Track 1: Practical Fundraising

Sponsored by CCS

Session 1: Working in Partnership with High-Level Fund Raising Volunteers (10:45 AM-12:00 PM)

What does it really mean to engage and partner with high-level volunteers in fund raising? How do you know if developing strong staff and volunteer teams would be good for your organization? This panel presentation will offer three different perspectives including staff, volunteer/board member, and a fund raising consultant. Hands on methods for engagement, partnering tips, and a discussion on appropriate roles for volunteers (both board and non-board) will be offered.

By the end of this session participants will learn:

• New models for engagement of High-Level Volunteers in Fund Raising
• How staff and volunteers can effectively partner and learn each other’s interests and abilities
• How to raise an organization’s profile in the community through the use of high-level volunteers

Speakers:

Anita Knazze, Director of Special Events, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana;

Mary Lee Montague, Executive Vice President, DHR International;

Brooke Wiseman, President, New Knowledge Consulting

Session 2: Multicultural Resource Development: Effective Practices to Broaden Your Donor Base (1:15-2:30 PM)

With the United States population continually becoming more diverse, is it important to have development practices which are relevant, which connect with multicultural audiences in order to engage them as donors, volunteers and allies? Is it possible to learn to understand the cultural context of multicultural audiences in order to communicate messages more effectively? What are the trends in philanthropy within diverse communities? This session will help participants identify ways to conduct outreach and engage diverse constituents so that fundraising messages and tools resonate and result in new and effective partnerships, increased support, and a broadened donor base. Case studies and best practices will be included.

By the end of this session participants will learn:

• To understand the challenging demographics in the U. S. and how they impact resource development efforts
• How to connect their missions to the closely held values of individuals and groups of various cultural backgrounds
• To identify and apply immediate outreach and engagement strategies with diverse communities

Speakers:

Deborah Bennett, Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy and Polk Bros. Foundation;

Juan Calixto, CFRE, Development Director, Mujeres Latinas En Accion and Latinos in Development;

Soudary Kittivong-Greenbaum, CFRE, Resource Development Director, Metropolitan Group

Session 3: Introduction to Major Gifts: From Essentials to Turning No to Yes (2:45-4:00 PM)

Why are major gifts important to development success? What constitutes a major gift? Who raises major gifts; who’s on the major gifts team? Who makes major gifts and why do they make them? What’s the major gifts process? In the work of major gifts, it is important to understand the essentials so that a plan can be developed and implemented. As in all fundraising, every solicitation doesn’t result in a “yes.” Understanding how to turn a “no” into a “yes” is essential. Case studies and best practices will be included.

By the end of this session participants will learn:

• Prospect identification and evaluation process basics
• Cultivation and solicitation process fundamentals; three key questions for relationship building
• How to ask for a major gift; overcoming points of resistance with IPAT / OPAT
• How to turn a no into a yes – from a soft “no” to the hard “no”
  

Speakers:

Guy Adams, Consultant, Gonser Gerber Tinker Stuhr;

Michael Anderson, Executive Director of Development, Columbia College Chicago;

Miranda Iwataki, Director of Development, TriCity Family Services