Concurrent Sessions 3

3A: Engaging Students to Engage Donors: Take Your Video Stewardship to New Heights

"We need some fresh ideas!" If you've ever thought this while staring at yet another acknowledgment, come learn how to film a thank you video for those targeted audiences like Giving Day, new giving society members, crowdfunding, or major donors. If you already use a program like Thankview or Gratavid, take your videos to new heights. In this combination strategy session and workshop, we'll learn tools to approach video stewardship and ways to execute it from filming and editing to storytelling and collaboration. You'll also have the opportunity to practice filming your own video. Join me for this interactive workshop and learn how to engage students, engage donors, and elevate your stewardship program.

Academic Institutions, Arts Organizations, Advocacy Organizations ⬧ Early-career, Mid-career ⬧ Medium Shop, Large Shop

Emilie Schulze is an east coast transplant thriving in Dayton, Ohio with her many pets. As an undergrad, she received a donor-funded scholarship that allowed her to graduate and launch her career in donor relations. Now as the Assistant Director of Donor Relations at the University of Dayton, she advances educational equity by stewarding donors who help Flyers reach new heights. She led the Annual Giving Day and scholarship stewardship efforts and works with giving societies and individual stewardship. She previously presented on scholarship and giving day stewardship at the OKI Donor Relations Roundtable. Driven by her passion for advocacy, she is pursuing her Master's in Public Administration with a certificate in Non-profit and Community leadership and is a member of the PAA Honors Society.

3B: Costume Bin: How to Walk in the Shoes of Donors and Colleagues Based on the Five Generations

Do you remember playing dress up with costumes? A child puts on a fancy dress, crown, and heels and can be transformed into a princess in a make-believe world. Perhaps this child-like creativity can be tapped as adults in the workplace as we seek to understand our institution's donors and colleagues. There are now five generations in the workforce: Traditionalists (born between 1928 - 1945), Baby Boomers (born between 1946 - 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 - 1980), Millennials (born 1981 - 1996), and Generation Z (born between 1997 - 2012). At the same time, we are seeking philanthropy from these same five generations of prospective donors. We will review the characteristics of the five generations and then explore the following: 1) how best to engage and retain colleagues based on the five generations, and 2) how best to engage and steward donors from the five generations.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Katherine Lane, Executive Director for Stewardship & Donor Relations at the University of Notre Dame, and her team are responsible for stewarding the University's top benefactors. This includes personal and public recognition, donor communications, impact reporting, stewardship events, and proactive individualized donor relations. In her 27-year career at Notre Dame, she has worn many hats. Highlights include successfully leading the marketing and communications efforts for the Spirit of Notre Dame Campaign which concluded in 2011 raising over $2B; assisting with the funeral services of President Emeritus Fr. Ted Hesburgh, and spearheading the Notre Dame Trail in 2017 to celebrate the University's 175th anniversary. Over the years, stewardship events have become her passion; she loves to find ways to surprise, delight, and inspire through creative and unique donor events. A 1992 graduate of Saint Mary's College, Katherine earned her a Master of Science in Administration degree from Notre Dame in 2000.

3C: What Do Middle Donors Really Want? - A Landmark Study 

Your middle donors are the backbone of your donor file. They are intensely loyal, and generous, and some advance to major to planned and major giving. But what do you really know about these donors as a group?  In March 2024, Sea Change Strategies released a landmark study of the attitudes and preferences of more than 5900 midlevel donors from 36 different organizations, The study has yielded critical information for fundraisers looking to recruit, retain, and upgrade these donors. A segmentation analysis revealed three distinct donor clusters: All-business, who want minimal contact with your organization; Hands-on donors, who may be personally involved with your organization as volunteers, Board members, and committee members; and Engagement Seekers, who want a deeper connection. Leave armed with the latest intel and useful strategies you can implement. Study leads will offer an overview of the findings and you'll hear from one of the participating organizations on how the study has helped guide their program.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

	Mark Rovner is founder and principal at Sea Change Strategies, a research, coaching, and fundraising practice serving charities and non-profits. A frequent writer, speaker, and blogger, Mark is a pioneer of digital fundraising, organizing, and strategic communications.  In his best-selling book Tribes, Seth Godin called Mark a "fundraising heretic" and a leader in the field of non-profit communications. Mark describes himself as a fundraiser who cares more about the donors and the fundraisers than the money. He has written extensively on creating a culture of philanthropy and creating organizational conditions where fundraisers can thrive. Mark has been a devoted student of midlevel fundraising for more than 15 years. In 2017 Mark co-created an online community for midlevel fundraisers. Today that community has 700 participants and is going strong.
	Pam Loeb is a Principal and owner of Edge Research. For over 30 years, Pam has designed, executed, and analyzed custom marketing research studies for hundreds of non-profits, foundations, associations, corporations, and government agencies. Pam is passionate about helping non-profits with their unique needs - donor development and retention, public education, and advocacy efforts. She has worked on several landmark studies examining the attitudes, values, and preferences of charitable donors, which have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Nonprofit Times, Forbes, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and USA Today.
	Laura Lane, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has been with Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) for over 8 years working to establish and grow a sustainable, comprehensive mid-level donor program. As Director of Strategic Operations for the President’s Circle, she works with partners across the fundraising industry to attract, upgrade, engage and retain mid-level donors to multiple Planned Parenthood entities, including their political and advocacy organizations. Since her time at Planned Parenthood, revenue in the mid-level donor file at Planned Parenthood has grown over 70%, and Laura and her team are regularly invited to present their program fundamentals at industry events. Prior to her time at PPFA, Laura led a peer-to-peer fundraising program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and managed individual giving for The 52ndStreet Project. Outside of PPFA, Laura has held a variety of fundraising and leadership positions with local organizations focused on immigration rights and voter engagement. She holds a master’s in public policy and public administration from American University.

3D: Palette of Possibilities: Painting Donor Relations with a Splash of Innovation

Are you ready to revolutionize the way you engage with your donors? Join us for the Palette of Possibilities: Painting Donor Relations with a Splash of Innovation, an interactive conversation that will spark your imagination and transform your approach no matter the size of your shop! In this colorful session, you'll discover unique ways to utilize technology for digital communications that reshape your efforts, hear stories of successful collaborations that have made an impact and fueled retention, and gain a glimpse into the future of donor engagement, where innovation is at the core. Get ready to dip your brush into a palette of possibilities and unleash your organization's full stewardship potential!

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Carly Plate, University of South Florida Foundation,  is a seasoned donor relations professional with a proven track record of cultivating meaningful relationships and securing vital support for mission-driven organizations in the health care and higher education industries. Carly is a collaborative and success-driven leader passionate about curating exceptional experiences and implementing comprehensive donor stewardship programs, fostering impactful connections, and driving philanthropic success.

Dominika McLean is the Assistant Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship at the University of South Florida, where she drives innovative donor-centric initiatives. Possessing a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Salisbury University, she joined USF in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience from diverse roles in the nonprofit sector, including the museum field and AmeriCorps. Dominika's current role involves managing the pledge reminder program, leading stewardship support meetings for the University Advancement division, and assisting with special donor events. Her commitment to fostering connections and driving innovation underscores her dedication to making a meaningful impact.

3E: Not Just A Fairy Tale: Creating and Implementing Strategy for the Ideal Donor Experience 

If you could wave a magic wand, what would the ultimate donor experience be for your institution? The University of Colorado Boulder used this question as a springboard for a donor relations work group that was charged with bringing aspirations to life. In this session, you'll hear about the effort from start to finish, and take away tips for establishing a working group, guiding meaningful conversations with stakeholders, convening a productive retreat, and synthesizing information to craft a strategic plan for advancing donor relations in your organization. This session is well-suited for those who find themselves working "horizontally" in decentralized shops, as well as anyone struggling to bridge aspiration with outcomes, and linking strategy with tactics.

All Audiences  ⬧  Early-career, Mid-career  ⬧  Medium Shop, Large Shop

Holden Walker is a seasoned Advancement professional with a decade of experience across advancement services and donor relations. In his role at CU Boulder, Holden leads the planning and execution of donor recognition, compliance, and fund administration programs. With a keen understanding of the interwoven nature of advancement services and development, he is passionate developing operational solutions that foster collaboration, improve efficiency, and affect positive change amongst business partners and the wider university community. Outside of work, Holden enjoys spending time enjoying Colorado's outdoors, volunteering with local arts programs, and searching for the perfect cup of coffee.

At CU Boulder, Margaret Arreola leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to advancing excellence in all areas of the donor experience including stewardship, recognition, events, and engagements. She brings with her over 15 years of experience working in all areas of fundraising– including annual giving, major gifts, principal gifts, campaign planning, corporate and foundation relations, parent, and alumni engagement. Margaret is committed to providing meaningful authentic experiences in all that she takes on, with a singular goal of inspiring and motivating positive change. She is a team player known for assembling dynamic and diverse groups to solve complex challenges and move aspirational goals forward. Outside of work Margaret is a certified yoga instructor, avid skier, and mother to two wild and adventurous boys. She is a member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) and recently joined the ARCS Foundation Colorado Chapter.

3F: Show and Tell: Director Discussions

Calling all Directors: Let's get together and show our challenges and tell each other solutions. This time will be dedicated to discussing hot topics we've experienced as directors. Need to work on strategic planning for stewardship? Want to know how others structure their team and divide their work? What truly are some best practices? How to best manage/supervise donor relations professionals? In small groups connected through institutional type and/or size, you'll be able to get your burning questions answered and share lessons you've learned to help your peers. Bring your questions and your willingness to learn and let's maximize our time together through meaningful conversation.

All Audiences  ⬧  Mid-career, Seasoned  ⬧  Any size shop

Colin Daly has served as the Director of Stewardship at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Froedtert Hospital Foundation for 2.5 years. He oversees all stewardship, acknowledgment, recognition, and donor engagement efforts in a department of 40 professionals. Prior to this role, he was the Director of Welcome Programs at UW-Milwaukee overseeing all campus orientation and tours. In his free time, he serves as the President of the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation - a group of volunteers who run 6 events for 15,000 residents. He is also engaged politically by helping run the successful campaign of his friend Peter Burgelis, the first out member of the Milwaukee County Supervisors.

3G: Part 1: Email Fundraising, Communications, and Digital Analytics Bootcamp

In recent years, email volume has risen exponentially. This means you need smart ways to make yours stand out from inbox clutter! All about email fundraising, this interactive workshop covers strategies to take your email communications to the next level, and how to leverage post-campaign engagement data to drive greater giving. We'll walk you through email fundraising best practices, advanced analytics, and A/B testing. We'll also present case studies on how emails can build a donor pipeline through acquisition and engagement. Finally, we'll provide practical tools like an email checklist and a library of samples, so you can begin implementing new ideas right away. Participants can even get live feedback on their emails' copy and design! Just send your sample in advance to [email protected]. Join us for this instructive boot camp, and walk away full of actionable and practical next steps to see real results with your next email campaign.

All Audiences  ⬧  Newcomer, Early-career  ⬧  Any size shop

Beth Hatcher is the Principal and CEO of Beth Interactive, a digital philanthropy and communications agency in Chicago. With 18 years of experience in online fundraising, healthcare marketing, and digital technologies, she specializes in crafting customized communications strategies for healthcare foundations and non-profits, 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. Beth is proud to have presented at international conferences in recent years on "Digital Giving Trends: How Do You Stack Up?"; "Answers and Action: Donor Survey Insights (and What Came Next)"; "All About the Data: How to Drive Your Giving Pipeline"; "Email Marketing Best Practices and Other Nerdy Secrets"; "Better than a Gala: Reimagining the Giving Day"; and "What's Next in Digital Fundraising?".