Here are NEAGC’s sessions for Monday, March 24th.
All times are Eastern.
9:30-11:30 a.m. – Pre-Conference Workshop
An Introduction to Annual Giving and the Northeast Annual Giving Conference
(Monday Morning Pre-Conference Workshop)
Bob Burdenski and Skylar Beaver
Narragensett Bayview Room
There’s a special FREE preconference workshop on Monday morning featuring CASE Laureate and CASE Innovations in Annual Giving author Bob Burdenski, along with CASE Crystal Apple Speaker Skylar Beaver, teaching a special “Introduction to Annual Giving… and NEAGC” workshop. We’ll talk about the evolving goals, methods, channels, messages, metrics — and the very idea of “annual giving” itself. Perfect for your newbies (or your “oldbies” in need of a refresh)!
Noon-1:00 pm. – Registration Open on 17th Floor
1:00-2:00 p.m. – Opening Plenary Session
Conference Opening Welcome Session:
All The Sessions You Don’t Want To Miss… Welcome, Introductions and a Preview of the 2025 Conference
Skylar Beaver, Conference Chair and Bob Burdenski, Conference Director
Biltmore Ballroom
Skylar and Bob (the NEAGC greeters) will preview the conference, spotlight some of our attendees, speakers and sessions, introduce the first-ever recipients of the Andy Bernstein Conference Scholarships, invite the sponsors to say hello, and launch the 2025 (and 23rd) Northeast Annual Giving Conference.
2:00-2:15 p.m. – Plenary Session
Presentation of the 2025 Diane Thompson Award
Biltmore Ballroom
The Diane Thompson Award is an annual award presented to a senior annual giving professional who, in the opinion of the Northeast Annual Giving Conference Committee, has exhibited excellence in annual giving practice and commitment to the profession. First presented in 2015, the award is named after Diane Thompson, a founder of the Northeast Annual Giving Conference back in 2003.
2:15-3:15 p.m. – Plenary Session
Plenary Panel Discussion:
An Annual Giving Directors’ Panel – What Next For Annual Giving?
Jake Strang, University of Pittsburgh (Moderator) with Christine Riendeau, College of the Holy Cross, Teal Butterworth, Brown University, Kyle Storms, The Taft School and Nora Marzocchi, Bryant University
Biltmore Ballroom
They lead advancement at their institutions – what’s their current perspective on annual giving? Is our work evolving from “participation” to “pipeline?” Is the “base of the pyramid” still important? Are there annual giving assumptions that have changed? And what’s stayed the same? Join a panel of chief advancement officers and hear their perspectives “from the top” about the continuing role of annual giving in institutional advancement.
3:15-3:45 p.m. – Break
3:45-4:45 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
The Relationship Between Engagement and Annual Giving
Dominique Matteson, UConn and Megan Rajski, Fairfield University
Biltmore Ballroom
Session description to follow.
Annual Giving Branding and Identity – The RhodyNow Story
John Garcia, Bryant University and Austen Farrell, University of Rhode Island (URI) Foundation
Session description to follow.
Talk the Talk: Training Your Team Through Every Part of the Gift Cycle
Amanda Talbot, Brown University
In this session, hear about the process in which Brown University has piloted a training program for their front-line Annual Fund fundraisers. Want to try it out yourself? Experience hands-on practice qualifying, soliciting or stewarding your peers.
Direct Mail: 5 Things You Should be Testing
Sara Pond and Matt Sulzer, MCR
Testing, testing 1, 2, 3… Are you testing your direct mail approach? Join MCR to learn 5 things you should test, how to perform a quality test, and lessons learned from client results – plus, view a smorgasbord of direct mail samples! Implementing these elements into your upcoming campaign will reveal insights about your audience, identify donor patterns and help you develop a sound fundraising strategy.
4:45-5:30 p.m. – Break
5:30-7:00 p.m. – Networking Reception
NEAGC Welcome Networking Reception
18th Floor – Summit Reception Area
Sponsored by MCR
