Getting your organization grant ready by Autumn Keck (Beginner)
This presentation will guide participants through a grant readiness assessment for their organization. We will review their vital financial documents, staff and board involvement, target populations, budgets and so much more.  Participants will leave with a deep understanding that winning grant funds is much more than grant writing and strategies to become grant ready.

Invisible Lines of Connection - Getting to the Ask without Asking by Ray Merenstein (Intermediate)
Professional fundraisers are used to the linear practice of identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, but what if the focus began with stewardship?  When we truly know are donors and prospects, and when the dots are connected between our mission, vision and values and theirs...magic can happen.  Hear stories of small gifts becoming transformational and simple support becoming lasting legacies.  Couple these with tricks of the trade that will help you uncover new ways of connectivity and stewardship.

Creating meaningful connections in an overconnected world by Amy Wong

There is no question that we’re distracted. In fact, the average person sees and/or receives 4,000-10,000 marketing messages a day. And to make it worse, we’re inundated with email and spam calls, we have countless streaming channels to choose from and are bouncing from app to app on our mobile devices. These are the same distractions that make it hard for us to connect with our donors, volunteers and other constituents. Despite our best efforts, many of these people just aren’t getting our messages in a sea of information and in some cases, misinformation. Organizations that communicate effectively focus on making personal connections and building trust with their constituents. This session will focus on how to create personalized experiences through effective storytelling, education and content, and share the latest relevant communications trends. Best practices in traditional and digital marketing to convey your messages to your audiences will also be discussed. This session is geared toward individuals with marketing and/or fundraising roles.

Growing a Planned Giving Program at Any Stage by Brea Pautsch and Aimee Granger

The presentation will include strategies and guidelines for developing or growing a planned giving program regardless of where your organization's planned giving program is right now. Whether your organization that has no program, a minimal program, or a developed program, this presentation will include ideas to help your organization develop a winning strategy to grow its legacy society and increase awareness of planned giving among your donors.

Pushing Back: Rebuilding a more equitable nonprofit sector by Mazarine Treyz

In a 3 years of COVID world, we are all so tired. There's so much anxiety, grief, hopelessness, and sheer fog to move through, it's a wonder we get anything done.  Pushing back against unrealistic expectations in this season, as we are emerging from COVID.

In this session, we’ll talk about research from Fundraising Effectiveness Project, Canadian Women’s Foundation and Ontario Nonprofit Network. Specifically we’ll look at how to make goals this year,  how the pandemic has disproportionately affected women, and how to push back against unrealistic expectations. 

In this session we'll learn: 
    • Why professionalism is a trap
    • How to push back on coming back into the office
    • Disengaging from identifying with your job 
    • Changing the narrative of how you think about work
    • Figuring out how to leave your job and more.

Getting your organization grant ready by Autumn Keck (Intermediate)
This presentation will guide participants through a grant readiness assessment for their organization. We will review their vital financial documents, staff and board involvement, target populations, budgets and so much more.  Participants will leave with a deep understanding that winning grant funds is much more than grant writing and strategies to become grant ready.

We will also do an overview of a logic model to help organizations understand their theory of change and how to communicate it to funders. Participants will have the opportunity to get started on their logic model, ask questions and receive feedback

Invisible Lines of Connection - Getting to the Ask without Asking by Ray Merenstein (Advanced)
Professional fundraisers are used to the linear practice of identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, but what if the focus began with stewardship?  When we truly know are donors and prospects, and when the dots are connected between our mission, vision and values and theirs...magic can happen.  Hear stories of small gifts becoming transformational and simple support becoming lasting legacies.  Couple these with tricks of the trade that will help you uncover new ways of connectivity and stewardship.

Creating meaningful connections in an overconnected world by Amy Wong

There is no question that we’re distracted. In fact, the average person sees and/or receives 4,000-10,000 marketing messages a day. And to make it worse, we’re inundated with email and spam calls, we have countless streaming channels to choose from and are bouncing from app to app on our mobile devices. These are the same distractions that make it hard for us to connect with our donors, volunteers and other constituents. Despite our best efforts, many of these people just aren’t getting our messages in a sea of information and in some cases, misinformation. Organizations that communicate effectively focus on making personal connections and building trust with their constituents. This session will focus on how to create personalized experiences through effective storytelling, education and content, and share the latest relevant communications trends. Best practices in traditional and digital marketing to convey your messages to your audiences will also be discussed. This session is geared toward individuals with marketing and/or fundraising roles.

Pursuing your CFRE: what you need to know by Marta Weldon
Are you considering becoming a CFRE? Not sure what a CFRE is? This session will give you the chance to hear about what becoming a CFRE can do for your career, the path to certification, and resources available to you. Marta Weldon, recently certified as a CFRE  serves as an Ambassador for CFRE International. During this session you will learn about how to study for the exam, when to study, what books to buy, and more about the practicalities of getting ready for the certification. 

Understand Your Human Design to Hit Your Fundraising Career Goals by Mazarine Treyz

Get a promotion, become better at your career through knowing your design! 

Are you wondering how to hit your goals in your fundraising career?

The more you understand yourself, the more you can come to self mastery, and find satisfying work for you and your team. 

What is Human Design? It's a system that can help you uncover hidden aspects of your personality that can hold you back- or help you move forward with more ease. 

This workshop is for fundraising leaders to learn how to use human design to go deep to find your hidden gifts. 

What you'll take away:
    • A through understanding of your own design and how it could help in your nonprofit
    • Learning how to manifesting your dreams by understanding your human design 
    • How your design might affect others around you
    • Understanding your gifts and your weaknesses, 
    • How to get more prosperity by learning about human design 

Getting your organization grant ready by Autumn Keck (Beginner)
This presentation will guide participants through a grant readiness assessment for their organization. We will review their vital financial documents, staff and board involvement, target populations, budgets and so much more.  Participants will leave with a deep understanding that winning grant funds is much more than grant writing and strategies to become grant ready.

Invisible Lines of Connection - Getting to the Ask without Asking by Ray Merenstein (Intermediate)
Professional fundraisers are used to the linear practice of identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, but what if the focus began with stewardship?  When we truly know are donors and prospects, and when the dots are connected between our mission, vision and values and theirs...magic can happen.  Hear stories of small gifts becoming transformational and simple support becoming lasting legacies.  Couple these with tricks of the trade that will help you uncover new ways of connectivity and stewardship.

Creating meaningful connections in an overconnected world by Amy Wong

There is no question that we’re distracted. In fact, the average person sees and/or receives 4,000-10,000 marketing messages a day. And to make it worse, we’re inundated with email and spam calls, we have countless streaming channels to choose from and are bouncing from app to app on our mobile devices. These are the same distractions that make it hard for us to connect with our donors, volunteers and other constituents. Despite our best efforts, many of these people just aren’t getting our messages in a sea of information and in some cases, misinformation. Organizations that communicate effectively focus on making personal connections and building trust with their constituents. This session will focus on how to create personalized experiences through effective storytelling, education and content, and share the latest relevant communications trends. Best practices in traditional and digital marketing to convey your messages to your audiences will also be discussed. This session is geared toward individuals with marketing and/or fundraising roles.

Growing a Planned Giving Program at Any Stage by Brea Pautsch and Aimee Granger

The presentation will include strategies and guidelines for developing or growing a planned giving program regardless of where your organization's planned giving program is right now. Whether your organization that has no program, a minimal program, or a developed program, this presentation will include ideas to help your organization develop a winning strategy to grow its legacy society and increase awareness of planned giving among your donors.

Understand Your Human Design to Hit Your Fundraising Career Goals by Mazarine Treyz

Get a promotion, become better at your career through knowing your design! 

Are you wondering how to hit your goals in your fundraising career?

The more you understand yourself, the more you can come to self mastery, and find satisfying work for you and your team. 

What is Human Design? It's a system that can help you uncover hidden aspects of your personality that can hold you back- or help you move forward with more ease. 

This workshop is for fundraising leaders to learn how to use human design to go deep to find your hidden gifts. 

What you'll take away:
    • A through understanding of your own design and how it could help in your nonprofit
    • Learning how to manifesting your dreams by understanding your human design 
    • How your design might affect others around you
    • Understanding your gifts and your weaknesses, 
    • How to get more prosperity by learning about human design 

As Managing Director of Legacy Giving, Aimee Granger developed a robust Planned Giving program at PBS Wisconsin. During Aimee’s tenure, The Heritage Society, a group of donors who make the commitment to an enduring legacy through public media, has grown to nearly 700 members, and she has stewarded receipt of nearly $20 million in bequests. Over the past ten years, Aimee’s leadership in legacy giving has led to significant endowment growth, underpinning annual support for the organization. Aimee also collaborates with major and project giving, as well as corporate support.

In 2017 Aimee led her team through a successful legacy campaign, securing more than 100 written bequest intentions over the course of one year and becoming the recipient of a PBS Philanthropy Award. Aimee served on the PBS Development Advisory Committee, a group that advises and serves a nationwide network of PBS stations from 2018-2022.

Over the course of 20 years, Aimee’s development career has led her to positions at KPBS San Diego, The New Americans Museum, and Merit School of Music.

A frequent speaker on the topic of planned giving at conferences and seminars, Aimee is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Charitable Gift Planners, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE.)

Autumn Keck is a fundraising expert with over 20 years of experience specializing in grant writing, major gift solicitation, and individual giving.  She began her fundraising career as Director of Development at Neighborhood House, a health and human service nonprofit in Wilmington, Delaware, and then went on to work at the American University Washington College of Law, The JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, and Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines.  In 2010, Autumn branched out as an independent grant-writing consultant, leading to Scribe, LLC’s formation.

As Founder and Principal Consultant of Scribe, LLC, a fundraising consulting firm specializing in grant management services, Autumn works to connect nonprofits to the philanthropic community by effectively sharing the organization's impact on the people they serve. Autumn and her team work closely with nonprofits to help them become grant ready and grow their grant-writing programs.  Scribe has helped raise millions of dollars by telling each organization's compelling story with a focus on its mission and community impact.

Autumn is a North Carolina State University graduate with a BA in Communications and a minor in Journalism. She has recently served on the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Charlotte Chapter as the Higher Education Chair and is on the Executive Board of the Queen City Chapter of Jack and Jill of America.  She is also a member of the Grants Professionals Association. 

In 2002, Mr. Merenstein returned to his native Denver after a decade of health care advocacy work in Washington, DC.  Over the course of the next four years, he oversaw the fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children’s Miracle Network, and The Children’s Hospital Research Institute as part of The Children’s Hospital Foundation’s $250 million Imagine the Miracles comprehensive campaign. 

In December 2005, Ray launched RDM Communications tying his political, media and fundraising acumen into one package on behalf of government, non-profit and corporate clients. He has served as lead consultant for environmental, housing, mental health, education and youth organizations for capital campaigns, branding, marketing and public affairs. 

He holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.  His efforts in media relations and public outreach have garnered him the American Hospital Association's Silver Touchstone and Circle of Distinction and the Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s Gold Pick -- earmarks of excellence in public relations and marketing.  He has been quoted or published in the Wall Street Journal, Science, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Business Week, USA Today, Nature and numerous daily newspapers and broadcast media across the country.

He is a State Board of Education appointee to Colorado’s Special Education Advisory Committee.  Former volunteer service includes boards of American Jewish Committee, Denver Jewish Day School and Denver Public School Foundation’s Development Committee.  Ray and his wife, Ilana Steinberg, live in Denver with their son and two daughters.

Breahan Pautsch is a Legacy Giving Manager for PBS Wisconsin. She came to PBS Wisconsin in 2021, after spending three years as a Planned Giving Manager with WTTW and WFMT in Chicago. Her background includes ten years as a paralegal in trust and estate planning and administration and three years as a marketing project manager for Bacardi before she found her way to planned giving. She also has experience as a theatre director and producer and served as co-Artistic Director of Akvavit Theatre for several years and spent nearly a decade with the company as an artistic ensemble member and grant writer. She currently serves on the boards of directors for the Chicago Council on Planned Giving and Rotate Theatre Company. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Mazarine Treyz loves to help you ask for more. She lives in Portland Oregon & hosts the Asking for More Podcast and Mastermind. Learn more at https://askingformore.com and https://mazarinetreyz.com/work-with-me

Mazarine Treyz excels at motivating audiences to lead and question the status quo. She spoke to over 22,000 people from 2011-2023. Treyz founded the first fundraising career conference in spring 2015 and has directed 13 conferences since then. She directed 3 conferences in 2022, The Nonprofit Career Conference, Nonprofit Consulting Conference and the DEI-focused Path to Action Conference. Her works include 10 courses on fundraising & 3 books on nonprofit careers, fundraising and marketing. She has 13 years experience providing workshops and training, including Fundraising trainings, Diversity Equity Inclusion trainings and a certification from the Racing to Equity Leadership Institute in 2021. 

Marta Weldon, CFRE is recognized as a highly creative communicator, collaborator, and facilitator with nonprofit organizations. She has strategic leadership and consulting experience in board development, fundraising, and marketing and communications. Marta's experience spans the arts, youth-serving, education, and environmental organizations including the Richmond Symphony, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. She is a strong advocate for the CFRE program and credential.

Marta received degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan with additional studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. She and husband Michael are avid hikers, recently completing Wisconsin's 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail. They enjoy time outdoors in Wisconsin and Virginia with their adult children and families. 

Amy Wong is president and founder of Dot Org Solutions LLC, an agency specializing in marketing, fundraising, strategic planning and consulting for nonprofits. The agency, based in Ohio, serves a wide range of nonprofit clients throughout the United States.  

Amy has more than 30 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, communications and planning, mostly in the nonprofit sector. Prior to starting Dot Org in 2009, she worked for a variety of nonprofits including Bowling Green State University, Akron Children’s Hospital and The Cleveland Orchestra, where she was responsible for leading teams, raising dollars and promoting the brand of these institutions. In these roles, she received national and regional recognition for programs she developed. 

Amy has a B.S. in Journalism/PR from Bowling Green State University. She is also a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program (Cleveland Cohort 13) and the Leadership Akron/Women’s Network CLI. She actively lobbies on behalf of small businesses, is a board member of Junior Achievement of Northcentral Ohio and has served as a mentor to many fundraisers, marketers and business owners. When not working, she enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, reading and cooking for her family. 

Registration in the conference includes a full day of professional development opportunities.

Grab and Go breakfast will be available from 7:30 am - 8:30 am. Lunch will be served from 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm and offers the chance to mingle with attendees and network.

Early Bird Rate is $170/person if you register by May 15, 2023. Use code ERLYBRD to receive the discount during online registration. Regular Rate is $185/person. Registration ends June 12, 2023.

There are multiple hotels in the area and we encourage you to explore Madison while you are here. 

Cambria Hotel Madison East
5045 Eastpark Blvd, Madison, WI 53718

(608) 241-7070

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Madison American Center

5217 E Terrace Dr, Madison, WI 53718

(608) 245-0123

Holiday Inn Madison at the American Center

5109 W Terrace Dr, Madison, WI 53718

(608) 249-4220

A group discount is available for organizations sending 3 or more individuals to the conference. Individuals must register at the same time through the conference registration website. 

To receive the group registration discount, please enter code GROUP3MORE to receive a $20 discount on each attendee. 

Please note that if your group does not register 3+ individuals and utilizes the code, you will receive an invoice for the cost difference.