TITLE : Major gifts fundraising
CITY : Houston , TX
DATE : Friday, October 05, 2007
TIME : 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
PRICE : $ 55.00
Major gifts fundraising

According to recent trends, individuals make up 85 percent of the donor base for nonprofits in the United States. It is perhaps not surprising to learn that the easiest way to secure those gifts is to ask for them. However, asking for money is an art. It takes training and practice to build up the skills and the self-confidence. This seminar will explore the art and the science of face-to-face solicitation. You'll learn what not to say and do during a solicitation. You'll also learn the important questions to ask and as an added feature, you'll have an opportunity to do some role-playing for fun to learn what works and what doesn't.

Topics we will cover include:
  •  The essentials of developing a major gifts program
  •  How to use the resources of your organization to identify, cultivate, and solicit your best prospects
  •  Techniques of major gift cultivation and solicitation
  •  Preparing your team to make the most effective ask
After the seminar, you'll walk out with a plan for developing a major gifts program along with real solicitation strategies to connect with your prospects and increase your chances of success.  This session is designed for intermediate to advanced fundraisers.

Speakers for this session:

Ty Herring, CFRE
Vice President
GENERIS Consulting Firm


During his fund raising career, Ty Herring has helped children's homes, retirement communities, private Christian schools and a medical center build relationships with major gift donors. Ty began his fundraising career at Methodist Children's Home in Waco, and earned his CFRE professional certification in 1983. During his 19 years at the Methodist Children's Home - first as Director of Planned Giving and then Vice President for Development - the  endowment fund grew from $35 million to more than $220 million and the annual amount raised each year reached $5 million. When Ty left Methodist Children's Home, he joined GENERIS, a national consulting firm focused specifically on raising funds for churches and Christian ministries. He currently serves as a Vice President in the firm. Ty's most recent capital campaign consulting project resulted in volunteers and staff raising more than $10.7 million for Houston Christian High School's building expansion including a Performing Arts  Center. Outside of work, Ty has served as a national and local volunteer leader of the American Red Cross, as a member of the national AFP Research Council and as an active member in his church. Ty has bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology and Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor University.

Lona Leigh
Director of Individual Giving
Houston Zoo, Inc.


Lona has been a non-profit fundraiser for ten years.  In Houston, she has been part of several cultural organizations:  Houston Grand Opera, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and now, the Houston Zoo, where she is the Director of Individual Giving.  Lona initially began honing her individual fundraising skills working on Broadway as an assistant producer seeking investors.  Lona obtained a degree in theater arts from Boston University. 

Vince McElligott
Senior Director of Development, Office of Gift Planning Services
The University of Texas Medical Branch

Vince has more than 18 years of major gift development experience in higher education and not-for-profits and has been at the University of Texas Medical Branch since 2002.  On August 31, 2007 UTMB finished it's $258 million comprehensive campaign, reaching the goal a full 18 months early and just over a span of three years.  Vince serves as a senior leader and supervisor in the Office of University Advancement and manager of the regional campaigns in Houston, West Texas and East Texas campaign regions in addition to managing the planned giving office at UTMB.  Vince's major focus is major gift development and his experience spans across all areas of development from individual, foundations and corporations.  Vince also served as Senior Director of Development at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and as Director of Development at National 4-H Council in Chevy Chase Maryland. Vince has consulted on a variety of resource development projects and programs over the past eight years including special projects for Department of Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism at Colorado State University, and sports and community organizations. In addition, Vince has served as a Director and President of the Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau, overseeing the development of a multi million dollar construction project for a multi-jurisdiction state welcome center and educational complex and he served as trustee and campaign advisor to the Alpha Gamma Rho Educational Foundation for four years and sits on the Development Committee of the Galveston Historical Foundation. Vince holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Montana State University.

Nan Duhon
Senior Director of Development
The Methodist Hospital Foundation


Nan has worked for over 22 years in fundraising, during which time she has acquired extensive experience in major gift development, board and fiscal management and was recruited to provide strategic direction and leadership to the the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center (MDHC). Prior to joining Methodist, Nan served as Senior Director for the Houston Region at The University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) and as Director of Development for Principal Gifts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for ten years.  She also previously was Senior Director of Development and Assistant Dean for Development at the University of Houston Law Center, where she was employed in numerous administrative positions for over 18 years.  In addition to Nan’s development experience, she has been an active community volunteer. She is past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Greater Houston Chapter, is on the Board of Directors of The Women’s Fund for HER (Health, Education & Research) and serves on the development committee of The Pink Ribbons Project. Nan holds an M.A. in Development and Philanthropy from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and a B.A., College of Humanities and Fine Arts from the University of Houston.  She has been a CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) since 2000.
Speakers for this session will be announced shortly.

 

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  • Afternoon Seminars
  • Morning Seminars

Thursday October 04, 2007

Panel discussion and dialogue with Grantmakers

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

$ 95.00

 All levels
Finding Funders: the art of successful research

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Proposal writing

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Exploring the world of corporate sponsorship

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
How to build a successful relationship with grantmakers

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Cause marketing: building profitable relationships with corporate partners

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Winning proposals: a tour of four successful case studies

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels

Friday October 05, 2007

Special events fundraising

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Online fundraising: harnessing technology to build and maintain relationships

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

$ 95.00

 All levels
Major gifts fundraising

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Annual giving campaigns

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels
Fundraising in the one-person development shop: making the most of a shoestring budget

1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

$ 95.00

 All levels
Direct mail fundraising

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

$ 55.00

 All levels


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