Schedule and Sessions

If you are still doing full-file mailings or looking at RFM segmentation grids, you are wasting precious funds. Worse, you could be missing hidden gems on your file. See how CHOP and others have used predictive modeling research to hone their acquisition, donor, and high-value communications programs.

Most organizations work hard to generate interest through events, direct mail, social media, email, and word of mouth. But online, a common pattern shows up. People click, reach the donation page, and then leave.

Industry benchmarks show that over 80% of people who reach a donation form abandon without giving. Even when your campaigns work, you may still only be driving clicks—not donations.

This session introduces a simple shift. Stop treating the donation page as the finish line. The real opportunity is to stay in front of the people who already raised their hand before they reach the form.

Learn how to craft compelling, ethical stories that drive donor action without compromising the dignity of those served. This session explores the power of combining data with community-centered narratives to create proposals and appeals that resonate with funders and inspire meaningful engagement. Participants will gain tools to strengthen messaging during times of funding uncertainty and policy shifts, and leave with practical strategies for storytelling that foster trust, equity, and lasting support.

In a landscape of shrinking budgets and rapid change, nonprofit success requires deliberate strategy. This panel explores new Blackbaud Institute research on how nonprofit fundraisers leverage AI and tech integration to thrive. Join us for expert data-driven recommendations on building resilience, mitigating risk, and maximizing resources during economic uncertainty.

In an era of shifting tides, many leaders are frozen, waiting for the storm to pass. But history reveals that institutional headwind isn’t a pause in progress—it’s a threshold.

Join Humanist Psychologist Dr. Gloria Chance and a panel of visionary leaders for a highly engaging experiential lab. Move beyond survival and use Creative Inquiry to create a more resilient, humane future. Together, we will:

Bridge Polarization: Forge trust through courageous, inclusive dialogue.
Time-Travel: Shift from reaction to possibility-driven strategy.
Activate Leadership: Model the courage required to reshape our sector.
Stop watching the future happen. Come build it!

Transformational gifts are the envy of every organization. However, many organizations are not prepared to attract or manage a transformational gift. We will learn what a transformational gift is and examine the critical elements for one to develop in an organization. This process is largely dependent upon the organization's leadership and management, which means there are specific steps fundraising leaders can take to prepare for and attract transformational gifts. They have to strategically manage ideas, communicate vision, develop trust in multiple relationships, nurture a culture of philanthropy that attracts donors to invest big in your organization.

Individual giving is declining, while supporter attention has shifted to social. This session shows how nonprofits can turn social followers into engaged supporters through direct messaging. Attendees will learn why messaging is emerging as the next major fundraising channel and how organizations are already using it to drive growth.

Whether your organization is preparing for a CEO transition or caught in one unexpectedly, this session offers tools to steady your fundraising—and even grow it. Learn from leaders who have navigated leadership changes at major nonprofits and walk away with a plan you can put into action immediately.

Despite the reality that nearly 90% of wealth continues to be held in non-cash assets, nonprofits are still primarily asking for and receiving gifts of cash. This session will give you the information, knowledge, and tools to more effectively attract and secure these non-cash gifts to amplify your fundraising results!

Tired of being boxed into one fundraising lane? Learn how to break out, level up, and lead. This session gives emerging fundraisers the blueprint to build skills across revenue streams - and shows managers how to develop young talent into unstoppable, cross-functional pros ready for anything the sector throws their way.

What's the best way to DAF Day? Learn the specific tactics that set Susan G. Komen up to have one of their best days of DAF giving ever with this brand-new activation. From board engagement to executive press, to donor communication and stewardship, Komen pulled out all the stops - and saw incredible results. Even with the exciting revenue and donor numbers, the biggest success was uniting the organization around this moment, elevating the understanding and appreciation of DAF giving at all levels of the team.

Beyond mission alignment, the relationships we build with donors may be the single biggest contributor to our success as fundraisers. But not all relationships are created equal; building the wrong relationship may bring you closer to the donor but further from the gift. Too many of us are building friendships—relationships focused and built on likeability, rapport, and
commonalities—with donors, often at the expense of our success. Adopting a purposeful relationship framework can and has improved results dramatically. This session will show you how.

When major gift conversations stall, progress depends on knowing what to do next. This tactical Learning Lab equips fundraisers with practical tools to diagnose stalled cultivation, clarify donor motivations, and re-energize momentum. Through real scenarios and frameworks, participants gain confidence to move relationships toward successful solicitation.

Direct mail has long been the enigma of fundraising — powerful, but complex and slow. Not anymore. The future of direct mail is simpler, faster, and fully automated. Join Joe from AppealMaker to discover how technology is unlocking direct mail's potential like never before.

Trent Johnson, Heller Consulting's Data Services Lead, introduces the Donor Data Hub, a proven platform that unifies, cleans, and segments donor data across systems—helping development operations teams quickly create campaign-ready files and power smarter direct response and multi-channel fundraising.