Shift Conference Schedule
2023 Conference Schedule
2023 Gateway Conference on Philanthropy Schedule of Events
Time Schedule of Events
7:30-3:00 pm Participant Check-In
7:30-8:00 am Breakfast (Please arrive early. No Food in the Lindenwood Theater)
8:00am Welcome & Morning Keynote
9:30-10:30 am Breakout Session One
10:40-11:40 am Breakout Session Two
11:40-12:30 pm Lunch/Affinity Group Meet-Up
12:35-1:35 pm Breakout Session Three
1:45-2:45 pm Breakout Session Four
2:55-3:55 pm Closing Keynote
4:05-5:30 pm Happy Hour Hosted by Let’s Build Hope, LLC
Keynote Speakers
Morning Keynote Panel
Not All Money is Good Money
Join leaders in philanthropy and they discuss the important alignment between donor interest, organizational mission, and community need. This keynote conversation will delve into the ethics of a traditional giving cycle that reinforces wealthy donor giving preferences over other priorities. Panelists will share personal experiences changing the fundraising narrative from scarcity to abundance, balancing the needs of the community and all constituents, and how to turn-down misaligned major gifts.
Moderator:
Rachel D’Souza (she/her/hers)
Rachel D'Souza is the founder of Gladiator Consulting in St. Louis, MO, a boutique firm co-creating with organizations and causes across the globe. As a proud member of the Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council, Rachel works to guide and resource a global initiative to reimagine the nonprofit sector through a lens of radical collaboration, racial equity, social justice, and decolonization. Rachel also serves on the board of AFP St. Louis and is excited to begin her term as Chapter President (the first woman of color to hold this role!) in 2024.
Her thought leadership has appeared in Blackbaud Institute's 2021 npExperts publication The Great Reset, NeonOne's 2022 report, Donors: Understanding The Future of Individual Giving, and on the Season 4 premiere of the Ethical Rainmaker podcast. She builds understanding and practice of the potential for equitable transformation in our sector through webinars and panel conversations in partnership with sector leaders such as the Independent Sector, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the Collective Impact Forum.
Rachel is the proud mama to her two children, Cameron and Emelia. In addition to traveling with them, she enjoys cooking, keeping her heart healthy via Peloton workouts and spending too much time laughing at memes on Instagram. Currently, she is pursuing her second Master's Degree at the Washington University School of Law and, upon completing her studies in 2024, hopes to build more transformative connections between the nonprofit and public sectors.
Panelists:
Amy Drummond (she/her/hers) | Partner at EMD Consulting Group
Amy Drummond, Partner with EMD Consulting Group has had three decades of adventures in fundraising, communications, and nonprofit management. She has built and led philanthropy programs and now works on executive search and capital campaigns. She passionately promotes full investment in nonprofit missions over preoccupation with overhead.
Amy and her husband, Bill Carson, live in the city and juggle professional work and volunteering while encouraging their five kids to be kind and “go live in the big world”. Against reason, she stubbornly holds onto the Oxford comma.
Michelle Miller (she/her/hers) | CEO at Philanthropy Missouri
Michelle Miller cultivates individual and institutional capacity to forward the common good. As Philanthropy Missouri CEO, she works with grantmakers to champion an innovative philanthropic network that forwards an equitable MO. Michelle’s social sector work, in urban and rural communities, has included roles in consulting, philanthropy, nonprofit, policy and advocacy, and leadership development. She is a graduate of Washington University, Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, and Leadership MO.
Tamyka Perine (she/her) | Executive Director at Cultural Leadership
For over 15 years, Tamyka Perine has worked to help organizations realize and achieve their mission, goals and strategic initiatives. A leader who is committed to ensuring equitable opportunities and diversity within nonprofits, Tamyka has received formal recognition for driving results and fostering relationships within organizations and the community.
Prior to taking on her role as Executive Director of Cultural Leadership, Tamyka’s passion for meaningfully impacting the community led to her consulting with numerous local and national non-profits through the business she founded, Prestige Consultants, LLC.
Michael Woods (he/him/his) | President & CEO of Dream Builders 4 Equity
Michael Woods, St. Louis native and north city resident, is a certified personal trainer, published author, entrepreneur, and nonprofit Executive Director. Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lindenwood University and received his certification for personal training from American Council on Exercise. In 2013, Michael published “I Will Never Kill a Black Man,” a book of poetry. In 2014, Michael published his second book titled “Which is Best Test,” a children's workbook.
In 2016, Michael convened some of St. Louis’ most artistic millennials to create his third book “Voices”. In 2018, Michael published his fourth book Dark Matter and was recognized as a person on the move by St. Louis American.
Michael also co-founded (with Neal Richardson) and now serves as Executive Director of Dream Builders 4 Equity, a nonprofit that supports young people with owning and rehabbing real estate located in low-income and highly distressed communities and co-publishing a book through a semester-long program. As Executive Director, Michael is leading the effort for Dream Builders programming to support students from schools all across St. Louis city. In 2017, Dream Builders 4 Equity was selected as one of the awardees of Washington University’s Social Enterprise Innovation Competition, competing in a field of more than 150 startups. In 2020, Dream Builders 4 Equity won the Jim Mckelvey Launchcode Dreamer award.
In partnership with Eric Love, Michael also co-founded Connected St. Louis, an initiative that organizes the community to support black-owned businesses. Michael’s passion is uniting communities towards creating a better future that is driven by the hopes and needs of those who are often forgotten. In 2017, Michael was honored by Delux Magazine as a Power100 awardee for his leadership through Dream Builders 4 Equity and Connected St. Louis. In 2018, Michael was honored by St. Louis American as a Salute To Young Leaders awardee.
Closing Keynote
In this keynote address Adrian Bracy, will share her perspective on the path to nonprofit leadership. Using experiences from her personal journey, Bracy will discuss navigating precarious conversations, building and leading a dynamic team, and the role of the nonprofit executive in advancing the industry.
Adrian Bracy (she/her/hers) | Executive Director, The Stewart Trust
Currently, Adrian is the Executive Director for The Steward Trust. Prior to this role, Adrian led the YWCA Metro St. Louis a $30M nonprofit for nearly 12 years.
Prior to the YWCA, Adrian spent 18 years in senior financial management with the National Football League (The Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, and most recently CFO for the Arizona Cardinals). Adrian has received numerous awards throughout her career including Black Enterprise 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports; Black Enterprise 50 Most Powerful Women in Business; St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Businesswomen.
Bracy graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore with a degree in accounting and from Nova Southeastern University with a master’s in business administration. She is a lifetime member of the National Association of Black Accountants and the National Black MBA Association. She’s a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She sits on the Board of the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, and the Missouri Botanical Garden Sub-District Board. Adrian is an Amazon Best-Selling Author “Half-Time: Learn to Pivot as a Leader and identify Your Next Step.
Bracy is married to Vernon (Vito) Bracy and has one son, Donovan.
Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1 Options
Intersectional Perspectives: Fundraising for IDEA
The "Intersectional Perspectives: Fundraising for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access" course is a 1-hour interactive session that aims to provide participants with an understanding of the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) in the context of fundraising. Through interactive discussions and case studies, participants will learn how to create inclusive fundraising strategies that center the voices and experiences of marginalized individuals and groups.
Satonya Booker (she/her/hers) | Chief Strategist, Booker and Company
Booker brings 30 years working in multiple industries but her first love is training. Satonya first discovered an interest in operationalizing connectedness and its role in organizational improvement while studying at St. Louis University.
Booker has developed, implemented, & executed corporate & government agency training & logistics programs. Satonya has served on several nonprofit committees and boards and as a development director before forming her consulting firm, Booker and Company.
When, Why, and How to Engage Fundraising Consultants
Partnering with a fundraising consultant or consulting firm can be a great way to advance your fundraising program and mission, yet many fundraisers are unfamiliar with the process and reluctant to ask for help. Presenters Jackie Hamilton of the St. Louis County Library, and Theresa Fleck of Logan University, will explain how to identify, interview, and effectively work with a consultant to gain the biggest impact on your program and organization. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the organization's role in establishing an effective partnership with a consultant, learn lessons by reviewing examples of good, bad, and inefficient collaboration, and review a comprehensive list of questions to ask potential partners in the interview process. Jackie and Theresa have experience working with a wide range of fundraising and non-profit consultants and will share their experiences to help attendees who are unsure where to start, what to ask, or how to find the right consultant fit.
Jackie Hamilton (she/her/hers) | Assistant Director, Advancement at St. Louis County Library
Theresa Fleck (she/her/hers) | Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Logan University
Jackie, a St. Louis native has been in the fund development industry for 15+ years. As the Library’s Chief Fundraiser, she oversees the Foundation team. Former positions Jackie has held were Chief Development Officer at Beyond Housing and Director of Development for Eden Seminary. Jackie is active with boards, and serves as a mentor to those interested in learning more about fundraising. Jackie completed her undergraduate studies at UMSL and her MBA from Lindenwood University.
Theresa L. Fleck, MA, CFRE, CAE serves as the VP for Advancement at Logan University. A fundraiser since 2001, Ms. Fleck has extensive experience developing strategy and executing fundraising plans for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including; universities, independent schools, social service agencies, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the arts. Ms. Fleck is a CFRE, and the current president of AFP St. Louis and a former board member of AFP Rhode Island.
Nonprofits 5 Biggest Marketing Mistakes
As a storyteller & filmmaker with over a decade of experience working with nonprofits, Dan Parris has come across the 5 common marketing mistakes of nonprofits. These mistakes include “waiting til gala time”, “making your organization the hero”, “not using the entire buffalo”, “from staff to storytellers” and “dull data.” In this playful but incredibly applicable presentation, Dan will walk us through these 5 mistakes he has seen and the remedies for each mistake. Attendees will have ample time for Q&A with Dan and will leave with tangible ideas on how to improve their shop’s marketing.
The overall goal is to help fundraisers and nonprofit marketers think ahead when it comes to content so that they aren’t in a scramble come gala time. So often nonprofits rush to get their assets created, lacking good content to make their fundraising assets from and then only using the great content they create one time. The hope is that attendees come out of this session with a stronger annual content creation plan that will help them gain social media followers, capture the hearts of new donors and relieve stress from their events and marketing teams.
Dan Parris (he/him/his) | Director/Filmmaker, Speak Up Studios
Dan Parris is the co-founder of Speak Up Studios, a St. Louis based video production company specializing in non-profit storytelling. Their past clients include St. Louis Public Radio, St. Louis Aquarium Foundation, Access Academies, SLU, AAOF, ABO, Vario Marketing and Deaconess Foundation, to name a few. Speak Up Studios has helped nonprofits raise millions of dollars and are passionate about the collective impact happening in the St. Louis region.
Voice Your Experience: MO Common App
Join the first in a series of conversations with grant seekers and grant makers about the Missouri Common Grant Application (CGA) -- https://www.philanthropymissouri.org/missouri-common-grant-application.
In this session, we hope to hear from you, leaders in the fundraising space. We will briefly review the resources and then ask for your feedback as well as your hopes for what a useful contemporary resource might include. Prior experience with the CGA is helpful and not required. Please be prepared to engage actively during this workshop.
What's the CGA?
In 2012, representatives from the St. Louis grantmaking community came together with the Gateway Center for Giving (now Philanthropy Missouri) to create a Missouri CGA. Their intention was the design a standard yet customizable CGA for Missouri funders, build a common set of questions to support solid nonprofit practices, and save grant seekers time by using a single template across multiple funders. In 2017, the CGA was updated to incorporate an initial lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The DEI framework was intended to support funders and funded partners in addressing the profound disparities in opportunity that exist for marginalized groups.
Michelle Miller (she/her/hers) | CEO at Philanthropy Missouri
Michelle Miller cultivates individual and institutional capacity to forward the common good. As Philanthropy Missouri CEO, she works with grant makers to champion an innovative philanthropic network that forwards an equitable MO. Michelle’s social sector work, in urban and rural communities, has included roles in consulting, philanthropy, nonprofit, policy and advocacy, and leadership development. She is a graduate of Washington University, Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, and Leadership MO.
Breakout Session 2 Options
Shifting How We Show Up As White People in Fundraising and Grantmaking
This session will offer perspectives from two white nonprofit professionals and is designed as an affinity group space for other white people in the sector to reflect on how they show up in their work and where they might have growth edges. Facilitators will challenge the audience to examine their own patterns and behaviors around effective allyship. Then, facilitators will share strategies and tools to be real allies that move the work forward and alleviate harm from our Black and Brown partners, colleagues, and leaders. This presentation will equip participants with practical strategies and insights to become effective allies, fostering a culture of respect, equity, and collaboration in the workplace.
Amie Bossi (she/her/hers) | Consultant at Gladiator Consulting
Nava Cantor (she/her/hers) | Director at Gladiator Consulting
Amie has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade and a half, working with numerous local, regional, and national organizations. She spent most of her time working in small to mid-sized development departments, even building from scratch an entire development program for an organization that although over 140 years old, was brand new to the fundraising world. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and an ambassador for the certification program.
Nava Kantor works toward a world centered on equity, connection, healing, and sustainability. She spent the last 7 years at funder organizations, focusing on ways to make funding processes more equitable, accessible, and effective. Now a Director at Gladiator Consulting, Nava partners with nonprofits to facilitate community-driven, data-informed change. She continually recommits to antiracism through training, reflection, and practice. Nava earned an MSW from Washington University in St. Louis.
How to Effectively Work the Fundraising Triangle
Come learn how a collaborative working relationship between the CEO, Board Chair, and Development Director – the Fundraising Triangle – will bring a positive work culture and fundraising success for your organization. A facilitated panel of actual leaders in these three key roles will share their experience of when the Fundraising Triangle worked effectively for them. They will share how they saw a dramatic change not only in their ability to raise funds, but also in how they functioned as a team and how that carried over into other areas of the organization. They will be lead by a facilitator who will ask them to share specific examples of how they made changes that enabled them to harness the power of the fundraising triangle.
Linda Haley (she/her/hers) | President and CEO at Let's Build Hope, LLC
Sarah Melinger (she/her/hers) | Vice President, Impact at Let's Build Hope, LLC
Jackie Hamilton (she/her/hers) | Assistant Director, Advancement at St. Louis County Library
Since 1995, Linda has successfully helped raise more than $200 million for non-profits of all sizes and types. Linda started Let’s Build Hope, LLC, in 2013, where she and her LBH teammates teach, coach, and mentor nonprofit teams.
Linda has been a member of AFP since 1996 and has held her CFRE since 2001. In 2016, she was named the Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the St. Louis Regional Chapter of AFP. Since its inception, LBH has provided more than $300,000 in charitable support.
Sarah Melinger has significant experience working for arts, higher education, and civic improvement organizations. She excels at developing long-standing relationships, helping teams learn to communicate effectively. Sarah joined LBH in 2020.
Prior to joining the Let’s Build Hope team, Sarah served as the Executive Director of the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities. Sarah also has also effectively raised funds for the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Washington University, and COCA.
Jackie, a St. Louis native has been in the fund development industry for 15+ years. As the Library’s Chief Fundraiser, she oversees the Foundation team. Former positions Jackie has held were Chief Development Officer at Beyond Housing and Director of Development for Eden Seminary. Jackie is active with boards, and serves as a mentor to those interested in learning more about fundraising. Jackie completed her undergraduate studies at UMSL and her MBA from Lindenwood University.
Expanding Access & Equity in Funding Through Fiscal Sponsorships
Grassroots organizations that are founded and grounded in the communities they serve are doing the work, whether they have resources or not. However, the very people who “do the work” where they live are often passed over for the funding they need and deserve, simply because they lack the capacity and infrastructure to acquire resources from philanthropic groups, foundations, federal funding agencies and other grantmaking entities. This phenomenon disproportionately impacts communities of color and other marginalized groups.
With this panel, Zenique and James of Undo Bias have welcomed guests from their longtime client-partner organization, PreventEd, to share their story about how they decided to make fiscal sponsorships an integral part of their company’s racial equity work. Whether you are a grassroots organization looking for a sponsor or a large nonprofit who is interested in becoming one, join this breakout session to learn how one organization is creating a pathway that leads to funding for all!
Zenique Gardner Perry (she/her/hers) | Co-Founder, Undo Bias
James Meinert (he/him/his) | Co-Founder, Undo Bias
Nichole Dawsey (she/her/hers) | Executive Director, PreventEd
Gerald Watson (he/him/his) | Executive Director at Fresh Start Community Coalition
Zenique Gardner Perry, a co-founder of Undo Bias is a writer, educator, artist convener, and Black liberationist. Zenique writes stories about family, race, faith and all its intersections using writing as a way to address racism.
James Meinert, a co-founder of Undo Bias is a facilitator, educator, organizer, and musician. He focuses his work on racism, gender-based oppression, and their intersections. He is a musician who sings about liberation and family.
Nichole Dawsey, MPH, has worked with PreventEd since 2008 in various capacities and was appointed as Executive Director in 2018. The organization has become known for its supportive workplace culture and has been honored as a Top Workplace by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. In 2023, PreventEd achieved the Recovery Friendly Workplace distinction from the University of Missouri Extension. Nichole is President of the Board of Directors for Da Hood Connect, a St. Louis-based nonprofit, and is a Director for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
Gerald Watson is a retired general contractor after having served 25 years in this capacity. For the past 17 years, he has been the Executive Director of Fresh Start Community Coalition. Its mission is to provide prevention programs, resources and education that empowers families in our community to thrive, rise above poverty and become productive citizens.
Currently two programs are offered: 12-Step Celebrate Recovery and Active Parenting First Five Years (APFFY). Soon, the Fresh Start Teen Ambassador program will be launched to combat the increasing rate of drug use and crime that plagues our youth.
During the organization’s tenure, Gerald has been instrumental in helping countless individuals to overcome addictions, hurts, habits and hang-ups. He’s grown the organization from five core group members to more than 30 committed individuals.
With the help of other community organizations, Fresh Start looks to combine resources to help communities in need.
Radical Joy in Fundraising: How to make your program sustainable
We tend to see fundraising as stressful because it involves the trifecta of stress: talking about money, asking for help and being open the possibility of rejection. We think we need to try to pitch or push people into asking. We don’t want to feel rejected or pushy.
What if there were a way to connect with donors that removed the stress and discomfort? What if, instead of dreading those calls to donors or being angry that your board, once again, won’t support your fundraising efforts, you we excited to connect with potential donors?
Instead of pitching or pushing, now you are listening, connecting and forming strong relationships with ease! These relationships are rooted in a deep connection that will create long-term, loyal donors.
Maryanne will share three actionable steps to shift your thinking and your actions so you can release the stress and find joy in fundraising.
•Reframe the fundraising story to get better outcomes
•Stop trying to convince people to care and learn to connect with like-minded prospects
•Hold fundraising conversations that put both parties at ease
•Support others in shifting their perceptions around fundraising and widening their comfort zones
Maryanne Dersch (she/her/hers) | Founder and Chief Excitement Officer at Courageous Communication
Can you imagine asking for anything, including money, with ease and confidence?Maryanne helps nonprofit leaders master the art of influence so they can ask for and receive all they need without feeling rejected, ineffective or pushy.
Maryanne Dersch spent 30 years working in the sector helping organizations communicate more effectively. She authored her book Courageous Communication. She hosts The Influential Nonprofit podcast and the annual Donor Attraction Forum virtual event.
Engaging Your Volunteer as Donors
Volunteers who believe in an organization’s mission are 80% more likely to donate and are more likely to donate 10x more money to charities than those who do not volunteer. Subsequently, donors who participate in at least one volunteer activity increase their donor retention rate by 2.5x. Volunteers and donors go hand-in-hand, and every nonprofit needs both.
In this session, we’ll focus on how you can turn your volunteers into loyal and engaged donors by understanding what motivates your volunteers and donors, tips for segmenting your volunteers, and how to double down on storytelling to connect with your audience.
James Goalder (he/him/his) | Partnerships Manager at Bloomerang
With almost 20 years of experience working in nonprofit technology and sales and relationship management, James brings the perfect blend of experience for his role as Partnerships Manager at Bloomerang. In addition to his work experience, James volunteers with Project Grows, a community farm in Virginia, serving on the Board and on Volunteer Nights with the organization.
Breakout Session 3 Options
How to Move Event Attendees to Donors
It's 11pm, your fundraising event is over, and you can finally put your feet up to relax. But wait! The real work doesn't stop there. In this session, you'll learn how to turn your event attendees into donors.
We'll cover the following topics:
• The importance of fundraising events
• How to better understand your attendees
• Eight steps to moving event attendees into donors
• Real-world examples
By the end of this session, you'll have the tools you need to turn your event attendees into long-term donors for your nonprofit. This will help you to raise more money for your nonprofit and further your mission.
Heather Kemper (she/her/hers) | Director of Development at Miriam School
Heather Kemper has an unwavering passion for creating impact in her community. She is currently the Development Director for Miriam School & Learning Center, is a board member for the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of 100 Women Who Care - St. Charles County. Heather earned a bachelor’s in Public Relations from Mizzou, a Masters in Writing from Lindenwood University, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, as well as an Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional.
Cultural Humility: A Cornerstone of Inclusion
Cultural humility is essential to an inclusive company or organization, particularly in service/nonprofit organizations. This workshop will delve into why the term cultural humility is used over cultural competency or cultural sensitivity and reflect on how this concept can be used to mitigate biases that can lead to the “-isms” (racism, sexism, ableism, etc.). Participants will have the opportunity to explore their own identities and reflect on what cultural humility means to them and their organization with the guidance of the presenter. At the end of this workshop, participants will be better situated to engage with others without centering their own culture and even reflect on where their skills are best suited based on their social identities.
Sarah Masoud (she/her/hers) | Director of Education and Training at Diversity Awareness Partnership
Sarah Masoud is the Director of Education and Training at DAP. She started her career working in the refugee and immigration field and received her Masters in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Sarah has 10 years of experience conducting skill-building cultural humility trainings as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for both youth and adults. She remains a lifelong learner in the evolving and dynamic field of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Stewardship: Because Awkwardly Asking For Money is Hard
You know donor stewardship is important – so why is it so hard to implement? Join us for 60 minutes to reflect on what’s working/not working in your current stewardship strategies and learn real tips to cultivate genuine relationships with your donors. Most importantly, we’ll take time to brainstorm and plan with peers so you leave with a realistic, focused action plan you can implement tomorrow. Awkwardly asking for money is hard—so don’t do it. Create authentic relationships to ensure your donors feel valued and connected to your mission.
Angela Sears Spittal (she/her/hers) | Executive Director at Ready Readers
Angela Sears Spittal brings 25 years’ experience in non-profit and state government executive management. She loves communicating ideas and generating enthusiasm, developing concepts and individuals, and walking into a room full of strangers. In her personal life, Angela is active with her faith community, and enjoys time with her family, reading, hiking and doing anything outside.
More than a Ladder: Exploring fundraising career paths
Join moderator Shannon Grass, CFRE, Partner at EMD Consulting and a panel of greater St. Louis-based fundraisers to explore the many directions that a career in fundraising can take, from linear climbs from entry-level positions to leadership, the adventures of “accidental fundraisers,” and the merits of specializing in one fundraising role or industry versus working as a generalist. This panel will conclude with a Q&A session to answer whatever career questions you have. Perfect for emerging professionals, mid-career professionals looking for growth or change, and for advanced professionals wanting to connect with the next generation of ambitious fundraisers.
Shannon Grass, CFRE (she/her/hers)| Partner at EMD Consulting
Lauren Gentry (she/her/hers) | Acting Director of Membership & Development at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Chris Munoz, MA CFRE (he/him/his)| Senior Associate Director of Corporate Relations at Washington University
Betsy Reznicek (she/her/hers)| Executive Director and Founder at Home Sweet Home
Jeffrey L. Shaw (he/him/his)| Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Harris Stowe State University
Courtney Simms, CFRE (she/her/hers)| Director of Advancement at The MUNY
Shannon Grass, Partner, joined EMD in 2020 following 20+ years leading development efforts at Epworth Children & Family Services, Washington University in Saint Louis, Laumeier Sculpture Park, City Museum, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, member of the Planned Giving Council, and an alumna of Leadership St. Louis.
Shannon specializes in resource development strategy, major and annual giving programs, feasibility studies, talent search, and fundraising coaching for development teams, senior staff, and boards. She is passionate about helping people “up their fundraising game” and enjoys developing staff and building culture. Candor, humor, positivity, and organization are hallmarks of Shannon’s style. Her unique talent is solving problems by connecting people and resources, tapping into a broad network of long-nurtured civic, nonprofit, and governmental relationships.
Since 2021, Lauren has been working with GEO to strengthen their community of grantmakers and to advance its mission of transforming philanthropy in service of nonprofits and communities. Previously, Lauren worked as the Development Manager at Metro Theater Company in St. Louis, and as a School Administrator for the Boston Ballet. Lauren has also worked as a freelance grantwriter, supporting organizations dedicated to serving young people in need.
Lauren holds a Master of Science in Arts Administration with a Certificate in Fundraising Management from Boston University and a Bachelor of Art in Global Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is on the boards of the St. Louis Poetry Center and Association of Fundraising Professionals St. Louis.
Chris Munoz began his career with the Boy Scouts of America where he facilitated volunteer engagement, community relations, and fundraising. He joined Our Little Haven as a Development Associate in 2013 where he received his CFRE in 2015 and Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Washington University in St. Louis as the Associate Director of Our Little Haven in 2020.
He joined WashU in 2022 and serves as a Senior Associate Director, Corporate Relations. Chris manages a wide portfolio of local and national Fortune 500 companies and their relationship with the university.
Betsy Reznicek, originally from central Illinois, moved to St. Louis 24 years ago. She pursued a history and secondary education degree but discovered her passion for helping others. After working at a national nonprofit, she transitioned to organizations supporting women and children. Recognizing the need for a furniture bank in St. Louis, Betsy launched Home Sweet Home with the support of friends and family. The organization partners with 60 St. Louis nonprofits to provide basic household furnishings to families in need. She has grown the organization from a volunteer-based initiative to a team with 20 staff members and 700+ volunteers to serve more than 4,600 families. Outside of her work, this mom of two and voracious reader loves camping and hiking all over the country.
Shaw currently serves as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Harris-Stowe State University, where he oversees alumni engagement, development, and advancement services. In this role, he also serves as the Executive Director of the Harris-Stowe Foundation. Prior to Harris-Stowe, he held leadership roles and led successful fundraising campaigns at Texas Southern University, Florida A&M University, and the United Negro College Fund, Inc.
Shaw has two decades of experience in fundraising and advancement. He has a solid reputation for creating high-performing teams, coaching and mentoring staff at all levels, and establishing solid relationships with boards, senior leadership, and community leaders. Shaw’s career includes hands-on and strategic-level experience in every component of development and advancement operations, from annual giving and major gift programs to donor engagement and board development. Within each of these, Shaw has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to bring people together to support higher education. He continues to bring to his profession a solid record of supporting and advancing institutional goals with a combination of innovation, insight, and strategy.
A native of Florida, Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certification from Rice University.
Courtney Simms is a seasoned fundraising executive with 20+ years of fundraising experience. She has raised millions for several St. Louis non-profits, including Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, Legal Services of Eastern MO, and has spearheaded the completion of a $100 million capital campaign at The Muny, where she serves as the Director of Development.
A member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for more than 20 years, she previously served on the AFP board and was recently recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the year.
2023 Perspectives on Philanthropy
Join CCS Fundraising for a session on trends in the philanthropic landscape. Following the recent release of exclusive 2023 Giving USA data, this presentation will explore what these findings mean for the non-profit sector nationally, regionally in the Central U.S., and with a special focus on the local St. Louis Metropolitan area. Going beyond what these trends are, we will analyze what they mean for organizations of different sizes and sectors. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the national and local philanthropic landscapes and actionable strategies for adapting their organization’s fundraising and development initiatives to our ever-changing sector.
Steve Manno (he/him/his) | Principal & Managing Director at CCS Fundraising
Lisa Masters (she/her/hers) | Senior Director at CCS Fundraising
Steve Manno has spent nearly his entire career in fundraising, including almost 25 years with CCS. As Principal & Managing Director, Steve leads the firm’s work in St. Louis and has worked with organizations of every demographic, raising nearly $2 billion. His areas of expertise include various assessments, campaign studies, planning, design, and management; volunteer recruitment and development; leadership training; start-up philanthropy; and principal gifts/non-cash assets.
Lisa Masters has more than 20 years of fundraising experience across all sectors in annual fund, corporate giving, grant-writing, gala events, board development, training, and more. The majority of her experience has been in major gifts, comprehensive campaigns, and planned giving including blended gift proposals. Lisa has a B.S. in Business Administration from Southwest Baptist University and her MBA from Saint Louis University.
Breakout Session 4 Options
Managing Up, Down, and All Around
One of the greatest challenges we face as fundraising professionals is getting the information and resources needed to keep ourselves and our teams happy, focused, and productive while also furthering the agency’s mission and goals. However, the information needed to do our jobs is often spread across multiple people and departments…from finance to program managers to senior-level staff and CEOs. No matter your position (executive director, development associate, fundraising consultant, marketing/communications consultant, etc.) or whether you manage people or not, you need management and leadership skills to get what you need.
This interactive, engaging session will go beyond what one may think of as “managing up” by teaching participants what it means to manage all ways (up, down, and across). By understanding our own work/communication style and motivations, we will better understand how to navigate, communicate, and influence others more effectively. Presenters will share and discuss real-life examples. Participants will have the opportunity to anonymously share their own challenges in working with others and in teams through a brief pre-session survey; this survey will help guide discussions and the tools and strategies presenters introduce to help solve challenges. Learning objectives will include defining managing all ways; identifying and learning the skills and behaviors needed; and tools and strategies to support effective managing up.
Tracey Diefenbach (she/her/hers) | Assistant Director at Assell Grant Services
Michele Ryan (she/her/hers) | Assistant Director at Assell Grant Services
Tracey Diefenbach, GPC, has over 17 years of experience in grant writing, research, and management. She has written and reviewed numerous federal, state, foundation, and corporate grants focused on youth development, education, homelessness, mental health, mentoring, and more. She is a GPA Approved Trainer, an expert in applying motivational interviewing and managing up techniques to the proposal development process, and has successfully secured over $30 million in grant funding since 2005.
Michele Ryan, GPC, has over twenty years of non-profit sector experience in elementary, secondary, and higher education, performing and visual arts, learning disabilities, and human services. Michele oversees a grants staff team of six and has broad fundraising knowledge with a heavy focus on grant writing and management. She has successfully secured over $18 million in funding from government, foundation, corporate, and individual sources over the course of her career.
Crossing the Line: Ethical Dilemmas in Fundraising
This session walks through several case studies about the grey area of fundraising and what you and your organization can do to navigate or eliminate the ad hoc decisions being made about engaging volunteers, accepting donations, or mission creep.
Eric Heininger (he/him/his) | President at EDEN+ Fundraising Consulting
Eric Heininger, CFRE, MBA brings both art & science to a career in philanthropy. His focus is conducting capital campaigns & feasibility studies across the country, managing large portfolios of grants, implementing volunteer recruitment strategies and more. Eric founded EDEN+ Consulting and the Des Moines Fundraising Institute.
Open the Door: Accessibility and Inclusion for Fundraisers and Donors
One in four people have a disability and more of our major donors age into disability each year.
Accessibility and inclusion need to be part of your mindset as a philanthropy professional, and not just if you work in a disability-focused organization. It matters everywhere: within your shop, woven into communications, a first step in event planning, and throughout every stage of the donor cycle. Learn best practices from two professionals with disabilities to build real inclusion that grows your donors and advances your mission.
Using real world examples and plenty of space for awkward questions, you will leave this session with tools and resources that increase your awareness and confidence about what accessibility means so everyone you invite into your mission feels welcome.
Lori Becker (she/her/hers) | CEO, Starkloff Disability Institute
Maggie Mahoney (she/her/hers) | Director of Development, Starkloff Disability Institute
Lori Becker is the CEO of the Starkloff Disability Institute. Lori first got involved with SDI 10 years ago as a Career Academy candidate, and quickly joined the staff. Now Lori directs and advances strategy to achieve our vision of disabled people thriving. As a leader with a disability, she was named a Diverse Business Leader by the St. Louis Business Journal. Lori earned a BA in Organizational Psychology from SLU and a Nonprofit Business Management Certificate from Washington University.
Maggie Mahoney, J.D., fell into Development by chance and then fell in love with it as a way to show people how they can help build a more just and equitable world. As Director of Development for Starkloff Disability Institute and a person with a nonvisible disability, Maggie focuses on nurturing relationships, illuminating the joy of Disability Pride, and creating opportunities for people to make a transformational impact in our community.
New Development Plan– How Donor Motivations Rewrite Your Fundraising
The world is changing and so is fundraising. Through the pandemic and beyond, the nonprofit sector needs to adapt to the expanding world of personalized and segmented messaging. The “Amazon” and “Netflix” experiences are now expected in the social sector. It is more important than ever that we, as organizations and fundraisers, fulfill the emotional reasons why our donors are drawn to the missions of our organizations. Our fundraising communications and content, both from a distance and in person, must include how our donors are personalizing our mission and their support. Your constituents are unique to your organization because your mission and values intersect with your donors’ personal motivations for giving. In this session, Katie will discuss a framework for the use of neuroscience, donor psychology and behavioral economics in fundraising. You will understand donor motivations and how to utilize donor/community centric messaging tailored to your unique organization’s mission and outreach. You will leave with a strategy to implement personalization, segmentation and donor journeys to create actionable fundraising communications that grow relationships, increase retention and speak to your donor universe.
Katie Lord (she/her/hers) | Director of Individual Giving at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City
Katie Lord is the Director of Individual Giving at Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City. Her career has spanned working both as a fundraiser in the sector and as a consultant working with clients to raise more money through development plans based on donor motivation, personalize and experience. She is passionate about lifting up the fundraising profession and creating a more sustainable pipeline of talent. Katie is an AFP Master Trainer and a Board Source Certified Consultant.
