern University. Initially tasked with doing the scholarship reporting, around 15 years ago he also became responsible for drafting all of the fund terms for individual donors and internal MOU's. Until November 2022 when Matt joined the team Close to a thousand fund terms later, he and Matt are still in search of the foolproof out clause.
		Matt Cotty has over a decade of nonprofit experience with expertise in diversity fundraising, corporate & foundation relations, fund management, data analytics, strategy, and nonprofit management. As the Senior Associate Director of Fund Management at Northeastern University, he works closely with frontline fundraisers to draft fund terms, ensure donor compliance, and fund integrity. Matt previously worked with CCS Fundraising empowering clients to communicate their mission effectively, strategize campaigns, and report transformative change. Additionally, Matt has extensive programmatic and grant management experience, including overseeing youth programs and grants at the LGBT Network in New York. He's also a Trustee and Vice President at SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association, leading initiatives in young alumni giving and regional chapters. Matt is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and an active member of the AFP Massachusetts Chapter.