Tracks and Sessions

Explore concepts and techniques in multiple areas of direct marketing and fundraising to help improve your unique skills and gain invaluable insight. Benefit from the industry experience that each professional brings to the learning table.

Learn more about the topics at this year’s Bridge Conference and plan to attend the education tracks that best fit your needs:

TRACK 1 - COMMERCIAL MARKETING TRANSFORMATIONAL STRATEGIES
HOSTED BY:
THE AD CLUB OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON (DC AD CLUB)
CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF DIRECT MARKETING (CADM)
PHILADELPHIA DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION (PDMA)
TUESDAY SPONSOR: PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS

We’re delighted to announce that the scope of this year's conference has been expanded to include our colleagues from the commercial side of the business. This change offers marketers, who have a broad range of experiences and skills, the unique opportunity to exchange ideas and improve best practices across multiple disciplines. Learn how a small investment in market research can give your company or organization a major competitive edge. Learn how top agency executives help their clients develop comprehensive, cutting-edge creative strategies. See how an integrated marketing campaign can complement your direct mail or traditional advertising efforts. All sessions will provide unique insights into the way advertising continues to evolve and influence direct marketing.

TRACK 2 - CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING, CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING

These sources of donations have unique characteristics and challenges, each requiring careful and different strategies for success. Speakers in this track will cover issues ranging from increasing corporate sponsorship opportunities to the use of technology in connecting donors with cause-marketing campaigns. We also will explore the latest trends in foundation fundraising and how to enhance corporate partnerships to stimulate donor giving

TRACK 3A - MESSAGING, BRANDING & COMMUNICATIONS
SPONSOR: EPSILON

Every organization has a unique voice and message. In times of economic challenge, effective communications, a dynamic brand, and cohesive messaging can make a huge impact on the continued health of your organization. These sessions - covering direct mail, online communications, and concise messaging - will teach you fresh, new ideas to help you create your own approach.

TRACK 3B - COMMERCIAL MARKETING ONLINE STRATEGIES
HOSTED BY:
AD CLUB OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON (DC AD CLUB)
CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF DIRECT MARKETING (CADM)
PHILADELPHIA DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION (PDMA)
SPONSOR: BARTON COTTON

With today’s increased emphasis on ROI, many commercial marketers are paying extra attention to their online marketing strategies, including social media, cross-media integration and mobile marketing. The case studies in this Track will show how online marketing has evolved to become a complement to, not a replacement for, traditional direct marketing techniques.

TRACK 4 - DIRECT RESPONSE FUNDRAISING STRATEGY
TUESDAY SPONSOR: CDR FUNDRAISING GROUP
WEDNESDAY SPONSOR: PMG

For this year's conference, the Direct Response Fundraising Strategy track includes a variety of topical sessions with robust content focused on the most requested areas including acquisition, lapsed donors, retention, alternate channels, mid-level giving, modeling/segmentation and the ever popular channel integration. While the sessions will be appropriate for all levels of experience, the content is geared towards a more advanced audience. You will hear from a variety of nonprofits and providers who will team up to share practical experience, insights and whenever possible, provide you with the tools you need to implement their ideas.

TRACK 5 - ONLINE FUNDRAISING, MARKETING & ENGAGEMENT
HOSTED BY:
THE NONPROFIT TECHNOLOGY NETWORK (NTEN)
TUESDAY SPONSOR: LAUTMAN MASKA NEILL AND COMPANY
WEDNESDAY SPONSOR: WATERSHED & SHARE

You've got just six months to optimize your 2010 revenues and engagement! So don't miss this exceptional line-up of direct response experts who will provide you proven, practical strategies for boosting the response of your online and integrated campaigns. Nonprofits and businesses will share best practices and real-life campaign stories. They will offer insights into how to get more money out of your website, what you should be testing online, how to create solid social media strategies, how to better cultivate and convert online prospects - and more. Whether you're responsible for membership, fundraising, advocacy or sales and leads, you'll walk away from this Track with a handful of great, new ideas.

TRACK 6 - FEATURED SPEAKERS
TUESDAY SPONSOR: MINDSET DIRECT
WEDNESDAY SPONSOR: CDR FUNDRAISING GROUP

Back by popular demand! We are proud to feature an exceptional line-up of world-renowned speakers at this year's Bridge Conference. Hear from some prominent leaders from the US, Canada, the UK and France as they share their experience and knowledge in fundraising, development and direct response. These sessions will teach, inspire and change the way you look at our work and the world. Look for these featured speakers in other tracks where they will share more of their expertise to help fundraisers for many years to come.

TRACK 7 - MAJOR GIFTS & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

With the economic situation of the past year unlikely to significantly improve during 2010, the challenges to major gift and capital campaign fundraising are enormous. Even so, there are steps fundraisers and organizations can take to thrive even in challenging times. A clear understanding of current donor psychology can help as can removing silos between major and planned giving, employing strategies for moving donors up the pyramid and focusing on stewarding donors for better times ahead. All are strategies that can help ensure success.

TRACK 8 - LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Fundraising Professionals have to wear several hats. They are leaders and managers in their organizations as well as fundraising experts. They have to communicate and contribute within various areas and departments in order to deliver successful fundraising strategies for their organization. While working through cross-departmental collaboration and working with consultants, fundraisers can be proactive and lead the way for interdependence among teams in their organizations. Join us in the Leadership and Management Track to learn more about strategic resource development planning; building development teams by working independently or with consultants; collaborative marketing and fundraising strategies; creating for learning organizations that are open to change; and continuing professional and personal growth for fundraisers outside of their development roles.

TRACK 9A - PLANNED GIVING
HOSTED BY:
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL GIFT PLANNING COUNCIL (NCGPC)

Who are the planned giving donors of today--and tomorrow? How do we reach them, speak to them, cultivate them, and steward them? This track will help answer these questions and more! In addition to receiving information about the best prospects for bequests, you will learn practical tips for building a planned giving program, hear about the latest marketing techniques, and walk away with cost effective strategies for a strong stewardship program.

TRACK 9B - FAITH BASED FUNDRAISING
SPONSOR: SECKMAN PRINTING

The vast majority of fundraising dollars are directed toward religious organizations. How can religious organizations maximize their fundraising potential? How can non-religious organizations best tap into this highly responsive donor segment, and what lessons do religious organizations have to teach the rest of us about successful fundraising? This track will answer these questions and more. Experienced fundraisers for religious organizations will share what they know about reaching donors, messaging and much more.

TRACK 10 - WIDGETS: A FUNDRAISING TOOLBOX
TUESDAY SPONSORED BY NEWPORT CREATIVE

These sessions will help you master complex, technical issues; compile metrics; and apply the techniques you learn in your overall strategy. From research to analytics, these sessions have all the tools you need to build and report on a successful fundraising program.

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