Fundraising with Events

• 10:00 – 10:30 - Introductions, ice breaker, and overview of the program
• 10:30 – 11:30 - CFRE (Ann Shackleford)
• 11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch
• 12:00 – 1:00 - Event Planning (Amanda Fontaine)
• 1:00 – 2:30 – Getting the Maximum Value from your Fundraising Events with Panel Discussion - Jennifer Hopping with the American Heart Association and Taylor Hart with the American Cancer Society
• 2:30 – 3:00 – Discussions concerning the project - Questions and Wrap Up

This session explores one important aspect of a fund development plan—special events. What are some of the best practices used to make a special event happen? How do you take your special event to the next level? You will also learn why the CFRE credential is a powerful tool for fundraisers.

Marketing and Social Media Successes

• 10:00 – 10:30 – Ice breaker and discussion of the project
• 10:30 – 11:30 - Motivating the Millennial Donor (Ira Murray)
• 11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch
• 12:00 – 1:00 – Using Social Media Effective in Your Communication Plan (Amber Sukhbaatar and Amanda Wells)
• 1:00 – 2:00 – How to Effectively Tell Your Story (Frontier Strategies)
• 2:00 – 2:30 – Direct mail (Terri Mascagni)

In this session, you will learn essential marketing principles, including how to effectively tell your story and how to utilize direct mail. You will explore how to make the most of your social media

and will also learn how to motivate the millennial donor, which is essential today. This session concludes with suggestions on how to effectively tell your story.

Creating Campaigns

• 10:00 – 10:30 – Ice breaker and discussion of project
• 10:30 – 11:30 – Capital Campaigns (Derek Alley)
• 11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch
• 12:00 – 1:00 – Annual Campaigns (Suzanne Thigpen and George Bassi)
• 1:00 – 2:00 – Planned Giving (Suzanne Thigpen and George Bassi)
• 2:00 – 3:00 – Writing a Fundraising Plan (Amanda Fontaine)

This session is packed with best practices for annual campaigns, capital campaigns, and planned giving. You will then utilize this knowledge when discussing how to write your own fundraising plan, which is essential for the sustainability of a nonprofit.

Capital Day

• 10:00 – 10:30 – Ice breaker and discussion of project
• 10:30 – 11:00 - Advocacy vs Lobbying and Why Government Relations is Important for Nonprofits (Mary Ellen)
• 11:00 – 11:30 – How to Plan a Capital Day (Amanda Fontaine)
• 11:30 – 12:30 – Lunch and travel to the Capitol
• 12:30 – 2:00 - Capitol Tour, Introductions in Chamber, and Group Photo
• 2:00 – 3:00 – Secretary of State Examination Training

This exciting session will begin with a discussion concerning advocacy vs. lobbying. What is the difference, and why are government relations important to nonprofits? Participants will then go to the Mississippi Capitol to be introduced to the MS Senate and MS House while also touring and participating in a photo session on the Capitol steps. There will be an opportunity to meet with a representative from the Secretary of State’s office to discuss the charity examination and how to maintain compliance. You will also receive excellent tips on how to plan a Capital Day.

Exploring Grants & Ethics

• 10:00 – 10:30 – Ice breaker and discussion of the project
• 10:30 – 11:30 – Major Gift Proposal Fundraising Letter and Case Statement (Chris Blount)
• 11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch
• 12:00 – 1:30 –Grant Funding From Different Perspectives and Utilizing Grant Data and Measurable Outcomes (Jane Alexander or Melody Moody-Thortis and Jed Oppenheim, someone from Kellogg Foundation)
• 1:30 – 2:30 – Ethics (Charles Lindsay)
• 2:30 – 3:00 – Wrap-Up

In this session, you will explore grant writing. What do foundations really want to know from grant applications? What are the critical aspects of grant writing? How do you write the ultimate fundraising letter and case statement? We will review grantmaking from a funder’s/program officer’s perspective and grant funding from an applicant/grantee's perspective, as well as reviewing grant data and impact. How do you show measurable outcomes, and how do you utilize grants.gov? This session will include a discussion concerning the AFP ethics guidelines, and case studies will be reviewed.

Effective, Fruitful Fundraising: Donors & Collaborative Relationships

• 10:00 – 10:30 – Ice breaker and discussion of project
• 10:30 – 11:30 – Fire Up Your Board about Fundraising (George Bassi)
• 11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch
• 12:00 – 2:00 – Promoting Successful Fundraising Through Effective Stewardship and Donor Management (Crisler Boone)
• 2:00 – 3:00 – Building Cooperative and Collaborative Relationships (Heath Ferguson – Baptist)

This session will include tips for establishing mutually beneficial relationships by acquiring, retaining, and engaging donors. Exceptional nonprofit boards are vital to mission sustainability. Participants will learn how to develop and engage board members and will include ways to increase your board’s participation in fundraising.

Long-Term Project Presentation & End-of-Program Celebration

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Anjou Restaurant
361 Township Ave, Ridgeland, MS 39157