2008 Summit Highlights
PRE-CONFERENCE SPEAKERS CONFIRMED:
Sandy Macnab, Alexander Macnab and
Associates (Chicago, IL)
"How
to Ask for Major Gifts: A Training Workshop for Board and Staff"
This practical half-day session covers what every board member, agency
executive and development pro needs to know about soliciting major gifts.
A non-technical how-to approach that teaches the basics, this course is a
must for those planning a major gifts program or contemplating a campaign.
Highlights include arranging the appointment, handling objections and making
the request. It introduces 14 practical tips anyone can use.
Paul Strawhecker, Paul J. Strawhecker,
Inc. (Omaha, NE)
"What You Need to Know to Prepare Your Organization for Fundraising"
Preparing your organization for fund
raising will focus on two areas. The first 90-minute session will deal with
preparing your agency for development from an institutional perspective involving
discussions on strategic planning, the case statement and general marketing
principals; the second 90-minute session will involve case studies relating
to internal issues that impede the fund raising process, as well as executive
leadership issues relating to the board and the executive director.
Tom Ahern, Ahern Communications Ink (Foster,
RI)
"Making Your Case: Selling Your Vision to Donors"
Learn how to sell your vision effectively and fast. In this
full-disclosure seminar, one of America’s busiest case statement writers,
Tom Ahern, discloses his secrets. You’ll learn how to research your case and
distill a mountain of facts down to its essence, how to answer the questions
prospects care about most, and how to deliver your message with white-hot
intensity. In this seminar, you’ll also learn storytelling formulas that work,
why testimonial is so important, how emotional triggers get you to your goal
quickly, and much more.
Tom Ahern, Ahern Communications Ink (Foster, RI)
"How to Publish the Perfect Donor Newsletter"
Donors crave one kind of communication above all, research shows:
a newsletter that focuses on "accomplishment reporting". Donors want to
know, "How much good did you do with my money?" Yet most newsletters fail
to deliver exactly this kind of news. Analysis by Tom Ahern of hundreds
of donor newsletters reveals widespread fatal flaws. Too bad: a good newsletter
is critical to building donor trust and improving donor retention. In "mature"
philanthropic markets, retention is now scandalously poor and getting worse.
To get off the "acquisition" treadmill and to realize instead the full lifetime
value of your donors, you have to publish an effective newsletter. There
are no special exceptions.
MAIN DAY SUMMIT SPEAKERS CONFIRMED:
Sandy Macnab, Alexander Macnab and
Associates (Chicago, IL)
"Successful Annual Giving Programs: The Fundamentals of Direct
Mail"
This session covers the basics of starting and administering an annual
giving program with emphasis on direct mail, including insider tips and practical
skill building ideas.
Doug Clopton, Catholic Charities of Kansas
(Lexana, KS)
"Discovering Profit Opportunities in the Nonprofit World"
Many nonprofits are developing for profit enterprises to get more
discretionary income flowing into their organizations. In this session, Doug
Clopton will discuss how he has successfully applied business and marketing
strategies he used for 22 years as a manager with Hershey Foods to develop
and grow entrepreneurial ventures in support of Catholic Charities of Kansas.
Jay Wilkinson, CEO, Firespring (Lincoln,
NE)
"Websites
That Make a Strong First Impression and Encourage Donor Commitment"
In the seasons of technological change, having an effective
website is the single most crucial component of a communications plan. Your
website can drastically increase the awareness of your mission and is often
your agency’s ‘face’ to the community. Providing key information and functionality
such as on-line donating is essential. Discover how a website can change the
way you communicate and promote your mission as Jay Wilkinson shares with
you years of research on how nonprofits and their constituents are using the
web today.
Charles Heim, President, Heim Consulting (New
Orleans, LA)
"Great Expectations-Board and Staff Roles in Fund Development"
In this session, consultant Charles Heim will examine what board
members and staff expect of each other with regard to resource development,
and how to overcome the differences and develop a solid team effort for success.
Charles Heim, President, Heim Consulting
(New Orleans, LA)
"Where Are We Going, and How Do We Get There?"
In this session, consultant Charles Heim will share first hand
experience on how to effectively engage board members in setting and fulfilling
the fund development objectives of the organization.
Melisa Yeend, CFRE (Fairhope, AL)
"Strategic Board Recruitment-Building Your Board for Effective
Fund Development"
In this session, consultant Melisa Yeend will discuss how nonprofits
can better prepare themselves for fundraising success through strategic board
recruitment and development.
Wayne
Carmello-Harper, President, Guidant Consulting (Lincoln, AL)
"From Annuities to Wills-An Overview of Deferred Giving Vehicles"
There are several types of gift
planning programs. Some are relatively simple to implement, others require
software, agreements and tax forms. This presentation will summarize the various
types of deferred giving vehicles from sample will language to registering
with the state to offer Charitable Gift Annuities.
Members of AFP-Alabama
Chapter (Birmingham, AL)
"The
Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Fundraising"
Effective fundraising is critical
to any nonprofit's immediate and longterm success, and everyone involved with
an agency understands that. However, many volunteers and staff members who
want to help are not very familiar with the basics of fundraising. This panel
discussion, featuring members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Alabama
Chapter, will focus on some of the most important things to keep in mind about
contemporary nonprofit fundraising.
Tom Thompson,
President, Tom Thompson and Associates (Birmingham, AL)
"Measuring for Impact-Key Thoughts and Strategies in Outcomes Measurement"
Nonprofits exist to make a difference
in communities, and funders are increasingly demanding measures to determine
success. In this session, consultant Tom Thompson will help participants learn
how to determine appropriate outcomes for their programs, and how to measure
progress toward those outcomes.
Lydia Pickett,
Director, NRCA-Montgomery Office (Montgomery, AL)
"Building Trust in the Nonprofit Leadership Model"
Governance is a collaborative
effort that requires trust among team members to be successful. In this session,
Lydia Pickett will discuss how to build trust among board members, and how
to build trust between the board and the executive director.
Edward Esposito,
Rubber City Radio Group (Akron, OH)
"Proactive Media Strategies"
The nonprofit sector is competitive,
with many agencies vying for a limited supply of support. Most organizations
understand the value of raising public awareness and the role the media can
play as part of any good nonprofit public relations strategy. The media has
a need for content that interests their audience in an environment that goes
beyond traditional media. How can nonprofits go beyond the traditional public
service announcement model and better support the investment in programs and
events they are designed to support? Is it cost effective to consider paid
ad placements to lock in more targeted delivery of your message? How can you
create media partnerships to better get the message out? In this session,
media expert and nonprofit board executive Ed Esposito will discuss how nonprofits
can more proactively and effectively incorporate media support into their
public relations plans.
MAIN DAY KEYNOTES
(Morning General Session)
Paul Pribbenow, President, Augsburg College
(Minneapolis, MN)
"Public Service: Philanthropic Fundraising as a Calling"
Dr. Paul Pribbenow is a nationally-known author and speaker on the
subject of philanthropy, and this keynote presentation will highlight some
thoughts from his most recent book manuscript of the same title. Currently
being prepared for publication, Public Service: Philanthropic Fundraising
as a Calling offers through a series of essays and meditations a perspective
on the moral and spiritual aspects of the work of philanthropic fundraising.
Pribbenow argues that an understanding of fundraising as a "calling" challenges
us to become reflective practitioners, moral teachers and public servants.
(Luncheon)
Kay Sprinkel Grace, Founder and Principal
of Transforming Philanthropy, LLC (San Francisco, CA)
"Fundraising Mistakes that Bedevil All Boards (and Staff Too)"
Fundraising mistakes are a thing of the past. Or, rather, there's
no excuse for making a serious mistake anymore. And that goes for board members,
staff, novice, or veteran. In her keynote presentation at the 2008 Nonprofit
Summit, nationally-known consultant and author Kay Sprinkel Grace's book will
discuss some of the most common fundraising errors that thwart nonprofit leaders
and executives. Her comments will be based on her book, "Fundraising Mistakes
that Bedevil All Boards (and Staff Too)," which will be available for sale
at the event at the Milestone Books booth, along with some of her other titles.
Ms. Sprinkel-Grace will be available to personalize purchased copies of her
books after her presentation.