Philanthropy Institute

Thursday, July 13, 2023, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM ET

Join us for Philanthropy Institute 2023—Thursday, July 13 at the AB Tech Conference Center.

Philanthropy Institute is a day of learning and connecting with other nonprofit Executive Directors, Development staff and volunteers in Western North Carolina. This is a great opportunity for professional development and networking, featuring a keynote presentation by Allison Fine, AI and the Future of Fundraising, and three sessions of workshops offered by prominent nonprofit leaders on a range of relevant topics.

Schedule:

Registration — Check-in, Headshots, Networking, Coffee and tea available 8:00 AM

Opening Remarks  8:45 AM

Session 1 Workshops 9:15 – 10:15 AM

Session 2 Workshops 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Self Care Breakout Session 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Lunch and Raffle – 12:15 – 12:45 PM

Keynote Address – Allison Fine, AI and the Future of Fundraising 12:45 – 1:45 PM

Session 3 Workshops and Wrap Up 2:00 – 3:05 PM

Workshop Sessions:

War on Talent

Focus: Staff Culture/Human Resources

Jane Brody, Stephanie Lee, Karl Nelson, & Kevin Young

Every time an employee leaves a job vacancy, it creates a void and drain on your current team.

In this panel session, you’ll identify strategies to recruit and train staff; learn the benefits of a culture of purposeful living and a staff-centric environment that works for you, your organization and your clients; and build systems were staff receive effective evaluations and feedback to foster a connection to your organization.

Finding Your Funding Spark

Focus: Fundraising

Coryn Harris

Does your board expect you to chase down every revenue source – corporate, foundation, individual, and government? Fundraising, despite it’s critical place in any nonprofit, remains a challenge and a burden to many organizations. In a fun and interactive session that will include group work, improvised conversations, and opportunities to share experiences, participants will gain a stronger understanding of the best path to fundraising success.

Accelerating Your Culture of Philanthropy

Focus: Fundraising for Program Staff

Jessica Frantz, CFRE

If a decade of “donors down, dollars up” has taught us one thing, it’s that we have to get the most out of everything. That includes getting every team member bought into a culture of philanthropy and maximizing every donor relationship.
Established fundraisers and coworkers with substantially different experiences and perspectives are comprising our nonprofit workplaces. In this session, we’ll focus on getting beyond rehashing generational differences and focus on how we unify around donor service and our shared desire to making a difference.

Three Ways to Advance Your Fundraising Leadership

Focus:      Leadership/Personal Development

Patton McDowell, CFRE

Looking for ideas to build your leadership skills, as well as those of your team? Many fundraisers don’t receive all of the coaching and professional development they need to advance toward their individual and organizational goals. Patton will offer insights to help you advance along “Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.” You’ll leave with a personal leadership plan and vision framework for the next five years, self-assessment tools to evaluate skills, and a targeted plan to enhance your strategic network.

Social Change Philanthropy: CoThinkking Around Collective Giving & Social Change

Focus: Grassroots/Collective Giving

Sekou Coleman, Karis Roberts, & Tracey Washington

CoThinkk team members will share their experience of CoThinking and seeking liberation through the movement of social change philanthropy, collective giving, and what local organizations can do to show up in solidarity with communities they work alongside as “co-conspirators.”

How to Make ESG Work for Your Nonprofit

Focus: Corporate Giving

Josh Jacobson

The term ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) has shown up in the media a lot lately, but few people understand what it means or how it relates to their organization. In this presentation, social impact company Next Stage will share their findings from 3+ years of research on the changing world of corporate social responsibility, outlining how “the ESG paradigm shift” will impact WNC nonprofits going forward. You will see recent case studies and learn tangible ways your nonprofit can be proactive in forging new resource-driven partnerships with the private sector – including companies in Western North Carolina.

AI and the Future of Fundraising

Allison Fine

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to help fundraisers pivot from transactional to relational models of fundraising. But, only for people who understand what the technology is and does, otherwise, it will supersize our already frantic era of busyness. Using AI well for fundraising will create a new era of increased donor engagement and retention, and less burnout for development professionals.

Major Gifts Panel

Focus: Fundraising/Major Gifts

John Chastain; Alex Comfort, CFRE; Amanda Edwards, CFRE; Stephanie Swepson Twitty; Heather Wingert

What’s keeping your nonprofit’s major gift strategy from reaching its full potential? Do you even have a major gift strategy? Listen to this panel of nonprofit professionals as they share their experiences with major gift fundraising and learn how you can focus on the right donors to support your nonprofit’s mission through the science of persuasion and the art of storytelling.

Self Care Breakout Sessions:

Yoga For Your Office:

Allison Jordan is a registered yoga teacher and meditation teacher who also served as a nonprofit professional in the community for 11 years. She’ll share her experiences about self-care, then help participants learn how to center themselves and practice some business-attire friendly yoga and power poses.

Campus Walk:

Join Amanda Bryan, Annual & Legacy Gifts Coordinator with the A-B Tech Foundation, on a half mile walk through the campus, complete with a beautiful, scenic view! Unfortunately, this walk is not ADA accessible.

All nonprofit leaders are encouraged to register for this timely and thought-provoking event, so relevant to our work as nonprofit and philanthropic leaders in the communities that we serve.

Scholarships

Our Chapter will be offering scholarship support for up to six AFP members and non-members to attend this year’s Philanthropy Institute. To be considered for a scholarship, you must complete an application by July 2nd.

Vendors

If you are interested in hosting a display table for your company or organization, we offer a limited number of vendor tables for $100 each (includes a 6 foot table, chair, WiFi and lunch for one person — program registration is additional). For more information, contact Kate Frost: institute@afpwnc.org.

Keynote | Allison Fine

AI and the Future of Fundraising

Philanthropy Institute offers a great line-up of ten professional development workshops covering a range of relevant topics for fundraising professionals, executive directors, nonprofit board and philanthropy leaders.

For more information, contact Kate Frost, Philanthropy Institute Chair at institute@afpwnc.org.

View the 2022 Program

Philanthropy Institute John Gile Scholarship

Philanthropy Institute Cancellation Policy

Refunds and/or credits are not available for or applied to Philanthropy Institute or National Philanthropy Day. If payment is ‘pending at the door’ and an attendee is unable to attend, an invoice will be emailed following the program.