Workshop: Donor Retention

March 6, 2025 11:30am-4:00pm ET

Overview

Retention is the cornerstone of annual giving. Measured as the number of prior year donors who renew their support, it’s often viewed as an indicator of donor satisfaction. Unfortunately, many organizations view it as one of their biggest challenges. Developing strategies and appeals to increase the number of donors who give consistently from one year to the next will establish a foundation for lifelong donor engagement and lasting philanthropic support.

Join us on Thursday, March 6th, for an interactive online workshop that will provide you with a framework for developing successful donor retention strategies for your annual fund.

Participants will have an opportunity to:

  • Discover the latest trends and best practices in donor retention
  • Meet and get to know colleagues from other institutions
  • Find out how other organizations approach their work
  • View and discuss real examples, issues, and ideas
  • Examine your own efforts and identify opportunities for improvement
  • Obtain tools, templates, and other materials
  • And more!

This event is ideal for advancement professionals at educational institutions who wish to learn more about donor retention.

  • Save $250 when you register by Friday, January 31st
  • AGN Members save an additional 40%
  • Receive further discounts when registering multiple attendees from one institution

Program

(all times are EDT)

11:20am - Sign-In Begins

11:30am - Welcome

Meet the faculty, get an overview of the program.

11:45am - General Session 

Learn the fundamentals of donor retention

12:45pm - Assignment/Break

Take time to complete a short assignment, rest, get a snack, check email, etc.

1:00pm - Issues & Opportunities

Meet peers from other institutions, identify challenges and potential growth areas, and discuss actionable strategies to run a successful donor retention program.

2:15pm - Break 

Take a little time to rest, get a snack, check email, etc.

2:30pm - Show & Tell

Share and analyze real donor retention examples and stories with other members of your group.

3:45pm - Bringing It All Together 

Hear key takeaways, lessons learned, and words of advice from the workshop’s expert faculty.

4:00pm - Workshop Ends

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

Faculty

Dan Allenby  (Host) |  President & Founder at Annual Giving Network

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.

Meredith Johnston

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.

 

Megan Rajski

Megan has led annual giving and donor participation programs at Fairfield University and the University of Chicago. Her other experience includes work in admissions and direct marketing. She holds a B.F.A. in Communications from Valparaiso University and an M.B.A. from University of Phoenix.

 

 

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