DATE: Wednesday, October 24, 2007

LOCATION: YMCA of Greater Toronto, Auditorium - 20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto

TIME: 9:00 (sharp) – 11:30 am

WORKSHOP TOPIC: Donor Retention: Communicating to keep donors

PRESENTER: Rosemary Oliver, CFRE, Resource Development Director, Amnesty International

DESCRIPTION:

Donor retention is a challenge for most organizations, but there are things we can do to try to build long-term relationships with our donors. Segmenting your donor file into smaller subgroups with specific communications plans is one strategy to increase retention as well as raise giving levels. In this hands-on session, we’ll look at some segments many organizations already use (including major donors, monthly donors and mid-level donors), discuss the kind of communications strategies many organizations are using with these donor groups, explore ways to try to get donor feedback, and look at creative ways to add delight and value to your relationship with individual donors. We’ll also look at easy ways to develop annual communications plans for your donor groups. You’ll come away with lots of practical ideas you can start using right away to communicate with your donors in order to keep them for life! (Well, at least maybe a little longer than you are now.)

BIOGRAPHY

Rosemary Oliver, CFRE has been Resource Development Director at Amnesty International since 1999. Before that she was Greenpeace Canada’s development director for seven years, and also worked at Oxfam Canada and Central Hospital. With more than twenty years experience as a fundraiser, she believes strongly that good communication and cultivation strategies are the key to building relationships with donors that lead to better retention and higher giving levels.

COST: AFP Members $60.00 ~ Non-Members $70.00 - Workshop registration fee includes admission to the AFP Luncheon

Registration Available Online Only

Luncheon Time- 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Luncheon Topic: Making the Face to Face Ask with Style and Grace

PRESENTER: Holly Benson, Vice President, Development, Toronto Symphony Orchestra

DESCRIPTION

The most rewarding and challenging part of any development professional's job is making the face to face ask. Whether you find these calls enthralling or terrifying, making the personal, face to face ask is the single most compelling, persuasive and effective way of raising gifts, and virtually the only way to raise major gifts. Many people consider it the watershed for a development professional's career. Explore the key factors necessary to increase your odds of success when making personal asks and learn tips on how to prepare yourself so you're at the top of your game for these critical meetings.

BIOGRAPHY

Holly Benson has more than 25 years experience in advancement, and has served a number of education, arts and social service organizations in a senior development role. She has started – and led - capital, endowment, annual, equipment and special campaigns on a local, provincial and national level. As Vice President, Development for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Holly is part of the team leading the TSO’s ambitious new fundraising campaign.

Her experience also includes non-profit Board development, strategic planning for the charitable sector and community resource development.

Holly taught Major & Planned Gifts at Humber Institute’s post-graduate Fundraising and Volunteer Management program for three years. She is a frequent guest speaker, panelist and workshop leader.

COST FOR LUNCHEON ONLY: AFP Members $30.00 Non-Members $40.00

Registration available online only