Pre-Conference Workshop Descriptions

Kick off Bridge with our Pre-Conference Workshops on Wednesday, July 29, offered as immersive full-day and half-day learning experiences designed to dive deeper into key topics before the main conference begins. We’re offering three full-day workshops (10:00 AM–4:00 PM) and two half-day workshops (1:00–4:00 PM).

These workshops take place prior to the conference and require a separate registration in addition to your conference pass. You can explore workshop topics and details on the website, with pricing available on the Registration Rates page. Seating is limited, so we encourage you to register early to secure your spot.

Wed, 7/29
1pm – 4pm

From One-Time Gifts to Lifelong Relationships: The Art and Science of Sustainer Program
Presenters: Kim Richardson – AVP, Client Strategy, Allegiance Group + Pursuant (AGP) RuthAnn Clark – Director of Annual Giving, Washington National Cathedral

Sustainer, monthly or recurring giving isn’t a trend — it’s a transformation. In an era of unpredictable revenue and shifting donor behavior, a well-built recurring giving program can provide the stability and loyalty every organization needs to thrive.

In this fast-paced session, Kim Richardson and Amy Reynolds will unpack how to build or scale a high-performing recurring giving program that moves donors from one-time gifts to lifelong advocates. Blending creative storytelling with data-driven strategy, they’ll show how the art and science of fundraising come together to create sustainable success.

Drawing on real-world examples and measurable results, Kim and Amy will present alongside RuthAnn Clark, the Director of Annual Giving from Washington National Cathedral. Together, they’ll guide participants through the full recurring donor lifecycle — from identifying the right prospects and quantifying impact to executing omnichannel recruitment campaigns, strengthening retention through thoughtful stewardship, and reactivating lapsed sustainers. You’ll learn how to apply proven techniques that drive results, including how recurring donor retention can rise above 80% in the first year and how to leverage behavioral and emotional drivers to inspire deeper giving.

Attendees will leave with actionable tools and templates:

  1. A 90-day roadmap for launching or optimizing a recurring program
  2. Segmentation rules to identify high-potential recurring donors
  3. Key performance indicators to prove ROI and earn leadership buy-in

This session is designed for mid- and senior-level fundraising professionals, digital and CRM leaders, and anyone eager to turn inconsistent giving into reliable, mission-fueling support. Expect a mix of inspiration and hands-on tactics you can implement as soon as you return to your organization.

Learning Objectives:

  • By attending this session participants will learn how to implement a 90-day roadmap for launching or optimizing a recurring program.
  • By attending this session participants will learn segmentation rules to identify high-potential recurring donors.
  • By attending this session participants will learn key performance indicators to prove ROI and earn leadership buy-in for your sustainer programs.

Wed, 7/29
1pm – 4pm

Not Just Another AI Talk: Build Custom Agents That Actually Save You Time
Presenter: Todd Bemis – VP, Client Innovation, TLC; Bill Simmons – President & CEO, Hope Rises International

You’ve probably used ChatGPT or Claude. You type a question, get an answer, and move on. But what if that AI could remember your organization’s voice, automatically draft your weekly social posts, or review every appeal letter against fundraising best practices—without you asking it each time?

Welcome to AI agents: your always-on, never-complaining digital assistant that handles the repetitive stuff so you can focus on strategy and creativity.
This session demystifies AI agents and shows you exactly how to build them—no coding, no technical degree, just clear instructions and a little setup time. Think of agents as “smart templates on steroids” that learn your preferences, remember your brand guidelines, and tackle specific tasks you’re tired of doing manually.

We’ll explore real nonprofit examples: the Thank You Note Assistant that personalizes donor acknowledgments in minutes. The Social Media Adapter that transforms your blog posts into platform-specific content. The Campaign Brief Generator that remembers what worked last time. The Appeal Reviewer that catches weak calls-to-action before you send.

You’ll watch as we build a simple agent together, live. You’ll see exactly what to tell it, what documents to feed it, and how to test and refine it. No mystery, no magic—just practical steps you can replicate next week.

We’ll also address the concerns keeping you up at night: donor privacy, quality control, whether this is “cheating,” and how to convince your skeptical colleagues that agents are tools, not threats.

Leave with instruction templates for five ready-to-build agents, a clear understanding of what agents can (and can’t) do, and the confidence to create your first digital assistant within days. Whether you’re drowning in social media scheduling, appeal drafting, or thank you note backlogs, there’s an agent waiting to help.

Learning Objectives:

  • A practical framework for identifying which tasks to automate – Learn to spot the repetitive, time-consuming work in your role that’s perfect for AI agents, plus a decision tree for prioritizing which agent to build first based on maximum time savings and ease of implementation.
  • Leave with ready-to-use templates for five common nonprofit agents (including exact instructions and knowledge base requirements), plus a demonstration showing you the actual build process so there’s no guesswork.
  • Understand the natural progression from simple single-task agents to sophisticated multi-step assistants, so you know what’s possible as you get comfortable and can envision how agents evolve with your organization’s needs.

Wed, 7/29
10am – 4pm

Building Blocks of Loyalty: A Hands-On Lab for Sustained Giving Strategy
Presenters: Tim Sarrantonio, CNP – Chair, Fundraising Effectiveness Project

Sustainer programs aren’t just revenue engines — they’re identity ecosystems. In this immersive, half-day lab, participants will discover how design thinking, brand archetypes, and ethically applied artificial intelligence can transform monthly giving into a movement that lasts.

Through a mix of hands-on LEGO-based activities, archetype mapping, and guided AI prompts, you’ll learn to visualize what truly drives your supporters to stay. Using the Generosity Road Trip framework, each organization will build a tangible model of their core sustainer identity — then translate that insight into campaign language, branding strategy, and retention experiences that reflect the heart of their community.

The session integrates principles from Fundraising.AI’s Ethical Framework, connecting creative human insight with responsible data use. You’ll experiment with AI tools that enhance, not replace, human empathy — turning generative systems into co-design partners for brainstorming supporter journeys, segment messaging, and testing value propositions. The goal: to help you craft a monthly giving program that is data-informed, emotionally intelligent, and immediately actionable.

Participants will leave with:

A completed “Supporter Journey Map” and “Brand Archetype Canvas” for their sustainer audience.

Ethical AI prompt templates that can be adapted to future campaign planning.

A replicable workshop model to facilitate with their own teams or partners.

Expect equal parts, creativity and clarity: this is not another panel on technology, but a shared studio where human generosity and machine intelligence learn to play together. Come ready to build, imagine, and rethink what sustained giving can be.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will learn how to apply design thinking and brand archetypes to craft supporter experiences that drive sustained giving. They will leave with practical frameworks to visualize donor motivations, align messaging with identity, and create campaigns that deepen emotional connection and long-term loyalty.
  • Attendees will experiment with ethical AI as a creative collaborator, discovering how to generate ideas, test messaging, and segment audiences without compromising authenticity or equity. They will gain adaptable AI prompt templates and ethical guidelines that make advanced technology approachable, transparent, and human-centered in fundraising strategy.
  • Participants will engage in hands-on, game-based exercises that translate directly into their organization’s monthly giving strategy. By combining play, collaboration, and structured reflection, they’ll leave with a complete, ready-to-implement roadmap to grow sustainer programs using inclusive, data-informed, and design-driven approaches.

Wed, 7/29
10am – 4pm

Copywriting Clinic for Direct Response Fundraisers
Presenter: Victoria Viera – Vice President, Lautman Maska Neill & Company; Jordanna Sussman – Vice President, Lautman Maska Neill & Company

Great fundraising copy is both an art and a science. In this information-packed pre-conference workshop, attendees will learn everything they need to know to craft, edit or direct the creation of winning fundraising copy. We’ll start the day by covering the elements of successful on and offline fundraising copy, how to effectively review and edit copy as well as guide lines for crafting ethical fundraising copy. We’ll break into smaller groups to do some copy editing in real time. Then we’ll pivot to specialized copy, focusing on crafting messages for renewals, planned giving, monthly giving and capital campaigns. In the second part of the day, we’ll cover how to work with our fundraising partners. We’ll start with a discussion of how to work with copywriters. Then, we’ll break into groups where those who are working for non-profits can discuss how to best work with their agency partners and how those who work for agencies can best work with their non-profit partners. This workshop will provide knowledge and skills that you can take back to your agency or organization right away to increase the effectiveness of your direct response fundraising copy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Successful elements of good fundraising copy (both DM and digital).
  • How to review and edit copy.
  • How to work with fundraising partners in developing special campaigns.

Wed, 7/29
10am – 4pm

The Board Blueprint: A Workshop on Recruitment, Engagement, and Giving
Presenters: Kris Kuhns – Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising; Natalie Skinner – Managing Director, CCS Fundraising

Boards fulfill a vital role in setting the direction of a nonprofit and providing resources to carry out missions and achieve visions. This full-day workshop will explore the essential responsibilities and roles of nonprofit boards, with a focus on activating board members as strategic fundraising and campaign partners. Through interactive breakout discussions and practical exercises, participants will dive into topics such as board job descriptions, by-laws, engagement criteria, and the importance of diversity in board composition. Special emphasis will be placed on the board’s role in fundraising and campaign success, including how to cultivate a culture of philanthropy and successfully engage, prepare, and activate trustees to support major gift strategies and drive transformational outcomes. Attendees will leave with tools and templates to strengthen board governance, align fundraising efforts, and position their boards for meaningful impact in both annual and campaign fundraising.

Learning Objectives:

  • Examine the latest data and trends in board governance and engagement.
  • Evaluate and refine board operations to improve strategic alignment and fundraising effectiveness.
  • Identify and recruit strong fundraising board members who can meaningfully contribute to development efforts.