Often organizations execute the same fundraising plan in the same way year after year - then are disappointed (and surprised!) by diminishing returns. January is a good time to evaluate your fundraising strategy and progress. Jennie Wolf Smith, CFRE will walk through how to objectively evaluate your results to strengthen your plan to reach your fundraising goals.

Together, we'll discuss:

• Of all the potential things to measure and track, what's really important
• The factors that determine if adjustments to the strategy are needed and when to scrap a strategy all together
• How benchmarks and goals for specific strategies can lessen the year-end scramble for gifts

Tech can bring efficiency and impact to your organizations development efforts...and it's not always as expensive as you think.  Evan Moilan, CFRE will open the conversation sharing his 5 favorite tech hacks.  Participants are invited to bring your favorite tech hack to share with the group.

Events take a lot of energy. Often the return on the investment is low. With a single Day of Giving event, instead of spending tons of money on venues, entertainment, and food - you spend your energy on building relationships with donors. You connect with them on a personal level and use the day to tell your story and ask for them to respond generously. Day of Giving events are an excellent way to foster recurring gifts. They don't "just happen" though. They take thought, intentionality, and volunteer coordination. In this roundtable we will break down the questions you need to ask yourself to determine if a Day of Giving will work for you and if so, what are the basic starting points for making it a reality. 

If you have ever listened to NPR, you know what a challenge or matching gift is. They are excellent tools to add urgency to fundraising activities.  Challenge gifts will help drive a broader response.  Matching gifts can stimulate larger and additional gifts from your supporters.  There is a place in every institution and congregation for challenge and matching gifts.