Concurrent Sessions 4

 4A: Donor Motivations

Fundraisers bring a wealth of expertise and experience to their work, but many rarely have time to explore what new developments in fundraising mean for their organization. Receive updates on the latest information and research about charitable giving, including newly released Giving USA data, as well as data on donor-advised funds, planned giving, digital fundraising, and crowdfunding. Learn practical ways to incorporate this new knowledge into your own fundraising strategies. 

Research about donor motivations can help fundraisers decode donors’ multi-faceted inclinations and behaviors and plan targeted cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship approaches. This session will include information on the eight mechanisms of donor motivations.  Genevieve will lead an examination of the drivers of charitable giving and present a strategy for positioning donors within the organization’s overall constituency.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Genevieve Shaker, Ph.D., is Professor of Philanthropic Studies and the Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Professor Shaker’s research focuses on fundraising practice, the fundraising profession, higher education philanthropy, and philanthropy education. Two decades of fundraising experience inform her approach as an award-winning teacher, researcher, writer, and community member. She is the lead editor of "Achieving Excellence in Fundraising" (5th edition, 2022), a best-selling text for fundraising education, and an instructor for The Fund Raising School. Her work helps fundraisers from around the country and world build their fundraising acumen, enabling nonprofits to expand their resources and do more for their causes and communities.

4B: Love, U: Successes and Pitfalls of the University of Utah’s $3B campaign 

In 2020, select members of the University of Utah Advancement team were tasked with a daunting assignment: to refresh and reinvigorate an inherited campaign strategy that wasn't working, engage a campaign committee that didn't want to be involved, and lead a strong finish to a $2B campaign. Learn about the successes, pitfalls, and strategies that helped Utah exceed its original goal and complete a $3B campaign over nine years.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Claire Martinez brings over four years of dedicated service to the University of Utah, where she serves as the Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer for Donor Relations. Known as a community-focused Development Director, Claire is celebrated for her adeptness in fostering robust connections with donors, corporate partners, alumni, and community stakeholders, consistently surpassing fundraising targets. In her current role, Claire oversees the comprehensive and enduring strategy and administration of donor engagement for both the University of Utah and University of Utah Health. As a pivotal figure, she spearheads the development of a dynamic donor relations program, encompassing gift acceptance and acknowledgment, compliance with gift agreements, coordination of special events, internal communications, stewardship initiatives, brand management, and marketing communications. Claire’s leadership and strategic vision play a pivotal role in advancing philanthropic endeavors, ensuring sustained support for the University's mission and enhancing its impact on the community. Prior to her tenure at the University of Utah, Claire gained valuable experience working at a private liberal arts university and with non-profit organizations.

Brooke Abel is the Assistant Director of Major Gifts. In her dual-report role, she manages the Champions Alliance for University of Utah Athletics, the top athletics donor giving group, and oversees athletics engagement and game day experiences for the University of Utah's University Advancement. Previously, Brooke was Associate Director for the Capital Campaign at the University of Utah. During her tenure, she oversaw the creation and implementation of the Love, U brand and all associated marketing and collateral materials. She also managed the Capital Campaign Volunteer Leadership Board, coordinated photo and video shoots for the Well, a content bank utilized by both the main campus and health sciences, and led consultants and related logistics. These efforts contributed to the success of the $3+ billion capital campaign and its associated celebration in April 2023. Brooke earned her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.

4C: Engaging Beneficiaries in Donor Relations Activities: Group Problem Solving

Engaging beneficiaries in donor relations activities is a critical aspect of ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability in philanthropic endeavors. However, this process often presents challenges related to communication, understanding, and participation from the beneficiaries' perspective. This session aims to explore innovative strategies for overcoming these challenges through group problem-solving methodologies. Join this highly engaging session to air your grievances and empower yourself with practical insights and actionable strategies to overcome challenges and foster meaningful engagement with beneficiaries, ultimately advancing the effectiveness and impact of their organizations' work.

Academic Institutions  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Meg McAndrews, Senior Director of Donor Relations at the V Foundation for Cancer Research, leads the creation and implementation of a comprehensive donor stewardship program. She focuses on developing cross-departmental collaborations that produce the most meaningful experiences for V donors. Meg has also crafted donor relations programs at Syracuse University, the University of Vermont, and Indiana State University; was the $1B campaign project manager at Syracuse; served as Vice President and board member of ADRP; and has frequently presented on donor relations over the last 15 years. She is a creator and a finisher and loves to have fun in her role.

4D: Building Blocks of Change: Revisiting Recognition Societies

We're grateful for the playground chatter about recognition societies and how to modernize them, but when was the last time you took a magnifying glass to your own societies? The George Washington University, in partnership with the Donor Relations Group, just completed this journey and we've got some interesting and unexpected results to share. This session will be a treasure trove for those looking to rejuvenate their donor recognition efforts with actionable data. We'll share our benchmarking and donor survey data as well as actions we've taken as a result. Attendees will walk away equipped with practical strategies for collecting, analyzing, and applying data to refine recognition societies and optimize staffing.  You'll hear about our big wins as well as when we fell and scraped our knees.  We'll let you peek off our homework before you start your own recognition society revamp because sharing is caring!

Academic Institutions, Social Service & Health Care Organizations, Arts Organizations  ⬧  Early-career, Mid-career  ⬧  Any size shop

Jen Riordan currently serves The George Washington University as the Executive Director of Donor Relations.  She brings more than 20 years of experience in donor relations, annual giving, and athletics fundraising to her work.  Jen is an experienced practitioner, leader, and project manager.

Prior to joining the Donor Relations Group as the Director of Operations, Colton Withers, served as the Associate Director of Purdue Musical Organizations (PMO). In this role, Colton led PMO's external relations team of donor relations, marketing & communications, and operations professionals. He is a graduate of Purdue University (BS) and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (MA). A lifelong performer, Colton is a passionate supporter of the performing arts and has served as the president of the Indianapolis Men's Chorus board of directors and vice president of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra board of directors. Colton's DRG clients include healthcare organizations, independent boarding schools, Canadian universities, land-grant universities, and liberal arts colleges. Colton has helped clients inspire donors through exceptional communications, build and implement innovative programs, design and analyze surveys, and train employees on the art and science of donor relations.

4E: Advancing Together: Inclusive Hiring and Retention Strategies

How can your organization transform every interview and onboarding experience into a celebration of diversity? In this session drawn from LSA Advancement’s journey, you’ll gather nuanced strategies to enrich your hiring and retention processes. Absorb the art of crafting interviews that honor equitable practices, employ virtual techniques for wider accessibility, and initiate onboarding that champions diversity from day one. Leave equipped with thoughtful, adaptable tactics to enhance team engagement and foster a culture of impactful inclusivity. Enhance your organization’s embrace of diversity—step by step, hire by hire.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Amanda Halbert brings 13 years of expertise in donor relations and stewardship to her role as the Director of Stewardship for the University of Michigan's largest college and donor base program. Leading a team of three highly skilled stewardship officers, she collectively drives the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) to elevate the donor experience through personalized engagement, gratitude, and exceptional stewardship practices. Amanda's leadership is recognized for transforming stewardship concepts into strategic programs, nurturing positive workplace dynamics, and championing inclusive collaboration. Beyond work, she balances her love for cooking shows with training for half-marathons.

4F: Connecting the Dots & Coloring Outside the Lines: How Collaboration Creates a Positive Donor Engagement Experience at Three Donor Stages

Children develop into adults through a variety of development stages--and donors go through a similar journey in their philanthropic cycle. For the journey to be a meaningful one, it is important to "connect the dots" with your colleagues at different units and collaborate with them. A thought-out plan often leads to positive donor engagement accomplished through different activities; the sum of the various activities, events, and impact reports often resonates with donors. These activities are part of a "stewardship circle," that once connected through collaboration, can lead to positive donor engagement. Take away resources that leave you ready to implement a new way of thinking about your donor engagement program. Discover how to elevate your donor relations program by hearing how a university program collaborates across its organization and contributes to an inspiring donor journey. Join our session to learn about the activities that you can implement and leave with a toolkit that will prepare you to take your donors on a thoughtful journey.

All Audiences  ⬧  All Levels  ⬧  Any size shop

Adrienne Lotoski is an Associate Director for Stewardship & Donor Relations for Boston University's Development and Alumni Relations department. Her responsibilities include impact and financial reporting. She works across the university with different units to produce donor reports with an emphasis on transparent and longstanding donor engagement. She also worked in the media world for WBUR-FM, WCVB-TV, The Arbitron Company, and BBDO. Her family spent seven years in Southeast Asia where she volunteered and held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations including the Asian Civilisations Museum and Girl Scouts of America. She holds two master's degrees from Boston University in advertising and arts administration, a certificate in fundraising management, as well as a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Trinity College.

Amber Stout is an Associate Director of Donor Relations at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Her responsibilities primarily include the management of RISD’s giving societies and annual fund stewardship. She works across her division to develop efficient communication strategies and creative touchpoints to recognize and steward donors. Prior to RISD, Amber spent seven years at the Harvard Graduate School of Design developing a robust stewardship program and three years at the Grand Rapids Ballet as their marketing and design manager. With a background in graphic design, she is passionate about designing creative solutions to improve the donor experience. Amber holds a Master of Liberal Arts in museum studies and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the Harvard Extension School, a graduate certificate in arts administration from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design from Grand Valley State University.

4G: Part 2: Email Fundraising, Communications, and Digital Analytics Bootcamp (Ends @4pm)

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?".