Fundraising models should respect donors and build strong relationships with them. They must also be centered on the communities who know firsthand what is needed for meaningful change. This session will introduce ways to engage donors differently by fostering a sense of belonging and engaging them in transformative (not transactional) work. Drawing on examples from capital campaigns to donor engagement, Frank Velasquez Jr. & Diana Farias Heinrich will demonstrate how a simple reframing can create powerful collaborations between your organization, your donors, and your community.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize the role of nonprofits in engaging donors effectively, emphasizing the shift from donor-centric to community-centric models.
• Develop strategies for building transformative, not transactional, donor relationships that foster a sense of belonging and partnership.
• Master asset-based language that focuses on the strengths and contributions of community members.

Join us for an enlightening panel on ethical storytelling in the nonprofit sector. Ethical storytelling is crucial in nonprofit fundraising, fostering trust and credibility among donors, and ensuring authenticity, honesty, and respect for the individuals or communities involved. This panel will help attendees examine their practices, provide tips to ensure clients understand their rights, and share how to set up policies and procedures that encourage respect and dignity while showing organizational impact.

We’ve got great news: data is showing that volunteering levels are higher than even pre-pandemic! However, you still have to employ the right tactics to recruit these volunteers and we’re here to teach you how. In this session, Geng Wang will show you how you can recruit volunteers from different generations and how event-based volunteering is one of the most efficient ways to build both your volunteer and donor pipelines. Through hands-on exercises, you will learn to reimagine your marketing and communication tactics to best engage these new generations!

Key Takeaways:

• What the latest volunteer trends are, including how volunteering levels are higher than ever.
• The distinctive characteristics of Gen Z volunteers and how they differ from previous generations.
• How you can unlock the language that speaks to and inspires different generations to volunteer or donate.
• How to leverage event-based volunteering to foster recurring volunteers and build a new donor pipeline.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on the essential fundraising trends that every nonprofit should be aware of to ensure future success. Our expert panelists will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to help you navigate the evolving landscape of fundraising to stay ahead of the curve and maximize your nonprofit’s impact.

This transformative workshop is designed for organizational leaders, ERG members, and DEI advocates. Discover actionable strategies to strengthen Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and enhance board accountability, driving a culture of inclusivity and excellence within your organization. Gain insights into aligning ERG initiatives with organizational goals, measuring their impact effectively, and fostering robust collaboration between ERGs and the board.

Walk away equipped with practical tools to initiate sustainable change, cultivate a more inclusive workplace, and build a roadmap for continued growth. Through group discussions and facilitated networking sessions, participants will actively engage with peers, share experiences, and collaboratively explore solutions tailored to their organizational challenges, ensuring an enriching and impactful learning experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn to align ERG efforts with the broader organizational strategy, ensuring initiatives contribute to the company’s goals.
• Gain tools to measure the impact of ERG initiatives, enabling evidence-based decisions and accountability.
• Develop strategies for fostering effective collaboration between ERGs and the board, promoting shared visions and actions for inclusivity and diversity.

Join us as we wrap #Raise2023. Experience the energy and excitement of our closing session. Our final panel explores what it truly means to be #Fearless as a fundraiser, leader, and organization.

Hear real-life Fearless Fundraisers share stories and wisdom on how to reimagine generosity and what it takes to thrive in the future of fundraising. You won’t want to miss what they have to share!

In a world where social media trends come and go in the blink of an eye, nonprofits must adopt a long-term strategy to thrive in the ever-changing digital landscape. However, the third sector faces unique challenges in maintaining a long-term social media strategy that drives sustainable impact.

In this session, Julia Campbell and Josh Hirsch will address the specific needs of nonprofits and provide practical insights on developing a social media strategy that aligns with long-term goals. They’ll explore strategies, techniques, and best practices that empower nonprofits to navigate short-term trends while fostering meaningful connections with donors and supporters.

Key Takeaways:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of a long-term social media strategy in the nonprofit sector.
• Learn to identify and prioritize long-term goals, ensuring sustainability in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
• Acquire practical insights and techniques to navigate short-term social media trends effectively.
• Learn best practices tailored to the unique challenges faced by nonprofits in maintaining a sustainable social media strategy.

Join us for an enlightening panel on ethical storytelling in the nonprofit sector. Ethical storytelling is crucial in nonprofit fundraising, fostering trust and credibility among donors, and ensuring authenticity, honesty, and respect for the individuals or communities involved. This panel will help attendees examine their practices, provide tips to ensure clients understand their rights, and share how to set up policies and procedures that encourage respect and dignity while showing organizational impact.

“Please put on your oxygen mask before helping others.” We’ve all heard this before, well, this session IS your oxygen mask. Join Clay Buck as he explores how the human side of fundraising has changed in recent years and how to respond to these upheavals.

We have faced more than a pandemic; we have faced racial and social injustice, the great resignation, civil conflict, working from our living rooms, and much more. Regardless of how we perform the tasks and execute strategies, fundraising is a relationship-based profession. Choosing ourselves as much as we choose to serve others is essential. Using the framework of Recognize, Reveal, and Reframe, Clay will build a model for attendees to follow and build upon. During this interactive session, complete with a workbook, you will connect with Clay over common experiences that will help guide positive future outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize external factors and individual stressors that contribute to fundraising burnout.
• Reveal personal motivations and articulate them to fundraising and internal audiences.
• Reframe your personal focus and craft a path to success.

Creating and sustaining a culture of philanthropy within independent schools is essential for financial stability and fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose. This session aims to explore strategies, best practices, and real-world examples of how independent schools and nonprofits can use AI to cultivate a culture of philanthropy that engages all stakeholders and contributes to long-term success. During the session, Mariana Keller will use generative AI to demonstrate practical applications.

Key Takeaways:

• How to use AI to support your fundraising efforts.
• How to create a positive culture of philanthropy.
• How to develop your team to use AÍ wisely.