Leadership Gift Officer Workshop

September 19, 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, September 19th 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.

What you'll Discover

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.

Save $250 when you register by Friday, August 9th
AGN Members save an additional 40%
Receive further discounts when registering multiple attendees from one institution

Program

(all times are EDT)

Welcome/Overview of the Day (15min)
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM Eastern Time
Get an overview of the program and what you can expect from the day.

General Session - Understanding Your Role/Preparing for Meetings (30min)
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM Eastern Time
Develop an appreciation for the role of leadership gift officers, the importance of meeting with prospects, and how to get prepared.

Transition/Assignment (5min)
11:45 AM - 11:50 AM Eastern Time
Complete an exercise on your own while transitioning into your small group.

Small Groups - Planning Your Work (55min)
11:50 AM - 12:45 PM Eastern Time
Discover how other gift officers set goals, approach their work, and deal with challenges.

Break (15min)
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern Time

General Session: Meeting with Prospects (30min)
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Eastern Time
Learn how to conduct successful meetings with prospects and donors.

Transition/Assignment (5min)
1:30 PM - 1:35 PM Eastern Time
Complete an exercise on your own while transitioning into your small group.

Small Groups - Making the Ask (70 min)
1:35 PM - 2:45 PM Eastern Time
Practice soliciting leadership gifts by doing role play with peers.

Break (30min)
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM Eastern Time

General Session: Following Up After Meetings (15min)
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Find out what to do after a meeting to keep prospects and donors engaged.

Transition/Assignment (5min)
3:30 PM - 3:35 PM Eastern Time (5 min)
Complete an exercise on your own while you’re transitioning into your small group.

Small Groups - Stewarding Leadership Donors (40min)
3:35 PM - 4:15 PM Eastern Time (40 min)
Learn how to view the giving experience from your donor’s perspective.

Wrap-up/Bringing It All Together (15min)
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM Eastern Time
Hear key takeaways and words of advice from the workshop’s expert faculty.

Adjourn
4:30 PM Eastern Time

*Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.

Faculty

Dan Allenby

Dan is an author, speaker, and consultant who has worked with educational institutions for more than 25 years to improve their fundraising results. An internationally recognized expert on annual giving, he is a CASE Laureate and recipient of the prestigious Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. His book Ideas for Annual Giving offers designs for helping organizations increase their levels of sustainable philanthropic support. Dan has led annual giving and membership programs at Boston University, Tufts University, Georgetown University, and the National Geographic Society. He also served on the faculty for CASE’s Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising and chaired its Senior Annual Giving Professionals Conference and Annual Giving Workshop for five collective terms. He holds a B.A. in History from James Madison University and a M.B.A. from Boston College. Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, writing songs, and getting away to the beaches of Cape Cod. His philosophy is that success comes from focusing on what’s right in front of you.

Greg Knedler

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.

Meredith Johnston

Meredith has over 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Vice President of Philanthropy at Scripps Research, and has previously led programs at 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.

Mae Parker

Mae has more than 18 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Mae Parker serves as Executive Director of Development, College of Education at the University of Iowa. She previously led programs at Grinnell College and Earlham College. 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 received a Certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University.

For more information about this workshop, please contact us at 888.407.5064 or [email protected].