The 2019 NEAGC
Monday, March 18 – Tuesday, March 19, 2019
The Renaissance Providence in Providence, Rhode Island
The 2019 NEAGC Fee: $225 (Early Bird rate of $175 available until November 30, 2018)
What’s included?
- Two keynote sessions
- Two full days of breakout sessions, networking with sponsors, presenters, and attendees, as well as several meals and refreshments throughout the conference.
- Lunch will be available on both days, breakfast will be served day 2.
- When booking your travel, plan to stay until the end of the conference for a chance to win one of two Apple iWatches.
- Up to 9 credits towards CFRE certification available.
For more information or to be added to our email distribution list, please sign up now.
Conference Schedule
Monday – March 18, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Registration and Coffee
8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks | Diane Thompson Award Presentation
- Andrew Bernstein | President of the Northeast Annual Giving Association & Director of Annual Giving, Quinnipiac University
- Colin Hennessy | Associate Dean, Alumni Relations & Development, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago
- Patricia Jackson | Vice President for Development, Brown University
- Stephanie Rasamny |President, Mainsprings Media Communications, Inc. Platinum Sponsor
9:15 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Keynote Address
- Kestrel Linder |CEO and Co-Founder of GiveCampus
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Break and Visit Sponsors
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session 1
Fixing the Leaky Bucket: Addressing Issues in Donor Retention
- Charlene Culler | Director of Annual Giving, Hunter College
- Jonathan Van Oss | Director of Consulting & Analytics, Pledgemine
Area(s) of Focus: Direct Mail, Analytics
Downsizing Your Phonathon: Panel
- Anthony Cernera | Senior Director of Annual Giving and Engagement, Geisinger
- Abby Beauparlant |Director of Annual Giving, Merrimack College
- Ryan Chartier | Associate Director of Annual Giving, University of Vermont
- Kevin Morgenstein Fuerst | Senior Director of Annual Giving, University of Vermont
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Marketing, Young Alumni, Analytics
Twenty Lightbulbs in Sixty Minutes: Favorite New Annual Giving Ideas of the Year
- Bob Burdenski | Robert Burdenski Annual Giving & FundList
Area(s) of Focus: Marketing, Marketing, Frontline Fundraising, Social Media, Direct Mail, Young Alumni, Student Philanthropy
Parent Giving 101
- Taylor McDonnell | Assistant Director of the Fordham Fund, Parent Giving, Fordham University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Marketing, Direct Mail, Email Marketing
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch sponsored by MCR & Five Maples Development Communications
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Breakout Session 2: Professional Development Sessions
New to the Annual Giving Field Track
- Jen Castellani | Director of the Vassar Fund, Vassar College
Seasoned Annual Giving Professionals Track
- Colin Hennessy | Associate Dean for Alumni Relations & Development, University of Chicago & 2019 Diane Thompson Award Recipient
Area(s) of Focus: Professional Development
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Breakout Session 3
Don’t Say it, Show it: How to incorporate more video into your annual appeals
- Lindsay Roth | Assistant Vice Chancellor for Annual Giving, UMass Dartmouth
- JD Beebe | CEO, ThankView, LLC
Area(s) of Focus: Stewardship, Social Media, Marketing, Email Marketing, Analytic
Strategic Planning, Strategic Communicating: Building a framework for Fundraising Success
- Stacey Grady | Director of Development, Springbrook
- Lauren Agnello | Development Assistant, Springbrook
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Social Media, Marketing, Direct Mail, Email Marketing
Utilizing Annual Giving Volunteers to Raise More Money
- Marybeth Oskowski | Director of Annual Giving, Boston Latin School Association
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Social Media, Marketing, Young Alumni, Student Philanthropy
6 Pillars of a Successful Annual Giving Program
- Dan Allenby |Principal and Founder, Annual Giving Network
Area(s) of Focus: Professional Development
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Break and Visit Sponsors
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Breakout Session 4
Engaging Young Alumni in Recurring Giving
- Nick Wormley | Executive Director of Athletic Development, Fairfield University
- Connor Donnelly | Assistant Director of Athletic Development, Fairfield University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Young Alumni, Student Philanthropy
Collaborating Across Campus for a Successful Giving Day
- Angelica Howard | Major Gift Officer, Temple University
- Blake Piper | Assistant Director of Programs and Initiatives, Temple University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Social Media, Marketing, Young Alumni, Student Philanthropy, Direct Mail, Email Marketing, Analytics
Into the Crystal Ball: Where We’re Heading in Annual Giving – Panel
- Bob Burdenski | Robert Burdenski Annual Giving & FundList – Moderator
- Jessica Carswell | Director of Development, Annual Giving and Donor Relations, St. Mary Medical Center
- Shelby Palmer | Director of Annual Giving, Kutztown University
- Lisa Raiola | Vice President of Advancement, Roger Williams University
- Katie Grisbacher | Director of Annual Giving, Lebanon Valley College
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Marketing, Social Media, Email Marketing, Young Alumni, Student Philanthropy
Writing for Direct Mail Appeal
- Paul Barry | Cape Cod Mail Group, Annual Giving Direct Mail Strategist
- Tracey Palmer | Palmer Communications
Area(s) of Focus: Direct Mail, Marketing
4:45 p.m. NEAGC Day 1 Concludes
Tuesday – March 19, 2019
7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Problem Solving/ Idea Group Session (Optional)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Breakout Session 5
Digital Fundraising in Difficult Circumstances (Without Looking Opportunistic)
- Stephen Neill | Chief Operating Officer, Gonzaga High School
Area(s) of Focus: Social Media, Frontline Fundraising, Makreting
A Continuum: from Alumni Engagement to Annual Giving
- Chantal Champagne | Executive Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving, Pace University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Social Media, Young Alumni
Back to a Manual Phonathon
- Amanda Walck | Assistant Director of the Fund for Albright, Albright College
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Marketing
The Party is Getting Crowded
- Angie Myers | Director of Annual Giving, Pennsylvania College of Technology
- Clarke Gafke | CEO of LEAD
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Stewardship, Direct Mail
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Break and Vendor Visit
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Breakout Session 6
Giving Days in a Small Shop
- Crete Clifford | Annual Giving Officer for Operations, Salve Regina University
- Andrew Baik | Annual Giving Officer for Digital Fundraising, Salve Regina University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Social Media, Marketing, Young Alumni, Direct Mail, Email Marketing
Invest in Qualifying: Donor Growth and Talent Management
- Lori Kiewe | Executive Director, Qualifying and Training, Syracuse University
- Kate LoSecco | Development Associate, Syracuse University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Professional Development
Collaboration between Annual Giving and Major Gifts Teams
- Colin Hennessy | Associate Dean for Alumni Relations & Development, University of Chicago & 2019 Diane Thompson Award Recipient
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Professional Development, Marketing
Creating a Senior Class Volunteer Group: Lessons and Results
- Paul Muite | Executive Director of the Annual Fund, Stony Brook University
Angelica Scanu | Annual Giving Coordinator, Stony Brook University
Area(s) of Focus: Social Media, Marketing, Student Philanthropy, Email Marketing, Analytics
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Breakout Session 7
Breakdown Campus Silos for Digital Marketing
- Stuart Seidel | Manager of Digital Marketing, Annual Giving, University at Albany
Area(s) of Focus: Social Media, Marketing, Student Philanthropy
Using Fundraising for Athletics to Increase Alumni Participation
- Tim Martin | Director of the Assumption Fund, Assumption College
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Marketing, Young Alumni, Direct Mail
When Affinity and Capacity Meet: Cohort-based Leadership Annual Giving – When it works (and when it doesn’t)
- Flavio Bollag | Development Officer, Leadership Giving, Stony Brook University
Area(s) of Focus: Frontline Fundraising, Analytics
Let’s Email Smarter
- Stephanie Rasamny | President, Mainsprings Media Communications
Area(s) of Focus: Email Marketing, Marketing, Analytics
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch sponsored by MCR and Five Maples Development Communications
1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Keynote Address – Advancement is a Team Sport
- Joan Garry | Principal, Joan Garry Consulting
“Can you all just go run the annual fund while we do the real work of this institution?” Perhaps unspoken but the sentiment is there.It’s time to turn the tables. Garry will remind you that your work is central and the fuel for a five star student experience. She will offer actionable strategies to help you build a culture of philanthropy across your campus and will do so with practical advice, joy, humor and as a fierce champion for your success.
3:00 p.m. -3:15 p.m. Closing Remarks & Prize/Giveaway Announcement
3:15 p.m. 2019 NEAGC Concludes
The 2019 Diane Thompson Award Recipient
The Diane Thompson Award: Annual scholarship awarded to a senior annual giving professional who, in the opinion of the Northeast Annual Giving Association Executive Board, has exhibited excellence in annual giving practice and commitment to the profession. First presented in 2015, the award is named after Diane Thompson, the foundress of the Northeast Annual Giving Conference.
The Northeast Annual Giving Association is pleased to announce that the recipient of the Diane Thompson Award is Colin Hennessy, Associate Dean of Alumni Relations and Development for the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
As Associate Dean and Chief Development Officer, he leads all initiatives to engage Harris alumni and deepen philanthropic relationships with Harris alumni, parents and friends.
Before joining Harris Public Policy and the University of Chicago, Colin served as the Executive Director of The Penn Fund at the University of Pennsylvania where he oversaw the global undergraduate annual giving program and the largest of the University’s annual funds. Under his leadership, The Penn Fund steadily increased alumni donor participation and both unrestricted and endowed scholarship revenue to the University and gained national praise for collaboration with faculty on experimental fundraising design and testing. Prior to his role at Penn, Colin served as Associate Director of Annual Giving programs at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, managing annual giving programs for Iowa’s 11 Colleges.
In 2007, Colin was the inaugural recipient of the James A. Socknat Memorial Fellowship in Tertiary Education at The World Bank where he researched the use of information and communications technologies in the developing world. At Penn, Colin’s doctoral research explored undergraduate distance learning at institutions with traditional residential college model and outreach strategies for development and alumni relations with the goal of increasing lifetime philanthropic support.
Colin earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa and graduate degrees in education and public policy before earning his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.