FUll Conference Schedule
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
7:00 AM: Registration Check-in and Breakfast
Breakfast is included with your registration fee
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Morning Keynote
| Keynote |
Session Name
Vu Le
Nonprofit AF
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9:15 AM - 9:30 AM: Break
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Breakout Session One
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Major Gift & Planned Giving (Deep Dive)
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You're in the Will. Now What? Messages that expand legacy fundraising success into major and annual giving growth
Dr. Russell James
Texas Tech University
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Stewardship & Communications
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More than One Gift: Involving Your Donors in Your Fundraising Efforts
C. F. Callihan
Heart Strategy Impact
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Corporate & Foundation Relations
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Mapping Missouri's Funding Landscape
Patrice Shumate & Jessica Price
Grant Professionals Association St. Louis Regional Chapter & Washington University Center for Public Health Systems Science (CPHSS)
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Leadership Development
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Policies Every Non Profit Needs
Jack Alotto, MA, CFRE
Fundraising Academy at National University
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IDEA
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Imposter Syndrome as Fundraising Professionals
Jason A. Huff, AFP Master Training
The Rome Group
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10:30 AM - 10:40 AM: Break
10:40 AM - 11:40 AM: Breakout Session Two
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Major Gift & Planned Giving (Deep Dive)
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You're in the Will. Now What? Messages that expand legacy fundraising success into major and annual giving growth
Dr. Russell James
Texas Tech University
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Annual Giving
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Why the Wonky Numbers? Using Case Development to Increase Giving?
Linda Haley, CFRE & Dawn M.S. Miller, CFRE
Let's Build Hope, LLC
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Stewardship & Communications
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If Your Fundraising is Built on Scarcity- Donors Can Feel It
Maryanne Dersch
Courageous Communication
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Corporate & Foundation Relations
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From Logos to Leads: Enhancing Sponsorships with Active Engagement
Eric Moraczewski & Casey Jolley
NMBL Strategies
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IDEA
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Are Your Fundraising Practices Excluding Disabled Donors?
Anna Corbitt, MA, MBA
Starkloff Disability Institute
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11:40 AM - 12:50 PM: Lunch
Lunch is included with your registration fee
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM: Breakout Session Three
| Major Gift & Planned Giving |
Trust, Not Control: The Case for Unrestricted Major Gifts
Mary Petersen
Hey Fundraiser!
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| Annual Giving |
On the Fundraising Trail: Is Your Program Built to Grow?
Theresa Fleck, ED, CFRE, CAE, ENP
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri & Kansas
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Corporate & Foundation Relations
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Stronger Together: Development and Program Collaborative Impact
Laura Benson & Danielle Washington, MSW
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
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| Leadership Development |
CFRE Foundations
Jack Alotto, MA, CFRE
Fundraising Academy at National University
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| IDEA |
Nonprofits as Third Spaces: Building Community Power and Advocacy
Rachel D'Souza, MPPA, MLS & Faybra Jabulani, M.Ed, BA
Gladiator Consulting & Kamili Communities LLC
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1:50 PM - 2:00 PM: Break
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Breakout Session Four
| Major & Planned Giving |
From Gut to Grounded: using Your Donor Data to Make Smarter Decisions
Jenny Pratt, CFRE CAP
Washington University in Saint Louis
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| Major & Planned Giving |
Utilizing Planned and Blended Gifts to Inspire Generosity
Lisa Welch, JD
Washington University in Saint Louis
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| Stewardship & Communications |
The New Rules of Donor Engagement: Technology-Driven Stewardship
Gabriel Harkov, MBA
Storyraise
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Corporate & Foundation Relations
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Exploring Careers in Corporate & Foundation Relations
Wendy Schlesinger
Saint Louis University
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| Board & Volunteers |
Designing Support Systems that Sustain Leadership
Bree Muehlbauer, CFRE
Digital Health Strategies
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3:00 PM - 3:10 PM: Break
3:10 PM - 4:10 PM: Closing Keynote Panel
| Keynote |
Inside the Funder’s Lens — Trends, Priorities, and What’s Next
More Information Coming Soon
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4:30 PM: Wine & Cheese Reception
Thursday, August 27, 2026
7:00 AM: Registration Check-in and Breakfast
Breakfast is included with your registration fee
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Morning Keynote
| Keynote |
Leading Lightly: What Matters Most in Times of Change
Roger Ali, Chair
AFP Global
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9:15 AM - 9:30 AM: Break
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Breakout Session One
| Leadership Development |
The Champion Within
Jeff Koziatek
Core Authenticity
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| Stewardship & Communications |
From Story to Strategy: Strengthening Fundraising Through Narrative
Gabi Cole, MNM
Gabi Cole Social Enterprise
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| Board & Volunteers |
Partnership Path: Coaching Volunteers for Trust-Based Fundraising
Ann Ross-Weldy, MA
New Chapter Coaching
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| IDEA |
Safe & Strong Relationships: The Power of Trauma-Informed Fundraising
Jessa Glick, LMSW, CFRE
Planned Parenthood Great Rivers
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| Leadership Development (DEEP DIVE) |
The Long Game: How Strategic Onboarding and Development Drive Success
Lisa Masters, MBA, CFRE & Lara Turek, CFRE
Missouri University of Science & Technology
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10:30 AM - 10:40 AM: Break
10:40 AM - 11:40 AM: Breakout Session Two
| Leadership Development (DEEP DIVE) |
They Are Not the Same: Why Your Top Fundraisers Shouldn't Be the CDO
Brianne Gerzevske, MA, CFRE
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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| Major & Planned Giving |
Nonprofits as Third Spaces: Building Community Power and Advocacy
Yvette LeGear Hatsfield, MA, CFRE, CAP
Let's Build Hope, LLC
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| Annual Giving |
From Insight to Impact: Philanthropic Trends Driving Strategy in 2026
Meghan Davison & Larisa Malley
CCS Fundraising
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| Board & Volunteers |
Lead, Lift, Thrive: A New Playbook for Today's Leaders
Desiree Coleman-Fry
Women Work Well
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| Major & Planned Giving |
Nonprofits as Third Spaces: Building Community Power and Advocacy
Sarah Javier, MPPA, CDFT & Ashley Holmes
Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA) & The Casan Company LLC
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11:40 AM - 12:50 PM: Lunch
Lunch is included with your registration fee
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM: Breakout Session Three
| Annual Giving |
Stop Chasing Whales - What Moby Dick Teaches About Annual Fund Success
Alicia M. Lifrak, CFRE & Traci Basden, CFRE
Dragonfly Collective Agency
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| Corporate & Foundation Relations |
The New Reality of Non Profit Funding: Federal Cuts & What's Next
Ann Fisher Jackson (Moderator) & Erica Henderson, KSG, Lauren Young, Marius Johnson Malone
Key Strategic Group & Civil Insight
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| IDEA |
Equity, Ethics, and Survival: The Realities Facing Small Nonprofits (Panel)
Rachel D'Souza, MPPA, MLS (Moderator) & Jacqueline Dace, Emily Kohring, MFA, Sheila Suderwalla, MSW
Gladiator Consulting & St. Louis Artworks, Bread & Roses Missouri, Artists First
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| Board & Volunteers |
From Consideration to Integration: A 360 View of a Non Profit Merger
Kari McAvoy & Eulonda Nevels
EMD Consulting Group
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| Annual Giving |
"Get Up Offa That Thing!" A Pep Talk for Development Professionals
Eryn Bates Kemp, CFRE, MBA
Harriman-Jewell Series
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1:50 PM - 2:00 PM: Break
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Breakout Session Four
| Major & Planned Giving |
It's Not "Daffy" - New Strategies for Inspiring Donors with DAFs
Michael Rubin, CFRE, MBA, ACC
M. Rubin & Associates
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| Stewardship & Communications |
Big Donor Love on a Small Budget: Creative Engagement that Works
Lyndsey Reichardt, MPA, CFRE & Lauren Finan, CFRE
The Oasis Institute
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| Major & Planned Giving |
"That's So Major"
Sarah Melinger & Meredith Friedman
RaiseUp Collaborative
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| IDEA |
Burnout to Breakthrough: Sustainable Leadership for Fundraisers
Heather Kemper, MA, CFRE ACNP
Miriam School and Learning Center
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| Culture of Philanthropy |
the Aligned Organization: Chair Yoga & Strategic Planning Integration
Casey Jolley
NMBL Strategies
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3:00 PM - 3:10 PM: Break
3:10 PM - 4:10 PM: Closing Breakout Sessions
| IDEA |
Building an Equitable Organization Culture
Jennifer Drake, MSW
Drake Strategy Partners
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| Culture of Philanthropy |
Future of Philanthropic Funding
Betsy Cohen, Harvard MBA
FutureGood
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| Major & Planned Giving |
Grief & Philanthropy: Honoring Life Through Generosity
Eric Heininger, CFRE, MBA
EDEN+ Fundraising Consulting
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| Annual Giving |
Build to Grow: a Fresh Framework for Your Individual Giving Program
Katie Mendez
Built to Raise
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| Stewardship & Communications |
Video Strategies Beyond Fund the Need Videos
Patrick Delhougne
Noeso
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