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• A Shining Arrow in your Quiver: Speaking Skills for Fundraisers

  • When
    09/11/2019
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Sam's of Gedney Way, 52 Gedney Way, White Plains

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  Whether it is an elevator speech, a pitch at a cozy dinner meeting, or an ASK before a big alumni audience, successful philanthropic communications demand eloquence, confidence and power. This workshop will address some of the essential skills in face-to-face persuasive speech. Understanding your audience and their needs; suiting the language, including vocabulary and allusion, to their point of view and age; rendering the mission irresistible as one that solves a problem-- are some of the topics related to the composition of effective speech. The second half of the session will focus on delivery of the speech.

  Short lectures will be punctuated with discussions about actual successful and unsuccessful communiques. The workshop will emphasize interactive commentary and demonstrable presentation from the attendees. The signal, culminating exercise will be short speeches in which attendees ask for a donation; sympathetic critiques from the group will follow. Good will and laughter will be encouraged.

  Participants can expect to learn:

  • The elements of a short persuasive speech; composing the elevator speech
  • What are the current trends in effective PowerPoint presentations
  • Some audience analysis, including millennial, generation X, and baby boomers
  • Getting rid of “podium paralysis.”

  SPEAKER:  Dr. Carole Weaver, National Medical Fellowships

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• Meet the Funders Panel Discussion

  • When
    10/16/2019
  •  
    8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    360 Hamilton Ave, White Plains - 1st Floor Auditorium

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  This free event, sponsored by a generous grant from Con Edison, will feature a panel of foundation directors/corporate giving officers who will answer grant making questions and provide insights into the grant making process.  Co-presented by Grant Professionals of the Lower Hudson Valley.

  MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

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• Give Potential Donors Something To Hold On To

  • When
    11/20/2019
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    TBD

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  When I see names on a donor wall, I wonder "Why did this couple or individual or foundation choose this institution and not another?" Perhaps the answer was in the case statement, a brochure that spoke to them in ways that others didn’t; that demonstrated how closely their interests were aligned with the organization or cause. Especially for major gifts, the case statement is that singular printed piece that potential donors can study at leisure—and proudly keep. It demonstrates—through words, pictures and diagrams—the information needed for them to understand the needs of the organization and the potential impact of their dollars. The presentation does not have to be big or fancy. But it has to be well produced and truly make the case, step-by-step, so that the motivation to donate becomes an imperative. In this workshop, we will learn how to make an effective case statement — and share our ideas with each other.

  Participants can expect to learn how to:

  • Plan an effective presentation using “design thinking” methodology.
  • Write page headlines that, step-by-step, make the case for your organization.
  • Follow up each headline with short, effective text that tells the story: The importance of your organization; why you need the money now; what you will do with it; how their involvement will better the world; and how they can participate.
  • Chose the right visual to illustrate each aspect of the story.
  • Put in all together in a package that gets the donor to “yes.”
  • When and how to choose and work with a graphic designer, photographer, and/or illustrator—and what it should cost.
  • How to deliver the package.
  • How and when to follow up.

  SPEAKER:  Ellen Shapiro, Visual Language LLC

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• Philanthropic Leadership: Engaging Board Members and Volunteers in Fundraising

  • When
    12/11/2019
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    TBD

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  Board members and volunteer leaders are a key asset to an organization’s fundraising efforts. They champion an organization’s mission, engage their networks, and provide generous financial support. But how can we better harness their strengths to have the greatest impact on our community?

  In this session, we will explore the role of the Board and volunteer leaders in driving fundraising activity and discuss effective strategies to engage and deploy these individuals as ambassadors of your organization. This session will also cover the value of storytelling as a fundraising tool and offer recommendations to empower leaders with the language to articulate the impact your organization has had on their life or community to inspire greater financial support.

  Participants can expect to learn:

  • The role of the Board in championing an organization’s fundraising efforts
  • Strategies to engage and empower Board members and volunteer leaders in fundraising activity
  • How to leverage storytelling as an effective fundraising strategy

  SPEAKER:  Elizabeth Abel, CCS Fundraising

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• Mastering Donor Engagement & Results with Video

  • When
    01/08/2020
  •  
    8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    TBD

  Register

  Who is your target audience and how do we engage their attention towards your organization? In this session, Donvil Collins, CEO at VeeKast will provide a detailed exercise & layout into successful strategies to build effective videos for organizations. This will be an interactive session and demonstration of how to structure a video to be as impactful as possible. Whether for fundraising, recruiting, engagement, or more; a strong video can create the big impact for your organization – in this session we’ll show you how!

  Participants can expect to learn:

  • How to Lock-In viewer attention within the first 5-10 seconds
  • What or Who should you film or interview to engage the target audience
  • How to easily create tear jerkers & emotion for your viewers
  • How to find the emotional story no matter what type of organization
  • The Importance of Storytelling vs Fact Sharing.
  • Most impactful Structures for Impactful Fundraising

  SPEAKER:  Donvil Collins, VeeKast

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• 10 "Gala Ready" Marketing Tips to get your Attendees Pumped

  • When
    02/12/2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    TBD

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  Wow your Gala attendees! Bowl over your event participants! Make a splash with your event marketing with these 10 tips from marketing and event experts.  Break out of the fundraising event humdrum and avoid common missteps that lead to missed opportunities.

  With over 50 years of marketing and event experience between them, Jann Mirchandani and Chereese Jervis-Hill will share best practices on making your event stand out from the crowd. This workshop covers from pre-event publicity to day-of social media engagement to post-event follow up.

  Participants can expect to learn:

  • Tips for leveraging technology effectively for fundraising success
  • Strategy for implementing successful sponsorship packages
  • Best practices for social media engagement and building email campaigns

            

  SPEAKERS:  Jann Mirchandani, Westchester Marketing Cafe
  Chereese Jervis-Hill, Events to Remember

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• Philanthropy Awards Breakfast

  • When
    03/04/2020
  •  
    7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill, 81 Highland Avenue, Tarrytown

  MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

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• Panel Discussion: The One Person Development Shop

  • When
    04/15/2020
  •  
    8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    TBD

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  Moderated by Marissa Madonia, Feeding Westchester

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• Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Philanthropy: What Makes Them Give?

  • When
    05/13/2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    TBD

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  Engaging the ever-elusive younger generations in philanthropy has long been an area of focus for many nonprofits. How do we get their attention? How do we harness their passion and energy to support our cause? In this session, speakers will explore trends in giving, why millennials and Gen Z are important to your fundraising strategy, and tools for effectively communicating compelling messages to the next generation of philanthropists.

  Participants can expect to learn:

  • Latest trends related to giving and philanthropic engagement by millennials, Gen Z, and other younger generations
  • Why engaging younger generations is important to your overall fundraising strategy
  • Tools for effectively communicating compelling messages that inspire younger generations of philanthropists to give and be more involved in philanthropy.

  SPEAKERS:  Shannon McPhee and Carl Cervi, CCS Fundraising

  
  

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• Free Summer Networking Mixer

  • When
    06/17/2020
  •  
    5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Scarsdale Golf Club, 1 Club Way, Hartsdale

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  MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

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