Creating the Chemistry to Grow Your Endowment
Presenters: Nicholas Cintineo, CFA, CIPM - Manning & Napier, Senior Investment Consultant and Endowment Foundation Service Lead, and Marc Misiurewicz - Empreinte Consulting, CEO
Moderated by Nicole Kingsley Brunner - Manning & Napier, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer

Hack Your Fundraising: Tech Tips, Tricks, and Productivity Hacks That Wow (Traditional Presentation)
Presenters: Sami Sheehan, CFRE - Rochester Regional Health, Associate Director of Annual Giving, and Ryan Hyde - RLH Data, Owner/Founder

Fundraising and data management can feel overwhelming, but what if it didn’t have to be? Join two tech-savvy nonprofit professionals—Sami Sheehan, CFRE, a fundraiser who thrives on creative solutions, and Ryan Hyde, a Raiser's Edge guru and tech expert—for a dynamic session packed with practical hacks and insider tips to make your job easier, no matter your tools or tech skills. From Outlook, Gmail, and Microsoft Office to ChatGPT and Raiser's Edge, we’ll share time-saving strategies, lesser-known features, and clever solutions for every level of expertise. Whether you’re a fundraiser, data manager, or nonprofit professional, this session will teach you how to work smarter, not harder. Expect real-life examples, actionable takeaways, and a healthy dose of banter. No matter your role, you'll leave with powerful tools and tips to simplify your day-to-day and amplify your impact.

Resilience in the Face of Change: Navigating Philanthropy in a Shifting Political Landscape
Presenter: Birgit Smith Burton, CEO of AADO and former Chair of the AFP Global Board

Many fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, executive directors, boards, and even donors are feeling unsettled by the rapidly shifting political landscape and its impact on our organizations. 

The uncertainty surrounding the future of funding can be overwhelming, but resilience and adaptability are essential to navigating these turbulent times. There is hope, and there are actionable strategies to help guide us forward.

Balancing the need to keep progressing while protecting your organization’s interests can feel daunting. In my keynote, I’ll share practical tips and strategies that will inspire hope, offer clarity, and—yes—bring a smile to your face. I’m excited to provide insights that will empower you as you continue to lead and create meaningful change. Because these challenges are constantly evolving, this keynote will focus on the most pressing issues facing philanthropy in real-time. Get ready to discover that there is hope, and together, we can navigate these uncertain times.

The Accidental Fundraiser
Presenter: Birgit Smith Burton, CEO of AADO and former Chair of the AFP Global Board

Whether you’re just beginning your fundraising journey or have been at it for years, it can sometimes feel like uncharted waters—especially if it wasn’t the career path you originally envisioned. But here’s the truth: you’re not alone. Many successful fundraisers have walked that uncertain road, and in my session, I’ll share practical advice to help you navigate the highs and lows of the field, conquer imposter syndrome, and build confidence or recharge your passion for your role. No matter where you are in your career, I promise I have something for you.

I’ll offer valuable insights to guide you through those tough days when you find yourself wondering, “What was I thinking?!” Expect a blend of humor, inspiration, and a few emotional moments as I share personal stories from my own journey—stories that might help you reflect on your own path. I’ll also share one unforgettable moment when, after a standing ovation in front of 300 people, I was left speechless by a question I could not answer. Plus, I'll tell you about the powerful encouragement Justine Guarini, the first American Idol runner-up, gave me during a chance encounter on one of my most challenging days last year—a moment that reaffirmed why I chose this profession in the first place. Wherever you are in your fundraising career, there’s always something new to learn, and I’m excited to be part of your journey!

From Passive to Powerful: Transforming Your Board into Strategic Champions
Presenters: Christina Gullo, MBA, SHRM-SCP, MSW - True North Executive Solutions, Owner, Partner, and Gerianne Puskas, MBA, CNPM, CFRE - Mission Advancement Group, LLC, President & CEO

Join seasoned C-suite leaders Christina Gullo and Gerianne Puskas as they share insights from their combined 25 years of executive experience, including six years as CEO and Chief Advancement Officer partners. Drawing from research on board-executive dynamics and their own leadership journey, they'll reveal how to transform your board from passive listeners into engaged advocates. Learn practical strategies for role clarity, strategic alignment, and succession planning that create a more effective governance structure. This session will provide actionable frameworks for board recruitment, transparency initiatives, and cultural development that have proven successful in their organizations. Whether you're struggling with board engagement or seeking to enhance existing dynamics, you'll leave with concrete tools to elevate your board's impact and efficiency.

Hitting A Home Run With Your Annual Fundraising Plan
Presenter: Jeff Bagel, CFRE - eAdvancement Consulting, Managing Principal

This session will help you explore ways to make your Annual Fundraising Plan better (or create your first), so it becomes part of your everyday work. Whether it’s goal setting, unrealistic expectations, or you’re just too darn busy to slow down and look at it, there are ways to strengthen your plan, use your plan and ultimately, make your work life easier.

Online Communities: Building, Engaging, and Fundraising in the Digital Age
Presenter: Helena (Lane) Buttons - Vibrant Emotional Health, Online Fundraising Specialist

Online communities are reshaping the way organizations connect with supporters, share their missions, and generate essential funding. This workshop will explore the power of online communities as a bridge to overcome geographic barriers, foster engagement, and drive impactful fundraising. Participants will gain actionable insights into what online communities look like across channels such as Facebook, email, P2P fundraising sites, and livestream platforms.

We’ll discuss how to build and maintain these spaces, and how to transform these communities into sustainable revenue streams. Using real-world examples and practical tips, this workshop will equip participants with the knowledge to create thriving online communities that amplify their mission and maximize impact. Join us to reimagine fundraising in the digital age!

Successful Special Events are not "Un-obtainium"
Presenter: Kalley Clausen - American Fundraising Foundation (AmFund), Director of Strategic Initiatives

The American Fundraising Foundation presents a session that will streamline the special event planning process and provide a “health check” for your organization’s current annual events. This jam-packed workshop will explore the elements critical to executing successful fundraising experiences that keep donors engaged and moving through your organization’s donor stewardship matrix. Workshop participants will leave with solutions ready for immediate implementation to solve problems such as; how to increase event revenue, how to increase attendee engagement, and how to grow your event through a hybrid format.

*Chemistry puns included*

The Future Formula for Grant Fundraising
Presenter: Pamela Ayers, MSW - Empreinte Consulting, Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Fundraising is changing fast—are you keeping up? In this electrifying session, we’ll mix the latest trends, smart tech, and real-world fundraising strategies into a winning formula for success. You’ll discover how AI can streamline grant-seeking, how Gen Z and crypto are shaking up philanthropy, and how to craft proposals that stand out in 2025 and beyond. Expect fast-paced insights, practical takeaways, and a little creative chemistry to help you future-proof your fundraising. If you want to raise more money, work smarter (not harder), and stay ahead of the curve, this is the session for you!

Top off your Beaker as a Public Speaker!
Presenter: Thomas H. DeRoller, Jr. - CDS Wolf Foundation, Retired Executive Director, and Pocket Squared Men's Fashion Accessories and Image Consulting, Owner

All of us in the fundraising and advancement space need to have and constantly improve our public speaking skills. These skills are required for 1/1 donor conversations, workshop/seminar presentations, Board of Director reports, management meetings and media interviews.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Thomas Fundraising Solutions, all presenters are able to attend the conference and share their innovative insights for free!

Risky Experiments: Safety Goggles Required Past This Point
Presenter: Edwine Danforth "Dana" Kimberly - Danforth Development, President and Founder

What are the elements of partnerships that ensure success in fundraising? Learn how to create equitable partnerships that minimize risk in this session featuring real life stories.  Four non-profit partnerships, and the lessons learned from each, will be explored.  Learn how to raise more through collaboration while mitigating risk.

Unauthorized Experiments – A leadership gift donor requests your organization partner with a competing non-profit, to unify the programs. The mutual efficiencies look great on paper.  Good Chemistry or A Blow Up Waiting to Happen?

Do Not Work Alone with Hazardous Materials – Harnessing the power of AI and wealth screening data, you make a big donor ask with a non-profit partner. Everything goes well. Until you find out what your partner received compared to what you did. Was the data incorrect? Donor data: trust but verify.

Power Imbalances – Your new corporate partner is pushing hard, setting ever higher goals while demanding A+ results and timelines.  Your non-profit leaders are committed to maintaining tradition and focusing on integrity.  Can this misaligned partnership possibly work?

Are you in A Situationship with Federal Funding? – Your organization is federally funded but you are not sure where you stand.  You do not feel valued in a message on Monday but Thursday they send an amazing message explaining everything is fine.  You want to trust, but should you? Learn how to diversify income sources through partnerships: “the healthy way out” of any funding situationship.

The happy hour reception is open to all attendees. Each attendee will receive a complimentary drink ticket and appetizers will be served.

The Networking and Happy Hour was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Al Sigl!