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Event Tracks for 2019
Advanced Fundraising
Designed for experienced fundraisers and managers, this track will provide new strategies for fundraising and will stimulate your thinking on issues relating to leadership, hiring and retaining top talent, board performance, career advancement, and donor relationships.
Corporate & Foundation Giving
Corporations and foundations are more strategic in their philanthropy than ever. The old formula in which these funders helped you achieve your goals has become a two-way street; you must help them achieve their goals. This track will show you how to position your organization for success. One session involves awarding an actual grant.
Direct Response
The digital age was supposed to bring a decline in traditional direct response fundraising, but it hasn’t. Direct response remains vibrant and competitive. This track presents the latest strategies in year-end campaigns and donor retention. The always popular “30 Ideas in 60 Minutes” session will be repeated, with many new twists.
Fundraising Essentials
This track is designed for professionals who are in the early stages of their career and those transitioning into development (but experienced fundraisers will benefit too). Sessions include “Building a Fundraising Plan” and “Turning a Loyal Board into a Fundraising Force.” Other topics include donor stewardship and writing a case statement.
Legacy Giving
The most recent Giving USA report shows bequests and other legacy gifts on the rise. The trend is expected to continue in the years ahead. Is your organization positioned to seize the opportunity? This track presents everything from starting a program to basic marketing to fostering collaboration between major gifts and legacy gifts.
Major Gifts
Everyone should have a major gift program, no matter the size of the organization. This track will present the basics in major gifts along with advanced strategies. For those just getting started, there’s a session on creating the right organizational culture for major gifts. For those who want to accelerate their existing program, you’ll learn how to engage your board and build a prospect pipeline.
Marketing & Communications
Marketing and communications are key to achieving your organization's mission and engaging your community, including donors, but are often overlooked or misunderstood. This track will present strategies and tactics that work for organizations of all sizes. Topics include creating engaging campaigns, differentiation and positioning, building mindshare, and fostering collaboration between communications and development teams.
Professional Growth
Organizations want top performers. Organizations want leaders at all levels. This track will help you become a better professional, and in the process advance your organization. You’ll gain insights on career development, how to achieve success, and how to identify and build your leadership potential. Presenters include two accomplished authors along with senior nonprofit executives.
Research Track
Google searches are not enough. Successful fundraising programs use more sophisticated tools and strategies to build prospect profiles. This track provides tips for finding prospects, rating giving potential, and partnering with gift officers. The sessions are geared toward anyone who has research or major gift responsibilities.
Small Shop Organizations
The vast majority of nonprofits have small development departments. They have a unique set of challenges. This track addresses solutions for these small shops. Topics include engaging volunteers for fundraising, starting a major gifts program, and using technology. One session will be dedicated to analyzing end-of-year campaigns by examining your campaign materials.
Special Events
Special events remain the cornerstone of most fundraising campaigns. But the competition is stiff. This track will present the latest trends in making your event stand out from the crowd. It will show you how to leverage your events to get major gifts and how to develop and manage a volunteer committee.
Web, Tech, and Social Media
Everyone knows technology plays a large role in fundraising. But many organizations struggle to effectively use technology beyond having a Facebook page. This track will present both basic and advanced strategies. Topics include peer-to-peer fundraising, building meaningful connections with donors online, and tools to manage your online campaigns.
Workshops
Workshops are roundtable discussions where participants learn from one another through facilitated discussion. Topics include donor stewardship, marketing, how to tell your organization’s story, and securing government grants. Participants are encouraged to share their success stories…and their stories of failure.