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Conference breakout sessions tackle some of your toughest fundraising challenges – and engage you in examining fresh approaches to revenue generation that strengthen your organization.
Session presentation slides and handouts are available for download following the conference for continued learning.
New this year! Don’t miss the two Expanded Sessions.
Thriving Beyond Grants: Building and Growing an Individual Giving Program
Track: Relationship Building
Discover the necessary tools to start and grow an individual giving program, helping you acquire new sources of revenue beyond grants. You’ll explore new donor acquisition, prospect management, and donor engagement and stewardship strategies. This interactive session includes case studies and group discussions.
Presented by: Sarah Armstrong, Chief Development Officer, Summit Academy OIC; Lani McCollar, Associate Vice President, BWF
Practical Systems for Prospecting Strategy and Fundraising Intelligence
Track: Grant Prospecting and Writing
Gain an introduction to the core competencies of prospect development—prospect research, relationship management, and data science—and the ways they support and enhance your fundraising work. A prospect management system can make your fundraising more sustainable, save us from burnout, and amplify our impact.
Presented by: Don Irwin, Senior Manager of Data and Research, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
The Donor Journey: Targeted Communications for Fundraising Success
Track: Relationship Building
Donors, like consumers, engage at their own pace. Discover the “Donor Journey,” a structured communication and cultivation model that aligns donor engagement with marketing best practices. By tailoring messaging to a donor’s familiarity with your organization, you can build trust and move donors from awareness to deep investment.
Presented by: Gena Johnson, Vice President of Development, Rein in Sarcoma
Partnership as Resistance: Strengthening Nonprofits Through Collaboration
Track: Philanthropic Reform and Disruption
Let’s explore innovative strategic partnerships that disrupt the status quo, move us forward in solidarity, and ensure vital programs and services continue. Through interactive activities and discussion, gain an understanding of collaborative opportunities including mutual fundraising events, joint service ventures, and shared leadership models such as subsidiaries.
Presented by: Kimberly Peterson, Director of Development, Rebuilding Together Minnesota
Crafting a Compelling Story: Connecting People and Impact
Track: Relationship Building
Learn about elements of compelling stories and ways to identify, collect, and share them. You’ll learn tips on telling a good story with passion and authenticity and avoiding exploiting someone’s trauma. The session covers storytelling trends, training exercises for training staff and board members, and examples from the speakers’ experiences.
Presented by: Mary Jones, Chief Advancement Officer, TPT; Gretchen Piper; Kristen Spargo
Write Smarter, Not Harder: Winning Grants with AI
Track: Grant Prospecting and Writing
Go beyond buzz to explore the real impact of AI on grantwriting: what’s working, what’s not, and how to strike the right balance. We’ll debunk AI myths, highlight best practices, cover writing strategies to improve generated content, and show you how you to use AI responsibly and authentically to write stronger grants, faster and maintain funder trust.
Presented by: Katie Castillo, Instrumentl; Danette Fettig Halloran, Corporate and Foundations Relations Manager, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
Piloting a Donor Organizing Capacity Building Program
Track: Relationship Building
Gain an in-depth perspective on donor organizing and practical strategies to support relational fundraising within your base. You’ll learn from this nonprofit’s experience launching a grassroots fundraising program with donors, board members, staff, and community members, how it was structured and staffed, and reflections for continued development.
Presented by: Malaika Eban, Executive Director and James Miller, Development and Communications Manager, Legal Rights Center; Ray Martinez, Founder and Principal Consultant, RM Methods
How All Board Members Can Amplify Resource Development Impact
Track: Relationship Building
Rethink and re-conceptualize board fundraising so simple asks feel realistic, possible, and rewarding. You’ll cover board member annual gifts, amplifying board social media involvement, and realistic ways boards can help with grant seeking.
Presented by: Rebecca (Becky) Schueller, Trainer, Consultant, and Coach, Rebecca Schueller Training & Consulting
Unlocking Local Partnerships: Unique Opportunities to Collaborate and Fundraise with Businesses
Track: Relationship Building
Explore unique opportunities to partner and fundraise with local businesses in ways that go beyond traditional sponsorships. You’ll gain insights into creative fundraising initiatives, employee engagement programs, cause-marketing campaigns, and how to align a business’ goals with your mission-driven work.
Presented by: Stacey Jensen, Development Director, CornerHouse
The Case of Ethical AI Use in Nonprofits
Track: Research and Trends
Discover not only potential AI applications like enhanced donor engagement, automated routine tasks, and improved decision-making, but also the critical ethical considerations, such as data privacy, bias mitigation, and responsible AI governance. You’ll gain insights into best AI practices while ensuring alignment with your mission-driven values.
Presented by: Lou Bialon-Crane, Manager and Jamie Van Nostrand, Director, RSM US
Demystifying Endowments
Track: Grantmaking
Endowments are more accessible than you may think. This session demystifies endowments, offering a clear understanding of what they are, how they work, and how small- to mid-sized nonprofits can successfully create and grow endowed funds. You’ll also discuss partnering with a local community foundation to overcome common barriers.
Presented by: Tod Herskovitz, Nonprofit Strategies Manager, St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Heather Logelin, President/CEO, St. Croix Valley Foundation
Cut Through the Noise: Meaningful Messaging Amidst Uncertainty
Track: Relationship Building
Explore emerging trends and proven strategies for engaging donors through impactful storytelling. Going beyond presentation to applied practice, you’ll craft a compelling case for support that weathers uncertainty and cuts through the noise, and leave understanding how to use your fundraising to connect with audiences during times to change and volatility.
Presented by: Jenna Ray, Interim Executive Director, and Maddie Korva, Director, Marketing & Communications, GiveMN
Amplifying Impact: Lessons from a Multi-Nonprofit Fundraising Initiative
Track: Philanthropic Reform and Disruption
Discover the insights, challenges and successes of working in a multi-nonprofit project to raise $250,000. You’ll learn their process for identifying a shared initiative, creating a framework for collective fundraising, dividing the proceeds, and engaging donors. Get inspired to consider what partnerships might amplify you fundraising and grow your donors.
Presented by: John Briel, Member Relations Manager, Friends of the Mississippi; Jennifer Foth, Director of Development, Metro Blooms; Jenna Ray, Interim Executive Director, GiveMN
Advocacy Across the Aisle: Legislative Case Statements that Grab Bipartisan Attention
Track: Relationship Building
Whether your goal is policy change or landing a state appropriation, it’s tough to grab and hold a lawmaker’s attention, and even harder to engage bipartisan support. Learn tips and tricks for developing case statements for bipartisan legislative audiences that are authentic to your mission, and learn how to deploy your case statement effectively.
Presented by: Andy Eilers, Associate Lobbyist, Christopherson Advocates, LLC; Martha Grave, Director of Institutional Giving and Government Affairs, Neighborhood Development Center; Julian Loscalzo, Lobbyist, JEL Consulting
Real Talk: A Candid Conversation for White Managers
Track: Philanthropic Reform and Disruption
This panel will reflect on the highs, lows, and lessons learned as a white manager and BIPOC fundraiser. From embarrassing faux pas to career-changing breakthroughs, they’ll share their experiences to help you build strategies for strengthening your allyship and better understand the important role you play in building a more resilient, fulfilling sector.
Presented by: Courtney Backen, President, Association of Fundraising Professionals – Minnesota; Adam Breininger, Director of Development and Communications, Minnesota Land Trust
Planning a ‘Friendraiser’: Why Overthinking is Your Enemy
Track: Relationship Building
Are you looking for a low-investment fundraiser? Learn from this case study on how this nonprofit planned and executed a ‘friendraiser’ that is light on budget but big on impact. You’ll leave ready to explore outside-the-box ideas for your next donor event.
Presented by: Kaylie Burns Gahagan, Director of Advancement, Genessis Lopez, Advancement Coordinator, and Andrew Kochen, Communications Specialist, Missions Inc. Programs
Capital Campaign: Where Finance Meets People
Track: Relationship Building
Learn how to design and implement a capital campaign that balances financial goals with stakeholder engagement and organizational values. You’ll gain an in-depth look at the importance of campaign storytelling, practical strategies for engaging diverse stakeholders, common challenges, out-of-the-box solutions.
Presented by: Mary Niedermeyer, Chief Executive Officer and David Monterrosa, Director of Finance and Operations, CAPI USA; Wale Falade, Locus Architecture
Talking Place, Legacy, and Generosity: A Fundraiser’s Toolkit
Track: Research and Trends
Discover a toolkit created by community foundations to better understand Minnesota’s historic transfer of wealth. You’ll practice using messaging and engagement tools from the toolkit to discover how you can capitalize on this moment to benefit your fundraising.
Presented by: Dominic Papatola, Chief Impact Officer, CommunityGiving; Katy Sullivan, Consultant and Allan Martinez Venegas, Consultant, AmplifyDMC
The Fundraiser’s Secret Tool: Non-Development Staff
Track: Relationship Building
Every staff member plays a role in donor cultivation. Let’s reimagine the donor journey by mapping how staff touchpoints influence donor trust and engagement, identify gaps and opportunities in your current donor experience, and learn how to equip non-fundraising staff with simple ways to authentically engage supporters (without feeling like fundraisers).
Presented by: Heidi Louise, Annual Fund Manager, Dodge Nature Center and Preschool
Unlocking the 20%: Essential Strategies for Digital Fundraising
Track: Relationship Building
Feel empowered to enhance your online presence and fundraising capabilities without overwhelming your team or budget. You’ll learn to identify and focus on high-impact digital fundraising strategies, discover practical ways to incorporate AI, and gain actionable tactics and tools to improve your donor engagement, increase online giving, and build lasting relationships.
Presented by: Rich Dietz, Founder, Nonprofit R+D
Note: Session titles, descriptions, and presenters are subject to change.
See a topic you want to explore? Don’t wait to secure your spot at Minnesota’s largest nonprofit fundraising event.
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