Speakers

Dana Snyder is a dynamic speaker, author of “The Monthly Giving Mastermind”®, host of the nonprofit
podcast “Missions to Movements”, and the visionary behind the Monthly Giving Summit. Dana founded
Positive Equation with the mission of helping nonprofits create sustainable giving models by establishing
robust monthly giving programs, making philanthropy accessible to all.

Sissy Spence is President of the J.F. Smith Group, where she leads the firm’s strategic direction and operations while serving as executive counsel and project manager to clients nationwide. Since joining the company in 2009, she has guided capital campaigns and advancement assessments for institutions such as Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama State University, and Belmont University. A trusted expert in campaign strategy and donor engagement, she previously served as Jacksonville State University’s first development officer, helping raise over $31 million. With a track record of success across education and nonprofit sectors, Sissy is known for her relationship-centered approach.

Bill Stanczykiewicz serves as senior assistant dean at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and as director of The Fund Raising School, where Bill enjoys translating cutting-edge research into real-world skills for the philanthropic sector. His national and international teaching opportunities have included AFP ICON, the International Fundraising Congress, and the German Fundraising Association. Named a "Next Generation Leader" by the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill's expertise includes fundraising, board engagement, and leadership in the philanthropic sector. Bill also hosts The Fund Raising School's acclaimed podcast, which is ranked among the top 10 podcasts on philanthropy and fundraising.

Mike Stefanski is President at Aperio Philanthropy, leading Aperio’s business operations and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. He specializes in developing and implementing fundraising strategies, donor engagement, and corporate partnerships. Prior to joining Aperio, Mike was Director of Fundraising Programs and Operations at the national headquarters of the American Red Cross. He also held fundraising positions at America’s Promise Alliance and Conservation International.

Mike earned an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and an MA in Environmental Policy and BA in International Studies from American University. He lives outside of Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Mitch is the Head of Strategy at Chariot, the Donor Advised Fund payments company. He leads major, sector-wide initiatives like The DAF Fundraising Report, DAF Day and has been a featured speaker at dozens of conferences and workshops. Prior to joining Chariot, he founded a nonprofit technology company called Pond, which was a marketplace to connect nonprofits with the best vendors for their needs. He is an avid nonprofit fundraiser, serving on the board of The NYC LGBT Center and a longtime rider on Cycle for the Cause, The Northeast AIDS Ride.

Deborah is a seasoned nonprofit professional with 35+ years of nonprofit experience, serving in leadership and consulting capacities. Since launching her consulting practice in 2016, Deborah has provided fund development planning, strategic planning, grants development, and organizational assessments for over 60 unique nonprofits. Deborah is the co-founder of the Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy, which has trained 1200+ nonprofit professionals on the essentials of financial leadership. She serves on the national faculty for Futures Without Violence - Supporting Organizational Sustainability Institute and has been a guest lecturer on government funding in Portland State University's fundraising certificate program.

A pet lover since childhood, Ian grew up caring for many dogs within the family. He spent the last several years as a film producer, including on “The Street Vet,” documenting the hardships and hope that individuals experiencing homelessness go through and the lifesaving gift that pets provide them. He hopes to continue to tell these stories through Project Street Vet while improving the lives of pets and their people.

Chris Stibbs is a self-proclaimed (but confirmed by others) loud human investing his passion in Kansas City's philanthropic community. As Director of Development for Growing Futures, a Head Start program, he oversees fundraising, donor relations, and community engagement. Stibbs serves on the Board for reStart, a local homeless shelter, and as President of The Loop networking group. He's been recognized as Ingram Magazine’'s 20 in their Twenties, The Independent's Class of Rising Stars, and KC Business Journal’s 20 to Know in Nonprofit.

As Blackbaud’s Chief Privacy Officer, Cameron leads its global privacy program and manages a team of
lawyers advising the company in the areas of data privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, intellectual
property, and vendor contracting. She is accredited by the International Association of Privacy
Professionals (IAPP) as an Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional, a Certified Information Privacy
Professional with respect to both US and EU laws (CIPP/US and CIPP/E), and a Certified Information
Privacy Manager (CIPM). Prior to joining Blackbaud in 2016, Cameron worked in private practice with
Womble Bond Dickinson as a member of the Privacy and Data Protection team.

Ryan Strawhecker, MA, CFRE, AFP Master Trainer, is the Principal of Strawhecker Nonprofit Services, a consulting firm dedicated to strategic fundraising, marketing, and planning. With over 20 years of experience, Ryan has led capital campaigns, planning studies, and donor engagement efforts across a range of sectors. His firm has supported more than 400 clients over 30 years, including many grassroots and emerging organizations. A Certified Fund Raising Executive since 2016 and AFP Master Trainer since 2023, Ryan is also a skilled facilitator who helps nonprofit teams make collaborative, mission-driven decisions that lead to lasting impact.

Allison Strekal, MBA, CFRE, is an accomplished nonprofit leader and the Senior Director of Philanthropy at Mountain Home Montana. With over a decade of experience, she has led high-impact fundraising strategies, securing millions in support through major gifts, grants, and multi-channel campaigns. Allison holds an MBA and the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. She serves on the board of AFP Montana and the AFP Global Emerging Leaders Committee, and is a sought-after speaker and advocate for mission-driven, relationship-based fundraising. Known for her energy, strategic vision, and fearless leadership, she brings clarity and momentum to every mission she serves.

Kristin Sukraw is chief storytelling officer and author of StoryFind: The Handbook for Finding and Telling Your Nonprofit’s Most Impactful Stories—endorsed by charity: water’s Scott Harrison as a must-read.

As a licensed professional counselor, Kristin pioneered trauma-informed, ethical storytelling practices for fundraisers. She is a go-to thought leader for organizations such as World Vision, Homes For Our Troops, International Rescue Committee and Conquer Cancer. She has served as executive producer on award winning films for capital campaigns, PSAs, and national DRTV. A sought-after keynote speaker, she helps organizations raise millions by aligning storytelling with integrity, dignity, and donor trust.

Matthew Sutton, CFRE, is a dynamic nonprofit leader with a proven track record of generating over $1M in net new revenue through innovative corporate partnerships. As Director of Corporate Partnerships at United Way of Greater Atlanta, he leads strategic initiatives that drive community impact, including pioneering programs for underrepresented entrepreneurs. With deep expertise in fundraising, investor relations, and stakeholder engagement, Matthew excels at cultivating high-value relationships that fuel mission-driven growth. Recognized as a Young Non-profit Professionals Network (YNPN) 30 Under 30 honoree and the current executive chair of the YNPN Atlanta board, he leads with passion, creativity, and measurable results.

Elizabeth Swander is a Product Management Director at Salesforce, where she leads product strategy for fundraising and volunteer management and drives innovation to deliver impactful enterprise solutions at Agentforce Nonprofit. She brings a uniquely mission-driven perspective shaped by experience across
nonprofits, higher education, and ed tech. Known for cross-functional leadership and a proven ability to align customer needs with business outcomes, Elizabeth is passionate about delivering technology that drives meaningful impact for nonprofit organizations.

Lawrence Swiader has spent his career studying the intersection of technology, media, and education in service of how it improves people's lives. Currently, as Chief Digital Officer at the American Battlefield Trust he oversees all aspects of Trust's digital presence in support of protecting battlefields and informing the public about the vital role these battlefields played in determining the course of our nation’s history.