Track 12: Current Issues
Is the “latest thing” worth investigating – or just a fad? Are you missing out on the trends and techniques that could supercharge your revenues? What about the political scene – how will it affect your bottom line? Check out the sessions of the Current Issues track, which focus on today’s greatest challenges and freshest opportunities. - All Sessions Eligible for CFRE Points
THURSDAY (MILITARY ROOM)
Breakout 1: 10:30am – 12:00pm
My Name is not Jane Donor, and other Lessons from the Great American Donor Survey
Description: Capture a current snapshot of donor attitudes, perceptions and habits from the most recent research, seasoned with commentary on the results from leading fundraisers. Hear what donors have to say about why they give they way they do, what they prefer to give to, and why. Find out what your organization can do to encourage them to support your cause, and participate in discussion about how to respond to these findings. This session is based on facts gathered in an exhaustive study of 3,500+ donors conducted in January, 2008 among donors nationwide.
Speakers: Dirk Rinker, President, Campbell Rinker; Sherry Minton, Director of Direct Response, American Heart Association; Steven Miller, Director of Membership and Development, Bread for the World
Breakout 2: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
The Great Debate: The LAST 100 Days
Description: The 2008 presidential election has already raised record sums – over $1 billion and counting – funded by many of the same donors who are already giving to your cause. As we enter the final 100 plus days of Election 2008 – it is the ideal time to look back and look ahead. What experiences of Election 2008 are likely to endure and change the fundraising environment in 2009 and beyond? What long-term impact should fundraisers expect this election to have on their donors and their expectations? How can non-profit fundraisers survive the next 100 days? What changes in strategies in terms of timing, mail volume, new techniques and testing should non-political fundraisers consider in the final days leading up to the November election? What, if any election “hangover” might we anticipate in the non-profit and political donor communities? This panel will be moderated by Kristin McCurry. She will be joined by three leading direct marketing experts on political and non-profit fundraising who will share their experiences and their observations as well as take questions from panel attendees.
Speakers: Charles Pruitt, Partner and Co-Managing Director, A.B. Data Group; Hal Malchow, President, MSHC Partners; Richard Viguerie, Chairman, American Target Advertising; Kristin McCurry, Principal, MINDset Direct; Steve Brown, President, Steve Brown Direct Mail
Breakout 3: 4:00pm – 5:50pm
How Green Are We? The "Green Movement" in Printing and Mailing
Description: The Green Movement is upon us but no single source has taken a close look at the printing and mailing industry and asked the question where have we come? Where are we going when it comes to renewable resources and the environment? I plan to provide a comprehensive overview of the two industries so close to our businesses as to what we they are doing in becoming "Green". Interviews with printing and mailing leaders and technicians will provide that organized insight we all hunger to comprehend. We will learn about inks, paper, energy, machinery and their impact on the earth negative and positive. I will provide graphs, percentages and results of my interviews.
Speaker: George Lizama, President and CEO, Production Solutions
FRIDAY (JEFFERSON WEST ROOM)
Breakout 4: 9:00am – 10:30am
Keep Your Donors: Building Relationships
Description: This workshop explores two essential features of donor-centered organizations: using conversation to nurture relationships, and ways to measure the effectiveness of your relationships. Join this session if you want to get out of the usual rut and increase your donor retention. Only the ambitious should attend.
Speaker: Simone Joyaux, Principal and Owner, Joyaux Associates
Breakout 5: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Brandraising: Securing Share of Mind, Heart and Spirit
Description: The ultimate short guide to branding; a fast moving session packed with new material that will demystify branding and show you how to use key thinking to inspire supporters, connect them to your cause, drive loyalty and make sure your organization stands out from the crowd. Elischer will break down branding to look at creating a total brand experience for people; creating new emotional connection points; creating a reputation for quality, delight and delivery and show how marketers must own and drive the brand of an organization.
Speaker: Tony Elischer, Managing Director, THINK Consulting Solutions
Breakout 6: 3:30pm – 4:45pm
It’s the thought that counts . . . Symbolic Giving Trends in Philanthropy
Description: Charitable gifts are truly the gift that keeps on giving and Boomers and other donors are getting into the act by making symbolic gifts to their charities of choice in the names of family and friends. And whether it’s a memorial/honor gift, a Mother’s Day tribute, or a basket of chicks, symbolic giving is a trend worth exploring for your organization. These gifts have different rules, more constituents to manage, and additional opportunities to market to them in the future. They also respond differently to ongoing giving opportunities than do donors to traditional appeals. This fast paced session will round out your Bridge Conference experience with several case studies from leading organizations. You’ll find out how they are capitalizing on symbolic giving and what challenges they face on this new frontier.
Speakers: Erika Kloehn, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Lisa Scott Benson, Senior Vice President, Strategy Development, Russ Reid; Kristin McCurry, Principal, MINDset Direct
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