Strengthen the voice and consistency of your communications to donors and alumni.
Overview
As a donor relations or communications professional, you likely weren’t trained as a writer, and you may not have paused to consider which media you should use to deliver which messages.
Join us for this virtual training to learn how to write donor-focused messages that are direct, concise, and tell a story. During this highly interactive learning experience, you will have the chance to craft donor messages and receive feedback from our expert faculty and other attendees. You will leave with practical advice on how to match medium to message, with a special focus on how to use technology in donor communications.
Who Should Attend
This training is designed for anyone who communicates directly with donors and alumni. We particularly encourage teams of donor relations and communications professionals, frontline fundraisers, alumni relations and annual giving staff to participate together so you can help ensure consistency in communications across your shop. This program is not designed for full-time copywriters.
The Academic Impressions Online Learning Experience
Intentionally Designed
Online Learning
Our virtual trainings go far beyond just replicating PowerPoint presentations online: these experiences are intentionally designed to give you the kind of robust and dynamic learning experience you’ve come to expect from Academic Impressions. These trainings provide you with an active learning environment and an online space where you can explore ideas, get inspired by what your peers are doing, and understand the range of possibilities around a certain topic. You will leave these sessions with practical solutions that you can take back to your team or task force.
What you will get:
- A dynamic, interactive, and high-touch virtual learning experience designed to engage and set you up for growth
- Seamless online face-time, networking, group work, and Q&A opportunities from the comfort of your own workspace
- Practical takeaways and hands-on knowledge
- Guidance from vetted subject matter experts
- Unlimited access to all recorded online sessions
See What Our Attendees are Saying
AGENDA
May 5, 2021
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Eastern TIme
Welcome and Introductions
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Advancement Communication: The Medium and the Message
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
We will begin with a brief overview of how donor communications are transforming. In this foundational session, we will establish the importance of remaining agile to create relevant and impactful acknowledgements, solicitations, and reports.
Break
12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
Clarifying Your Message
12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Getting your message across while competing with all other mediums of communication is tough. The quality of your message needs to hook the recipient, be creative, and communicate what you mean. In this session, our faculty will also share strategies to combat and work through writer’s block.
Break
1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Effective Messaging
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
In this interactive session, we will outline messaging best practices while we workshop samples of advancement writing. The faculty and group will review samples you and other attendees have submitted and offer feedback to help transform your shop’s communications. You will learn how to emulate the strengths of each piece in your own work and recognize common errors.
Break
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
The Medium for Communications
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Where and how you communicate are essential points of consideration. It is important to utilize a medium that complements your message and resonates with donors and alumni. In this session, we will explore when utilizing a specific medium might be best and how being intentional can strengthen your message.
Q&A
4:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Virtual Networking and Informal Time with the Speakers
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. | Eastern Time
Welcome
11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Streamlining Your Message
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The best writing is concise. However, our messages to donors and alumni are often clouded by unnecessary words. We will help you clarify your communications by trimming down words and getting to the point quickly and effectively. You’ll have the opportunity to review and improve your own writing samples.
Break
12:15 – 12:30 p.m.
Expressing Thanks in Digital Spaces
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Our communications with donors and alumni have moved off the page and into digital spaces. In this session, we will begin exploring new and interactive approaches for reaching alumni and donors and expressing gratitude.
Wrap-Up and Q&A
1:30 – 1:45 p.m.
SPEAKERS
Debbie Meyers
Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations, Chautauqua Institution
Debbie Meyers has worked in advancement for more than 30 years, much of that time in higher education. Recently, she began her new role at Chautauqua Institution, heading their foundation’s advancement operations. In addition to creating or enhancing donor relations and stewardship programs at the University of Maryland, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Florida, she has built communications and development programs for a Catholic high school, an art museum and a health center development office.
Roberta O’Hara
Associate Vice President for Donor Relations, Rutgers University Foundation
Roberta has extensive experience working in higher education in senior leadership roles and was a founding member of the New England Stewardship Conference, the precursor to the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP). She has been a speaker at many conferences and events and has published extensively on the subjects of donor relations, stewardship, events, surveys, leadership, and other fundraising-related topics.
PRICING
Can't attend the conference? Buy the binder.
Questions About the Event?
Britt Iwaszkiw
Program Manager, Academic Impressions