Raise

Grow Your Impact

#FearlessFundraisers

Nashville, TN

September 9-10, 2024

Raise

Grow Your Impact

#FearlessFundraisers

Nashville, TN

September 9-10, 2024

Raise

Grow Your Impact

#FearlessFundraisers

Nashville, TN

September 9-10, 2024

Conference Highlights

“The Raise conference was not only informative, it was inspiring. Being around peers with the same ‘why we do what we do’ was super motivating, and I was ready to come back to work and hit the ground running.”

BERKLEY HALL SCHOOL

Top Reasons to Attend

  • Learn from fundraising experts
  • Interact with amazing speakers
  • All-star networking
  • Receive CFRE Credits

Session Tracks

Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement

Event, Peer-to-Peer & Auction Fundraising

Storytelling, Brand & Leadership

Registration

Early
Bird

$699

SOLD OUT

 

Ends January 31st, 2024

“This conference was game changing for my team. We came eager to learn, and we left inspired and motivated!”

A DOOR OF HOPE

GENERAL
ADMISSION

$899

REGISTER

 

Use code MARCH100 for $100 off

VENUE LOCATION

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203

Back for an encore performance!

Book Your Stay

A Look Back at the Raise 2023 Speakers

Christina Mariscal Pasten

Christina Mariscal Pasten

Para Los Niños, Managing Director of External Affairs

Nicholas Kristock

Nicholas Kristock

KindKatch and Fleece & Thank You, Founder/CEO

Christal Cherry

Christal Cherry

The Board Pro, Principal & CEO

Cherian Koshy

Cherian Koshy

Nonprofit OS,
Founder

Close Bio

Christina Mariscal Pasten

Managing Director of External Affairs

Christina currently serves as Managing Director of External Affairs for Para Los Niños (PLN), a Los Angeles non-profit dedicated to excellent education and developing strong communities in Los Angeles through extensive wraparound support for 10,000 children, youth, and families annually. With more than 15 years of experience, Christina has worked in the government sector, non-profit organizations, and independent schools including, the City and County of Los Angeles, Loyola High School, Marlborough School, and the Autry Museum. Prior to joining PLN, Christina increased annual giving by 53% over five years in her role as Director of Development for High Point Academy in Pasadena. At Para Los Niños, Christina oversees government affairs, corporate and foundation partnerships, as well as volunteer engagement, helping her team raise over $5 million annually.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Christina spent more time at her home away from home: Olvera Street, where her parents still run the family business founded in 1930. Her family is one of the first with six generations participating in the family business and cultural events. Christina works with a group of merchants to provide free cultural programming for the greater Los Angeles community and is a founding board member of the Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation.

Christina holds a B.A. in History and a B.A. in Spanish from Loyola Marymount University, as well as a master’s degree in Policy and Organizational Leadership from Stanford University.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 12
8:35 AM

The Long Game of Volunteerism

55 minutes | 8:35 AM - 9:30 AM | Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership |

Many of us work with volunteers, and while we value their time and their talent, we often wonder what it takes for them to give their treasures too. Most volunteers are not at the executive level and can’t just write a check or underwrite an event. They get involved because they want to give back. As fundraisers, our job is to provide meaningful opportunities and create connections. So what can we do to engage them?

Christina will share tips to help engage corporate and individual volunteers and teach you how to engage them in your mission. She’ll discuss how volunteering is a great equalizer for how people can interact with your nonprofit. Regardless of racial, ethnic, socio-economic, or professional backgrounds, everyone has something to bring to the table, and Christina believes our job is to utilize that lived experience to make a connection with those served by our mission.

Working with volunteers is a long game, but the yield can be incredibly meaningful for all.

Key Takeaways:

  • Complete a volunteer action plan.
  • Understand the infrastructure needed to engage volunteers.
  • Build a portfolio of volunteer engagement opportunities.
Close Bio

Nicholas Kristock

Founder/CEO

Nicholas is a former international soccer player turned serial entrepreneur and servant leader, and he has found his fit in the entrepreneurial world by building businesses that solve problems.

After two seasons of soccer in Australia, Nicholas moved back to Michigan in 2015 and founded Fleece & Thank You, an innovative 501(c)3 organization that provides psychosocial support and programs to children in the hospital and provides comfort to 22 children’s hospitals and units in Michigan.

His venture portfolio extends beyond social impact and philanthropy, as he also is the Founder and CEO of KindKatch, a personalized video engagement platform for brands who want to capture attention and drive deeper relationships with their audience.

Something interesting about Nicholas is that he has bungee’d the tallest bungee jump in the Southern Hemisphere and has also lived homeless for a week in Sydney, Australia as a member of the startup team for Orange Sky Laundry, the world’s first mobile laundry service for the homeless.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 12
1:05 PM

Into The Mind of a Recurring Donor

55 minutes | 1:05 PM - 2:00 PM | Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement |

This session will break down the strategy of building a recurring donor base into digestible, easy, applicable tips that every nonprofit can do to create sustainable, recurring revenue through a solid recurring donor program.

Even if you don’t have a recurring donor program, you can follow along and build the foundation of your program during the presentation!

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand the psychology behind what makes someone give and give again.
  • Implement actionable takeaways for how you can cultivate a recurring donor.
  • Speak confidently to new donors and bring them into your recurring donor program.
Close Bio

Christal Cherry

Principal & CEO

Christal M. Cherry, The Board Pro, worked 23 years as a nonprofit fundraiser serving higher education institutions, seminaries, and human service organizations. Now as a board consultant for nonprofits, she equips and empowers boards to support their missions and change the world.

Christal has enjoyed training and speaking engagements with Candid, Bloomerang, Network for Good, QGiv, Keela and Nonprofit Hub.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 12
9:35 AM

Fired Up Board Fundraising with a DEIB Lens

55 minutes | 9:35 AM - 10:30 AM | Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement, Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership | Virtual

Join Christal Cherry to discover how boards can get fired up about raising funds for their organizations! She’ll also discuss how fundraising is evolving to center diverse communities, development officers, and high net worth donors.

After this session, you’ll understand the motivating factors behind the giving patterns of diverse donors, how to lean in to stewarding your donors, why trust-based relationships are so important, and how to ensure equity is at the core of your fundraising practices.

Key Takeaways:

  • What motivates diverse donors to give.
  • The value of trust-based relationships when stewarding donors.
  • The ins and outs of centering equity in fundraising.
Close Bio

Cherian Koshy


Founder

Cherian Koshy is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), & AFP Master Trainer. He is the Vice President of Development at Merit America and the founder of the Nonprofit Operating System. He has raised over $100M for various nonprofits, holds advanced certifications in Behavioral Economics, and was a former successful debating coach. He is a sought-after trainer and speaker, and his thought leadership has been featured in several publications.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 11
4:00 PM

Panel: New School Meets Old School Fundraising — Creating Meaningful Donor Experiences In a Digital World

1 hour | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | General Sessions |

Email appeals. Text fundraising. Online giving. Facebook fundraising. And now AI. There are so many ways nonprofit organizations can use online communication tools to connect with their audience and donor base! But how do organizations effectively combine new fundraising platforms and approaches with an “old” way of relationship fundraising?

Join top industry experts as they share how organizations of all sizes can blend emerging technology and “analog” fundraising to create stronger stakeholder and audience connections and raise more money. It’s new school meets old school fundraising for success!

This panel will feature live Q&A from the audience. It’s your chance to ask what’s on your mind!

September 12
1:30 PM

The Robots Are Winning: How to Ensure Your Nonprofit Skills Are AI-Proof

55 minutes | 1:30 PM - 2:25 PM | Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement |

As a nonprofit fundraiser, you know firsthand the importance of every dollar that helps achieve your organization’s mission. That’s why it’s essential to find creative, effective ways to raise funds and engage donors.

But… what if the robots have already found the solution and are using skills to develop incredible ways to create, repurpose, and utilize artificial intelligence (AI)?

At first glance, AI might seem like a threat to job security, with analysts predicting that as much as 50% of current jobs may be lost or replaced by AI by 2030. But don’t despair! While AI is capable of handling certain tasks, it is not able to possess the “soft skills” or “human skills” that are necessary to building truly deep relationships with your donors. These skills, like communication, leadership, empathetic listening, and connection, are what set us apart from the machines.

So, how can you use AI as a fundraising tool and integrate soft skills to remain relevant in the nonprofit industry?

Key Takeaways:

  • Benefits of Chat GPT, Open AI, and other AI resources as fundraising tools.
  • How AI can help with personalization and convenience in the donor experience.
  • The role of and how to develop soft skills to remain relevant and valuable.
Tiffany Halan

Tiffany Halan

Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation, Director of Foundation Operations

Deborah Barge

Deborah Barge

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Chief Development Officer

Yanni Saratsis

Yanni Saratsis

NextAfter, VP of Client Services

Jarrett Ransom

Jarrett Ransom

The Rayvan Group, Nonprofit Nerd

Close Bio

Tiffany Halan

Director of Foundation Operations

Having a background in exercise and sport science, Tiffany transitioned to a career in fundraising when she moved back to rural Wisconsin in 2011 and had an opportunity to use her dynamic background in building relationships and leading teams to advance the philanthropic mission of the area’s rural healthcare system. As Director of Operations for Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation, Tiffany oversees special event fundraising, volunteer fundraising, sponsor engagement, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program and Foundation operations. Leading a team of remarkably creative fundraising professionals, she is pushed to raise expectations and reimagine fundraising each day!

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 11
2:30 PM

Passion, People & Purpose: Add Impact to Your Special Events to Foster Meaningful Relationships

55 minutes | 2:30 PM - 3:25 PM | Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising |

This session will walk you through the importance of tying every fundraising event detail back to the people. We all know that fundraising is about building relationships, but did you know that every detail of your event can help foster deeper connections with your supporters?

So, what about the details? From live and silent auctions to mobile bidding, raffles and fund-a-need, utilize the intricate strengths of each of your fundraising professionals and volunteers to plan and implement events that raise more money, build better awareness for your cause, and leave your attendees wanting to come back.

We will also dive into sponsor engagement and why it is vital to the success of your event. Learn how to make your sponsors feel valued from the time you ask for their support to the time you say ‘thank you’ post-event. And lastly, learn how to fundraise, and friend-raise, through the use of genuine speakers that ignite passion and stories that tug on the heart strings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Explore new event ideas to build better engagement.
  • Cultivate better sponsor and attendee relationships through attention to detail.
  • Be intentional in thanking and stewarding your donors.
  • Learn to think creatively when choosing speakers and stories of impact.
Close Bio

Deborah Barge

Chief Development Officer

Deborah Barge is a leader of philanthropic culture and partnership at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America serving as Chief Development Officer in service to the largest JEDI-focused your mentoring program in the nation. Over the past 20+ years, Deborah has led teams and partnerships that have generated more than $1 billion to the causes and missions she has served. As a BIPOC female in the industry, Deborah brings an authentic perspective to our work to solve the worlds most complex problems through our mission-based endeavors.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 12
9:05 AM

JEDI Is for ALL of Us to Learn & Embrace

55 minutes | 9:05 AM - 10:00 AM | Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement |

JEDI (Justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) is not just about race, is not just about who we serve, it is about all of us as fundraising staff, as vendors, as volunteers, and as donors. This session will explore key themes of activation for organizations and event leaders to own in their own organizational JEDI journey.

Using the JEDI model implemented by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, Deb will take the attendees through the strategies and practical approaches used by BBBS. This session is a MUST SEE for any fundraiser looking to explore, learn, or implement inclusion practices into their organization and fundraising.

Key Takeaways:

  • Actionable steps to begin your own JEDI-focused initiatives.
  • Understand JEDI and your personal role in the work.
  • Real examples of tactical actions a group can take now.
Close Bio

Yanni Saratsis

VP of Client Services

Yanni serves as the Vice President of Client Services at NextAfter, where he uses his 15 years of non-profit fundraising experience to help organizations make an even greater impact on the world.

An award-winning digital strategist, prior to joining NextAfter Yanni spent 10 years at RKD Group, where he was responsible for creating breakthrough, multi-channel strategies for over one hundred local and regional nonprofits, primarily focusing on the health and human services sector.

He also spent 7 years in Washington, D.C. working at one of the country’s premier think tanks, focusing on security research, marketing, congressional relations, and fundraising.

Yanni holds a B.A. in International Studies from Bryant University and an M.A in International Relations from Sussex University in the U.K. He currently resides in Rhode Island with his fiance and two fur babies, Maximus and Bailey.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 12
8:35 AM

5 Ways to Optimize Your Donation Page for Year-End

55 minutes | 8:35 AM - 9:30 AM | Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement |

As fundraisers, we tend to have an idealistic picture of what it looks like for a donor to give to our organizations. We often assume that because they’re already on the donation page, they trust us, are motivated to give, and all it takes to get a donation is a streamlined way for them to enter their donation information.

But what all the data tells us is that, in the best scenario, your donation page is FAILING donors 78% of the time.

In this session, we’ll uncover how to optimize your forms for the busy year-end giving season. You’ll discover 5 common ways that your donation page could be failing your donors. And you’ll be equipped with tested and proven tactics to improve your donors’ experience and increase donations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Find out where most donation forms fail their donors.
  • Learn small changes that lead to big increases in conversion rates.
  • See what’s worked for other nonprofits, given tech stack limitations.
Close Bio

Jarrett Ransom

Nonprofit Nerd

Jarrett Ransom, also known as the Nonprofit Nerd, founded her consulting firm in 2009, which exclusively focuses on helping nonprofits. She is deeply committed to fostering community and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. Jarrett takes on multiple roles, and as a leader of her teams across the country, she helps them raise millions of dollars annually to support their mission.

As the President and CEO of The Rayvan Group, Jarrett is dedicated to assisting charitable organizations of various sizes, from startups to multimillion-dollar entities, in developing sustainable fundraising strategies. She also provides strategic planning services that extend beyond immediate needs, with a forward-looking perspective that spans 3, 5, 10, and more years.

Furthermore, Jarrett co-hosts the Nonprofit Show on the American Nonprofit Academy, where she brings her dynamic energy and enthusiasm to the weekly program featuring nonprofit thought leaders and topics from around the world. Jarrett has served as host and emcee for a variety of live and in-person events.

Outside of work, Jarrett enjoys spending time with her son exploring the great outdoors. Together, they have already visited 14 National Parks, and they plan to visit all the US National Parks in the future.

Sessions

  • Activity
  • Event, Peer-to-Peer, & Auction Fundraising
  • Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement
  • General Sessions
  • Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership

September 11
9:35 AM

Rinse, Repeat, Recycle (Your Content)

55 minutes | 9:35 AM - 10:30 AM | Storytelling, Brand, & Leadership |

Don’t miss this session! You’ll hear the top 10 ways that nonprofit leaders can achieve exponential growth by leveraging the power of existing content!

In today’s rat race, we’re all busy. Learn how to maximize your organization’s content to exponentially impact your storytelling via multi-channel marketing. You’ll walk away with strategies to rinse, repeat, and recycle your content in a way that reaches your audience and saves you time! Come learn a proven framework to help you achieve flawless content execution.

You’d be silly not to take advantage of this session and the 10 ways to grow your fundraising shared by the Nonprofit Nerd herself, Jarrett Ransom.

Key Takeaways:

  • Walk away with tactical techniques to implement a 12-month content calendar.
  • Learn how to leverage your storytelling in multi-channel marketing platforms.
  • Learn how to save time and preserve your sanity!

2023 Keynote Speaker Siri Lindley

Nonprofit Co-founder, World Champion Athlete

A two-time world champion triathlete and winner of twelve ITU World Cup races, Siri Lindley inspires, energizes, and establishes a remarkable connection with her audiences, bringing out the best in an organization’s employees and teams.

View On-Demand Session

A Look Back at our Raise 2023 Sponsors