Leadership Gift Officer Workshop
February 15, 2024 11:00am-4:30pm ET
Overview
The role of a gift officer is to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership donors on behalf of your institution. One of the best ways to do this is through individual meetings (both virtual and in-person) with prospects and donors. Understanding your role, and knowing what to do before, during and after a meeting, will not only help you to engage prospects in more productive conversations, but it will help to strengthen relationships, raise sights, and secure increasing levels of support for years to come.
Join us on Thursday, February 15th for an interactive online workshop and learn how to use virtual and in-person techniques to become a highly productive leadership gift officer in an increasingly digital world.
Participants will have an opportunity to:
- Discover the most effective techniques in frontline fundraising today.
- Participate in skill-building exercises and focused small-group discussions
- Hear from experts and peers about their experiences, challenges, and successes
- Obtain workshop handouts and other materials
- Earn CFRE credit
- And more!
This event is ideal for new and more experienced gift officers who wish to improve their ability to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors more effectively.
- AGN Members save an additional 40%
- Receive further discounts when registering multiple attendees from one institution
- Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.
Program
(all times are EDT)
Welcome
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM Eastern Time (15 min)
Get an overview of the program and what you can expect from the day.
Understanding Your Role/Preparing for Meetings
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM Eastern Time (30 min)
Develop an appreciation for the role of leadership gift officers, the importance of meeting with prospects, and how to get prepared.
Assignment 1
11:45 AM - 11:50 AM Eastern Time (5 min)
Complete an exercise on your own while transitioning into your small group.
Planning Your Work (Small Groups)
11:50 AM - 12:45 PM Eastern Time (55 min)
Discover how other gift officers set goals, approach their work, and deal with challenges.
Break
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern Time (15 min)
Take time to rest, get a snack, check email, etc.
Meeting with Prospects
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Eastern Time (30 min)
Learn how to conduct successful meetings with prospects and donors.
Assignment 2
1:30 PM - 1:35 PM Eastern Time (5 min)
Complete an exercise on your own while transitioning into your small group.
Making the Ask (Small Groups)
1:35 PM - 2:45 PM Eastern Time (70 min)
Practice soliciting leadership gifts by doing role play with peers.
Break
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM Eastern Time (30 min)
Take a little time to rest, get a snack, check email, etc.
Following Up
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time (15 min)
Find out what to do after a meeting to keep prospects and donors engaged.
Assignment 3
3:30 PM - 3:35 PM Eastern Time (5 min)
Complete an exercise on your own while you’re transitioning into your small group.
Stewarding Leadership Donors (Small Groups)
3:35 PM - 4:15 PM Eastern Time (40 min)
Learn how to view the giving experience from your donor’s perspective.
Bringing It All Together
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM Eastern Time
Hear key takeaways and words of advice from the workshop’s expert faculty.
*Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.
Faculty
Meredith Johnston
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MeredithJohnston-300x300.jpg)
With over 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Meredith has led programs at Scripps Research, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, and Oklahoma State University. Her other experience includes leading teams through change, developing and leading comprehensive campaigns, and building strong teams while nurturing talent. She holds a B.A. in Literature from the University of North Texas.
Greg Knedler
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GregKnedler_Headshot_Square-300x300.jpeg)
With more than 25 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Greg has led programs at Troy University, the Air Force Academy Foundation, Georgia State University, and Auburn University. His other experience includes consultant work with K-12 private and charter schools. He holds a B.S in Marketing and an M.Ed. in Marketing Education, both from Auburn University.
Courtney Contreras
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CourtneyContreras_Headshot_Square-300x300.jpeg)
With more than 15 years of experience in leadership giving and annual giving, Courtney Contreras has led programs at the University of Arizona and the University of Arizona Foundation. She has managed frontline leadership giving officers and donor recognition programs, as well as the athletics annual giving program. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.A. in Higher Education from the University of Arizona.
Amanda Davis
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AmandaDavis-300x300.jpeg)
With over 15 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Amanda has led programs at The University of Oklahoma Foundation, Oklahoma State University Foundation, Oklahoma City University, University of Missouri - Kansas City, and the University of New Orleans. Her other experience includes work with American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter. She holds B.A. in English and Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an M.P.A. from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.
Mae Parker
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MaeParker_Headshot.jpeg)
With more than 15 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Mae has led programs at Grinnell College and Earlham College, and is a past Co-Chair for STAFF (Sharing the Annual Fund Fundamentals). Mae holds a B.A. in Business and Nonprofit Management from Earlham College and an M.A. in Executive Development for Public Service from Ball State University. She also received a Certificate in Fundraising Management from The Fund Raising School at Indiana University.
Michael O'Brien
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Mike-OBrien-square.jpg)
With over 13 years experience in annual giving and alumni affairs, Michael O’Brien has led programs at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School ("BB&N") and Boston College High School. Michael’s other experience includes admissions, teaching, college counseling and international programs prior to working in development. Mike holds degrees from Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Hobart & William Smith Colleges where he was a four-year member and team captain of Hobart’s lacrosse team.
Josh Nay
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JoshuaNay-cropped-300x300.jpeg)
Erin Glidden
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ErinGlidden_Headshot-300x300.jpeg)
With more than 15 years of experience in fundraising and development, Erin Glidden responsible for providing analysis of the intuition’s donor base and pipeline. She has led programs at the South Dakota State University Foundation and the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Her other experience includes marketing and sports communication. She holds a B.B.A. and a certificate in entrepreneurship and marketing management from The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.
Kristen Fitzgerald
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/KristenFitzgerald_Headshot_Square-300x300.jpeg)
With more than 11 years of experience in higher education fundraising, Kristen Fitzgerald has worked in leadership annual giving at Fairfield University. She oversees a robust portfolio focused on supporting pipeline identification, donor stewardship, and growing the Fairfield Fund. Her other experience includes a decade of working in business development in the beauty industry. She has a B.S. in Marketing and Management from Fairfield University.
Amanda Nugent
![](https://www.annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AmandaNugent_Headshot_Square-300x300.jpeg)
With more than 10 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Amanda has led programs at Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, and the George Washington University. She holds a B.S. in Business Marketing and Management from the University of Delaware and an M.P.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Georgetown University.
Dan Allenby | Principal & Founder at Annual Giving Network
![](https://annualgivingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DanAllenby_Headshot_2021-300x288.jpeg)
Leadership Gift Officer Workshop
February 15, 2024, from 11:00am-4:30pm ET (Online)
Please note that each registration is for one attendee only. We offer discounted pricing for multiple attendees from the same organization.
General registration for this event has been closed. To request a special late registration, please email our customer support team at [email protected] or (888) 407-5064.
For more information about this workshop, please contact us at 888.407.5064 or [email protected].