Join us as we reunite for the first in-person Conference on Diverse Philanthropy and Leadership since 2019.
1:00 – 2:15
The Balancing Act: Metrics and Mental Health
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speaker: Kier Gaines
As development leaders, we are charged with cultivating relationships in support of our organization's mission. In gauging our work, typically, metrics are used to assess our pace and progress towards our fundraising goals. This engaging session will explore best practices in managing the high demands of the work while also prioritizing our mental health as a vital asset to our organization's present and future growth. Joining us for this session is Kier Gaines, a licensed therapist, content creator, and founder of the lifestyle brand, Kier & Them.
2:15 – 2:30
Refreshment Break
Location: Ballroom Foyer and Hermitage, Lower Lobby Level
2:30 – 3:45
Good Trouble: Disrupting Philanthropy and Leadership for Good
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Dania Matos, Vice Chancellor, Division of Equity & Inclusion, University of California, Berkeley, Christian Murphy, Chief Development Officer, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, and April Walker, Non-Profit and Foundation Consultant
The philanthropic sector continues to be a driving force for societal change yet more disruption is required to transform philanthropy as the sector seeks to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion while addressing our nation’s most pressing issues including systemic racism and inequities. In this plenary session, our dynamic panel of leaders will discuss how they are boldly disrupting philanthropy and leadership within their organizations and communities. Whether you are a nonprofit leader or fundraising professional of color, you will be inspired and energized by this conversation.
3:45 – 4:00
Stretch Break
4:00 – 5:00
Elective Sessions (Choose one)
Leadership Track
Leading and Retaining Diverse Talent
Location: Executive Room, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Angelique Grant, President, The Inclusion Firm and Reshunda Mahone, Assistant Dean for Advancement and Alumni Engagement & Senior Director of Development, Emory University
This session will discuss how senior advancement leaders can move from talking about retaining diverse talent, but actually doing it and engraining it in the culture. Attendees will learn how to establish a vision that incorporates DEI in their operations, incorporate it into the culture, and evaluate progress towards actualizing the vision.
Philanthropy Track
Shifting the Donor Landscape Paradigm: Strategies to Increase Engagement and Philanthropy Among Donors of Color
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Matthew Brandon, Director of Development, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Alyssia Coates, Director, Academic Initiatives, Diversity & Inclusion, Brown University, and LaDaniel Gatling II, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations, Guilford College
Throughout history, the word “philanthropy” has been used almost exclusively to describe the generous giving of large sums of money from affluent Caucasian donors. Over the last two decades, “philanthropy” has begun to widen to include a larger swath of human generosity. This new definition now encompasses contributions not just from the wealthy, but from communities of color consisting of people from every income bracket. Still, major gift fundraisers overlook donors from a variety of demographic groups, even though about 14 percent of U.S. millionaires are from minority populations.
As fundraisers, we must face the reality that our practices and methodologies have been built based on the traditions of white Americans. According to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the percentage of donors of color will increase from 27% to 47% by 2030. Our one-size-fits-all approach is increasingly proven to be anything but that. Now, we are presented with a critical inflection point that causes us to reevaluate our practices in order to reach a larger donor base that is diverse in its cultures and approach to philanthropy.
The goal for fundraisers must be to meet all donors where they are. Given the current pressing social challenges, this effort has never been more important. This two-part session will allow participants to assess their organization’s diverse constituency landscape and establish a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) action plan to embed into their current fundraising initiatives. In the first half of the session, participants will work in small groups to assess their organization’s DEI goals, shortfalls, and opportunities. The second half of the session is designed to introduce DEI strategies that align with their fundraising plans and priorities. Participants will leave with a tangible action plan they can use to improve their individual donor engagement and the operations within their organization.
5:00 PM
Conference Adjourns for the Day
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
9:00 – 10:15
Unintentional Leadership: Responding to the Moment, Building a New Future
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Wanda Cooper-Jones, Founder, Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, Tyrone McKinley Freeman, Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and Birgit Smith Burton, Founder, African American Development Officers Network
Wanda Cooper-Jones had no intention of becoming a national figure in the ongoing movement to protect Black lives. She had no intention of being all over television and the internet as a voice and presence speaking truth to power. She had no intention of running a foundation dedicated to the mental health and wellbeing of Black boys. But all of that changed on February 23, 2020, when her son, Ahmaud Arbery, was hunted down and murdered on a quiet street in Brunswick, Georgia, while jogging. Suddenly, she found herself amid a nightmare. She turned her grief into action. She became an advocate for her son and many others lost to violence and racism. Her voice and efforts have led to justice Now, her son’s killers have been sentenced to prison, the state of Georgia has a new hate crimes law, and the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation is poised for impact in the community. In this plenary conversation, Ms. Jones sits down with author and philanthropy scholar Tyrone McKinley Freeman to discuss her experience of turning tragedy into social change, confronting frustrations in the quest for justice, and creating a platform to honor her son’s life and build a new future for Black boys.
10:15 – 10:45
Coffee Break
Location: Ballroom Foyer and Hermitage, Lower Lobby Level
10:45 – 11:45
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Leadership Track
Fundraiser's Bill of Rights: Creating Equitable Partnerships
Location: Executive Room, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Amelia Garza, Associate Director of Development and Jennifer Holmes, Associate Director, Major Gifts, Rush University Medical Center
In years past, the fundraiser/donor relationship has often taken a submissive/dominant role. With a growing shift of this binary toward a community-centric fundraising model, it has become even more vital for charitable organizations to examine the fundraiser/donor relationship and further define the fundraiser’s rights as an equitable partner in creating change for the community. Attendees will leave the session with practical steps for creating equitable partnerships with fundraisers in their organizations.
Philanthropy Track
Does Diverse Philanthropy include Digital Currency?
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speaker: Reshunda Mahone, Assistant Dean for Advancement and Alumni Engagement & Senior Director of Development, Emory University
Financial Technology (fintech) is on the rise. It’s competition among traditional financial services impacts the work of philanthropy. This session will discuss the basics of financial technology, including digital currency like cryptocurrency, and the pros and cons of incorporating it into your overall fundraising strategy.
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch and Roundtable Discussions
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer/Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
1:45 – 2:45
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Leadership Track
Inclusive Hiring: Intentionally Preparing for Success
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Robert Burgett, Senior Vice President of Development, University of Minnesota Foundation, and V. Faith Eutsay, Vice President, Lindauer Global
Amid the race equity crisis in our country, many institutions of higher education are seeking to increase the diversity of their development teams to better reflect the diversity of alumni and donor communities. The University of Minnesota Foundation which serves the University of Minnesota system, committed itself to addressing the lack of racial diversity in its development team, and is focused on building a team of professionals that represents the University's broad spectrum of alumni and friends.In partnership with Lindauer Global, UMF successfully crafted and executed a search plan to begin diversifying the development team at the most senior level. This required a comprehensive organizational approach, involving key stakeholders and staff members from all levels of the foundation. You will learn how to put together the basic building blocks of recruiting for diverse lived experiences.
Philanthropy Track
Strengthening the Love For Humanity: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundraising
Location: Executive Room, Lower Lobby Level
Speaker: Ashley Green, Associate Director, Major Gifts, University of Michigan
In an increasingly diverse society, the waves of change in philanthropy are dynamic. As a result, philanthropists and fundraisers alike must adapt, be nimble, and develop the necessary skills to connect with the LGBTQ+ community. Therefore, it is critical as a development professional to understand the community's needs and embrace ways to promote community-centric fundraising, especially when engaging with marginalized groups.
2:45 – 3:15
Refreshment Break
Location: Ballroom Foyer and Hermitage, Lower Lobby Level
3:15 – 4:30
Are We Ready for 2030? Growing the Pipeline of Nonprofit Professionals of Color
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Chelsea Brown, Founder, Black Mill, Valentino Bryant, Director of Development, Howard University School of Law, Alisha Hartley, Associate Director of Annual Leadership Gifts, The Pennsylvania State University, and Devin Rittenhouse, Advancement Officer for Corporate and Foundation Partnerships, The Henry Ford
While the numbers of people of color in the nonprofit and higher education world, have made important gains, building, and sustaining momentum continues to be a challenge. As we look to the future, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the fundraising field is expected to grow nearly 15 percent over the next decade. Who will fill these fundraising and engagement positions? How can we ensure that the nonprofit and higher education advancement sectors further develop and diversify its pipeline of future professionals? There will be additional headwinds to be faced for sure, such as how we prepare future professionals to best address the continued decline of government and expectations that private support fill this gap without taking away from the organization’s mission. Today’s panel addresses these concerns and makes recommendations for how we can grow the much-needed pipeline of nonprofit leaders and fundraising professionals of color.
4:30 – 5:45 PM
Networking Reception
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer/Hermitage, Lower Lobby Level
5:45 PM
Conference Adjourns for the Day
8:00– 9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer, Lower Lobby Level
9:00– 10:00
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Leadership Track
Own Your Message and Your Power: Women of Color in Fundraising
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speaker: Maia McGill, Executive Director, Office of Inclusive Philanthropy, Florida International University Foundation
There is a purposeful message that comes from the voices of women of color in leadership. The traditional landscape of philanthropy has been shaped and led from a white male perspective, resulting in the voices and power of women of color being left out, misunderstood, or even filtered to be perceived as acceptable. In addition, there is a tendency to not stand in the power and purpose to lead authentically from our experiences and expertise. By the end of the session, attendees will be able to celebrate their journey in leadership and identify ways to own and share their message.
Philanthropy Track
Growing Affinity Based Scholarship Support
Location: Executive Room, Lower Lobby Level
Speaker: Michael Marino, Associate Director, Class Giving, Columbia University
Columbia College has co-sponsored scholarship fund with the Black Alumni Council (BAC) and Latino Alumni Association of Columbia University (LAACU) for the past decade. An increased focus on these scholarships over the past five years led to the growth of each scholarship by more than 300% on average with approximately 25% of donors to each scholarship being new acquisitions in FY21. This growth led to the creation of a new scholarship in partnership with Columbia Pride in the Fall of 2021. All three scholarships have increased our ability to support a larger population of diverse student leaders, engage more alumni in leadership giving to financial aid, and strengthen the quality of our undergraduate teaching and learning environment.
Learn strategies for growing affinity-based philanthropy, broad fundraising for diverse populations, and training staff and volunteers to solicit gifts for affinity scholarships.
10:00– 10:15
Coffee Break
10:15 – 11:30
Learning As We Grow: Allyship is More Than a Title
Location: Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby Level
Speakers: Zena Lum, Director of Development, Major Gifts, Harvard Kennedy School and Wendy Wilsker, Managing Partner, Boyden
Experience an intimate conversation about the messy journey of becoming an ally while wrestling with the many emotions and questions one asks when working with allies. Allyship is more than a title. It is an accumulation and recognition of your actions and words.
