11:15–11:30 AM EST Welcome and Orientation Join chair Rebecca Tseng Smith to meet the faculty and learn how to get the most out of this online conference.
11:30 AM–12:15 PM Concepts, Requirements and Organization for Relationship-based Fundraising Speaker: Rebecca Tseng Smith Nurturing a relationship to inspire the largest gifts of a lifetime differs substantially from the rest of major gift fundraising. Examine the requirements, concepts and organization that distinguish this person-centered aspect of fundraising from traditional major gift fundraising.
12:15–12:45 Stretch Break
12:45–1:45 What are Donors Telling Us? Speaker: Ron Schiller
We’ll discuss what today’s donors are telling us—in their own words and through their behavior—about how organizations and institutions need to adapt to a changing landscape. Increasingly, many donors will “develop” themselves. Are we willing, and able, to listen?
1:45–2:15 Stretch Break
2:15–3:15 The Changing Environment for Ultimate Giving Speaker: Robert Sharpe Changes in our society are altering the environment for fundraising. Explore the demographic, financial, social and political changes that are having the greatest impact on giving and learn what you and your institution can do to take advantage of the opportunities these changes present.
3:15–3:45 Stretch Break
3:45–4:30 Leading Organizations that Inspire the Largest Gifts of a Lifetime Speaker: Danita Nias Our development teams need to be able to respond to prospective donors in a myriad of ways, encouraging and receiving their annual gifts, campaign gifts and for a few, the largest gifts they will ever make. We will talk about how institutional leaders think about investing and organizing appropriately for this special work.
4:45–5:15 Day 1 Closing Thoughts/Q&A and Next Steps for Tomorrow
5:15-5:45 Networking Opportunity
Close out the first day of the conference to connect with fellow attendees and faculty members in topic specific groups.
5:45 Conference Adjourns for the Day
11:00 –11:30 AM EST Roundtable Discussion Connect with fellow attendees to share best practices, ideas and support.
Topics for discussion include: Principal Gifts in the International Context (Moderator: Tom Smith Tseng) Launching a Focused Principal Gifts Program (Moderator: Ron Schiller) The Board’s Role in Principal Gifts (Moderator: Rebecca Tseng Smith)
11:45 AM–12:45 PM Finding the Potential in Your Portfolio, Part I Speaker: Heather Trippel
How do we get better at creating and executing successful donor strategies? In this nuts and bolts two-part session, we’ll take a purposeful dive into your portfolio and give you some tools to advance your work (or that of your team) with top probable donors. You’ll be asked to focus on a handful of potential donors that you believe have the capacity to make transformative gifts to your organization. We’ll examine what you know and still need to know about these donors in ways that productively and powerfully increase your understanding of these top partners in your work. To make the most of these sessions, please have a few specific donors in mind when you attend – a few that you know well, and a few that would like to get to know better.
12:45–1:15 Stretch Break
1:15–2:00 Finding the Potential in Your Portfolio, Part II Speaker: Heather Trippel
2:00–2:30 Stretch Break
2:30-3:15 Facilitated Conversations (choose one):
Facilitating Ultimate Giving(Robert Sharpe)
Listening Skills Required of the Fundraiser(Rebecca Tseng Smith)
Strategic Portfolio Management (Heather Trippel)
Leading Organizations(Danita Nias)
Raising Your Organization’s Largest Gifts(Ron Schiller)
3:15-3:30 Stretch Break
3:30-4:00 Faculty Panel: Debrief and Final Thoughts
