2025 One Day Conference Sessions and Speakers

In a world where every click, stream, and scroll is personalized, donors expect more than a generic thank-you and a quarterly newsletter. They want to be seen, heard, and valued. But many nonprofits are unintentionally ghosting their own supporters.This session reveals the surprising data behind donor retention—and what the top-performing organizations are doing differently. Spoiler: It’s not about flashy appeals or perfectly designed emails. It’s about treating donors like humans.

You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how to retain more donors by improving your welcome experience, writing like a person (not a brand), and sending the right message at the right time—all based on real-world data from 91 organizations.This isn’t theory. It’s a wake-up call to do the small things that actually make a big difference.

By the end of this session, you’ll understand the following:

• The Retention Gap Is Real – With an average retention rate of just 44.5%, most orgs are losing more donors than they keep. Learn what’s driving that churn.
• First Impressions Matter – 51% of nonprofits don’t say “thank you” within a week of a gift. You’ll see what an effective welcome series really looks like.
• What the Data Says Works – Discover why emails from real people, fewer calls-to-action, and high-value content offers massively boost engagement and retention.
• Retention Is Relationship-Driven – From plain-text emails to reply-worthy content, find out how humanizing your communication leads to 114% increases in donor retention.
• Scale Without Losing Soul – Use automation and intentionality to deliver a personalized experience—at scale—without sounding like a robot.

11:20am-12:20pm Breakout Sessions

What Great Boards Do Differently

What it means to be a great board member, especially when it comes to fundraising

Amazing boards don’t just happen - they’re built. This session explores what sets top fundraising boards apart, from recruitment and onboarding to development plans, the fundraising committee, role in events/campaigns and stewardship, and challenges such as leadership transitions. Experienced panelists from Greater Austin boards will share practical strategies and tools to help you strengthen board engagement, no matter your level or experience as a fundraiser.

Speakers: Mollie O'Hara Leach (Beacon Nonprofit Consulting) *Moderator*, Andrew Esparaza (Community Advocate), Carolyn Long (Community Volunteer and Philanthropist), and Dana Such (Squeezed Consulting) 

 Treat Your Funders Like Investors

Funders are not just generous supporters—they are partners in your mission. In this interactive workshop, you'll learn how to shift your mindset and engagement strategies to treat major donors more like investors. We'll explore how to build meaningful relationships based on shared values, impact, and accountability—just like an investor expects when backing a venture.

Participants will gain tools to communicate your organization's vision and outcomes in ways that resonate with high-capacity donors, foster long-term commitment, and inspire transformational gifts. From crafting compelling cases for support to delivering transparent impact reporting, this session will equip you with practical strategies to elevate your major donor program.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the investor mindset and how it applies to philanthropy
• Learn to articulate ROI (Return on Impact) in donor communications
• Build trust through transparency, reporting, and stewardship
• Develop a customized engagement plan for your top donors
• Move from transactional to transformational giving relationships

Speakers: Christian Lozano (Fundraising and Communications Consultant) *Moderator*, Catherine (Herter) Ervin (St. Andrew's Episcopal School), Audrey Ponzio Rodriguez (APC Collective), Ashley Thompson (Fidelity Charitable), Bessy Martinez (The Latina Foundation)

 Unlocking AI for Nonprofits: Practical Tools to Amplify Your Mission

Sponsored by GrantAppli

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a powerful tool nonprofits can use today to save time, expand reach, and strengthen impact. In this engaging panel, sector leaders will share real-world applications of AI, from donor prospecting and marketing to grant writing, policy templates, and even facilitating board conversations. Whether you’re curious about where to begin or eager to deepen your knowledge, this session will equip you with practical strategies, resources, and talking points to bring back to your team. Walk away inspired and ready to leverage AI as a partner in advancing your mission.

Speakers: LLyas Salahud-din (GrantAppli) *Moderator*, Alicia Guerrero (Con Mi MADRE), Andre Patterson (Cloudera), Erik Tomalis (AvidAI), Richard North (Intel Corporation), Tauva A. Montás Colón (First Day Foundation)

 The Fin-velopment Frontier: Aligning Fundraising and Financial Strategy

Have you ever felt like you've gotten your fundraising goal without understanding the larger picture behind the number? How does that goal factor into your organization's budget and cash-flow and...are those even different things? Does it matter if you hit your goal through multi-year pledges or by bringing in cash? Do you understand your organization's audit and what your role is in it? If you've ever found yourself asking these questions and wondering if the money you are raising meets the needs of your organization, join us for a candid conversation on how to better partner with your finance team from the experts who have sat on both sides of the table. We'll cover the basics: reading financial reports, telling a story with financial documents, and explore ways that you can implement a smarter fundraising strategy when you know what is really behind your goal number. You'll walk away from this session with the knowledge and tools to effectively engage with your finance team and recommendations on how to level up your collective work.

Reimagining Board Recruitment that Represents Community

Sponsored by Giant Squid Group

This workshop provides tips and best practices on how to prepare for a new recruitment plan that centers community engagement and representation. Learn about simple steps you could be doing now in order to plan ahead in creating a new recruitment plan for your board. Participants will have a better understanding on why one plan may not be enough for your recruiting needs and where you can start to create sustainable representation for your organization.

Speaker: Mando Rayo (The New Philanthropists) 

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 Leading Up, Down, and Across: Navigating Leadership at Every Stage of Your Career

Sponsored by TANGO and NFP

Leadership doesn’t just flow from the top, it’s about influencing, advocating, and building trust in every direction. Whether you’re managing a team, collaborating with peers, or navigating relationships with senior leaders, effective leadership requires self-awareness, communication, and courage. This session will explore strategies for leading “up, down, and across” your organization, while also making space to advocate for your own growth.

Speakers: Heather Henry (National Domestic Violence Hotline), Daphne McDole (African American Leadership Institute), Angela Glode (Texas State University), and Katie Jones (National Domestic Violence Hotline)

 Beyond the Check: Maximizing Corporate Engagement for Mission Impact

Sponsored By Heather Parsons Consulting

Corporate partnerships are about more than financial contributions. Companies today are eager to connect with nonprofits in ways that align with their values, employees, and communities. In this session, we’ll explore strategies to deepen corporate engagement beyond traditional sponsorships—tapping into opportunities like budget underwriting, employee volunteerism, board service, and more. Learn how to build mutually beneficial relationships that not only bring in resources but also create lasting champions for your mission.

Key Takeaways: 

• Broaden the scope of support: Identify and learn strategies to activate the many ways companies can advance your mission beyond writing a check.
• Design mutually beneficial partnerships: Learn how to build engagement opportunities that meet both your nonprofit’s needs and a company’s community, employee, and brand goals.
• Strengthen long-term relationships: Learn how to develop strategies that transform one-time sponsorships into ongoing, multi-faceted corporate partnerships.

Speakers: Beth Krueger (ABC Home & Commercial Services) 

 Headlines with Heart: Leveraging Media Partnerships to Amplify Your Mission

Made Possible By the Austin Business Journal

 3:25pm-4:25pm Breakout Sessions

Mobilizing Volunteers as Mission Champions

Volunteers are more than just extra hands, they are powerful advocates, storytellers, and champions of your mission. In this session, we’ll explore how to strategically engage volunteers not only in service roles, but as long-term ambassadors who drive awareness, fundraising, and community support. Our panel of nonprofit leaders will share strategies and tips for cultivating meaningful volunteer experiences, building lasting relationships, and equipping supporters to amplify your organization’s impact. Whether you’re working with a small team or a large network, you'll leave with practical tools to transform volunteers into passionate champions for your cause.

Speakers: Jasmine White (Central Texas Food Bank) *Moderator*, Brittany Yelverton (Girls Empowerment Network), Jared Montes Slack (I Live Here I Give Here), and Nigel Fuentes (Urban Roots)

 Uncertainty Ain’t My First Rodeo: Strategic Leadership in a Shifting Nonprofit Landscape

Sponsored By CCS Fundraising 

Learning Objectives:

• Adapt strategic plans to changing circumstances by aligning short-term priorities with long-term organizational goals.
• Manage staff and project turnover by implementing strategies to strengthen mid-level management and leadership capacity.
• Engage in peer-to-peer discussions to analyze real-world challenges — such as distinguishing people issues from process issues, leading with strengths, and navigating tough conversations — through case studies and collaborative problem-solving.

Speakers: Christina Tatum (CCS Fundraising) and Claire Seifert (CCS Fundraising) 

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 Recurring Giving Made Simple: Plan, Launch, Grow

Sponsored By BetterUnite

Recurring giving is more than just a fundraising strategy, it’s about building a community of loyal supporters who believe in your mission. This session will help you unlock the power of monthly giving to deepen donor relationships, create predictable revenue, and fuel long-term impact. Learn how to start strong, keep momentum, and reimagine recurring giving programs that need a fresh spark.

Speaker: Ray Blue (Blue Crow Consulting)

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