Join us for the second annual Nonprofit Fundraising Summit hosted in Eugene on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Come network, share experiences, and learn from knowledgeable experts in the sector. This event will feature three tracks for fundraisers representing a variety of development programs, budgets, and experience levels: 

• Track A - Foundational is ideal for small and/or rural nonprofits. This track will focus on the building blocks of fundraising to support those with limited fundraising experience. We will cover how to create an annual fundraising plan, individual giving, and grant writing.
• Track B - Intermediate is designed for midsize nonprofits. Participants will build on their foundational skills and explore growth areas. Topics include special events, community-centric fundraising, and upgrading donors' giving levels. 
• Track C - Specialized is intended to support large nonprofits. Participants will learn more advanced fundraising techniques and gain in-depth knowledge. This track will cover artificial intelligence (AI), managing major fundraising projects, and developing world-class fundraisers.

Not sure which track is right for you? Based on feedback on last year’s event, you now have the option to attend sessions from different tracks! Choose your own adventure or stick to one track throughout the day. Registration is offered on a sliding scale based on your nonprofit’s annual budget. 

Following the Summit breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from representatives from prominent regional and statewide foundations during a Funder Panel. Each funder will share details about the foundation's background, funding priorities, and grantmaking process. Participants will also be able to ask questions directly to panelists at the end of the session.

This Summit is an educational event and an opportunity to meet with other fundraising professionals. We look forward to welcoming you to Eugene for this day of learning and connection! 

Cost

Ticket pricing for this event is on a sliding scale, as follows:

Member Prices by Organization Budget

• Under $500,000: $165
• $500,000 - $2M: $200
• Over $2M: $275

Nonmember Prices by Organization Budget

• Under $500,000: $240
• $500,000 - $2M: $275
• Over $2M: $350

Registration will close on Friday, February 21, at 5 p.m. or when we reach capacity.

[accordion title="Agenda"]

[accordion-item title="Doors Open" info="8:00 a.m."]

Check-in at the registration table, enjoy a continental breakfast, and network with new and familiar colleagues.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Welcome & Opening Plenary" info="8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. "]

Opening Panel: Unlock the Power of AI in Fundraising
Room: Willamette Ballroom

Facilitated by: Jennifer Monegan, Director of Membership, Development and Communications, NAO

Panelists:

• Anne Murphy, Founder & CEO, Empowered Fundraiser
• Tristan Penn, Equity and Accountability Director, NTEN
• Samhir Vasdev, Founder, Dev Design

It's hard to imagine a sector that hasn't been impacted by artificial intelligence—including the nonprofit sector. While embracing change can spur innovation, it’s equally important to consider potential risks before adopting a new tool or strategy. In this panel discussion, fundraising, nonprofit leadership, and technology experts will explore the transformative impact of AI on our sector. Panelists will share their insights on ethically leveraging AI tools to enhance donor engagement, streamline fundraising processes, improve grant writing efficiency, and more. Whether you’re all in on AI or are more hesitant, you will leave this plenary session with new perspectives and ideas to consider. 

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Break" info="10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. "]

Refill your coffee and make your way to the first breakout session.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Breakout Session 1" info="10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. "]

Session 1A - Foundational: Creating an Annual Fundraising Plan
Presented by: Catrina Mathewson, Senior Director of Development, ShelterCare
Room: Willamette Ballroom

Every nonprofit needs a fundraising plan! Regardless of your size or mission, knowing how much money you need to raise per year is essential. This session will guide attendees in developing strategic fundraising plans that are mission aligned and focused on realistic goals. Attendees will learn about creating clear timelines, maintaining diversified funding sources, meaningfully engaging individual and institutional supporters, and measuring the success of your efforts. This session will provide a supportive learning environment for small nonprofits and emerging fundraisers. Come build on your existing skills and leave with useful next steps to take your fundraising to the next level.

Session 1B - Intermediate: Ask For More: Upgrading Donors to Higher Giving Levels
Presented by: Laurel McCombs, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, The Osborne Group
Room: South Columbia Ballroom

In this session, we'll explore effective strategies for elevating donor engagement and increasing giving levels. Participants will learn how to identify potential upgrade opportunities within their donor base, craft compelling asks that resonate, and build lasting relationships that encourage sustained support.

Session 1C - Specialized: Demystifying AI in Fundraising
Presented by: Samhir Vasdev, Founder, Dev Design
Room: North Columbia Ballroom

In our resource-constrained nonprofit contexts, generative AI tools offer small but mighty gains in productivity, efficiency, and scale across almost every job role and function. What AI tools can help us with fundraising, grant writing, researching, and marketing? Making sense of the ever-changing constellation of tools and techniques can be overwhelming, making it hard to evaluate and adopt generative AI in our everyday work. 
 
Designed specifically for development teams at mission-driven organizations, this workshop makes generative AI practical, relevant, and accessible to people who have little or no experience with these tools. Through fun exercises and concrete discussions, this hands-on session will cultivate an environment to responsibly explore the promise—and perils—of this technology. Skeptics and early adopters alike will leave with tangible new skills, critical perspectives on where generative AI can help or hurt our work, and specific strategies and tips to drive responsible AI adoption and readiness at your organization. 

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Lunch" info="11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. "]

Enjoy lunch, network with your fellow fundraisers, and discuss what you've learned.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Breakout Session 2" info="12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. "]

Session 2A - Foundational: Growing Your Donor Base with Multi-Channel Outreach Strategies
Presented by: Sally Compton, Executive Director, Think Wild Central Oregon
Room: Willamette Ballroom

Today’s competitive funding landscape requires nonprofits to stand out from the crowd and make compelling cases for support. This session is designed for growing nonprofits seeking practical, budget-friendly ways to connect with new audiences and build lasting donor relationships. Participants will learn how to leverage a mix of PR, email, social media, direct mail, and more to create a unified outreach strategy. 
 
By integrating different communication channels, participants will be able to engage prospects more meaningfully, convert them into committed supporters, and retain their loyalty over time. Whether you're looking to refresh your current approach or develop a new strategy from the ground up, this session will give you the know-how to enhance your fundraising efforts and community impact.

Session 2B - Intermediate: Special Events: What’s Working Now?
Presented by: Samantha Swaim, Owner, Swaim Strategies
Room: South Columbia Ballroom

This session will cover creative approaches to planning successful special events. We’ll explore trends that emerged from the COVID pandemic, donors’ expectations and event experiences, and what types of events resonate with people today. As more nonprofits return to in-person galas and fundraisers, adaptive strategies are key for raising funds, deepening relationships, and advancing your mission. We’ll discuss innovative and practical ways to build donor engagement and support. We’ll also discuss leveraging partnerships and local/social media to build community support. Participants will leave with inspiration and actionable insights to create memorable, impactful events.

Session 2C - Specialized: Unleashing the Power of Major Gifts for Transformational Projects
Presented by: Amy Varga, President, The Varga Group
Room: North Columbia Ballroom

Ready to power your organization’s boldest projects with game-changing support? This session unveils the secrets to finding and inspiring major donors who share your vision for impact. Discover how to craft irresistible cases for support, align donor passions with ambitious goals, and build partnerships that fuel transformative growth. Packed with real-world strategies and actionable insights, this session will empower you to turn big ideas into lasting results through meaningful, high-impact donor relationships.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Break" info="2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m."]

Refill your coffee and make your way to the third breakout session.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Breakout Session 3" info="2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. "]

Session 3A - Foundational: Grant Writing: Keys to a Successful Foundation Proposal
Presented by: Rob Hoshaw, Senior Grant Writer, National Council of Nonprofits
Room: Willamette Ballroom

This session is a perfect introduction to foundation proposal writing for small and rural nonprofits and those new to grant writing. We will walk through the entire grant writing process, starting with the work you will need to do before you begin writing. We will review what funders are looking for, how to assess your nonprofit’s readiness, and useful tips and tricks for the research process. We will then cover how to create concise, compelling grant proposals that are tailored to specific funders. Finally, we will discuss how to track grant outcomes, how to manage reporting requirements, and ways to build relationships with funders after the grant ends. Participants will leave this session feeling more confident and equipped with actionable strategies to implement in their organizations.

Session 3B - Intermediate: Principles of Community-Centric Fundraising 
Presented by: Julie Gillis, Consultant, Julie Gillis Consulting
Room: South Columbia Ballroom

In recent years, Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) has emerged as a transformative approach that challenges traditional models of fundraising. We’ll break down how CCF differs from other approaches, such as organization-centric and donor-centric models, offering insights into its philosophy and practical applications. Attendees will gain an understanding of the potential benefits and challenges, with data-backed insights into its impact on fundraising results. Whether you're just learning about CCF or looking to deepen your practice, you'll walk away with a clear sense of how to align your fundraising efforts with the values of equity, inclusion, and collective impact.

Session 3C - Specialized: Building a High-Functioning Fundraising Team Focused on Results
Presented by: Jeri Alcock, Senior Partner, Rose City Philanthropy
Room: North Columbia Ballroom

Where there is diversity, it is inevitable that there will be dissenting views or disagreements among members. Dissent need not bring division. Whether you are raising funds for your annual fund, a capital campaign, or a capacity building initiative, a successful campaign is built on strategic vision, operational excellence, and a culture of results-oriented leadership. This session offers experienced nonprofit leaders insights on how to build and sustain a high-performing fundraising team. Grounded in “The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team" model by the best-selling author Patrick Lencioni, we’ll explore the board and staff behaviors that drive high-performing fundraising teams: trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, results. Participants will engage with the topic through a combination of large-group conversations, self-assessment, reflection, and table discussions.

Participants will learn how the behaviors build on each other; how they directly support or impede achieving fundraising goals; common roadblocks to success; and tips for managing up and using conflict as an advantage. This training moves beyond addressing the roots of resistance by giving you tools to work with volunteer and staff teams through the resolution process while preserving dignity.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Break" info="4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. "]

Breakout sessions conclude. Take a break and prepare to speak with funders.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Funder Panel" info="4:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. "]

Room: Willamette Ballroom

Facilitated by: Jim White, Executive Director, NAO

The most successful grant proposals are those that are a great match for the funder's unique process and priorities. In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from representatives from prominent regional and statewide foundations. Each funder will share information about their respective foundation's background, funding priorities, and grantmaking process. Panel facilitators will also field questions from audience members during the session.

Foundation Representatives include:

• Tyler Hobbs, President, Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation
• Jennifer Groth, Senior Program Officer, Civic Engagement and Community Services, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
• Lyn Hunter, Director, Community Partnerships, Thriving Communities Program, Philanthropy Northwest
• Patrick Hosfield, Donor Relations Officer, and Peter Kukla, Regional Program Associate, Oregon Community Foundation
• Erin Dysart, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Meyer Memorial Trust

[/accordion-item]

[/accordion]

[accordion title="Supplemental Event Info"]

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Parking"]

There is ample free parking available at this venue. The largest parking lot is just NW of the entrance.

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Menu"]
Coffee service all day.

BREAKFAST

• Freshly cut seasonal fruits and berries
• Vanilla-almond granola
• Individual Greek yogurts
• Whole bananas
• Hard boiled eggs
• Oatmeal served with brown sugar, raisins and milk
• Orange juice, apple juice, regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee and hot tea selections

LUNCH – ITALIAN BUFFET
Salad 

• Classic Caesar salad
• Caprese salad w/ tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and balsamic drizzle

Sides

• Garlic Bread
• Grilled Vegetables

Entrée

• Roasted chicken breast
• Italian meatballs
• Penne and Spaghetti pasta
• Marinara sauce
• Alfredo sauce

Dessert

• Tiramisu cupcakes

Beverages

• Lemonade & iced tea

[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title="Cancellation and Refund Policy"]

• Substitutions: If you’d like to transfer your event registration to another individual, please email a request to [email protected]. We cannot apply your payment to a future training event.
• No Shows: If you are unable to attend an event and have not cancelled in advance, your payment will not be refunded. 
• Refunds: Refunds minus a 25% handling charge, will be accepted for the conference until Friday, February 21st. Cancellations received after this time frame will not be refunded.
• If NAO Cancels an Event: We reserve the right to cancel any event or substitute presenters if needed. If we cancel an event, we will be sure to personally contact all registrants and offer a full refund.
• View more about NAO's refund, privacy, media, and accommodations policies.

[/accordion-item]

[/accordion]

[sponsors title="Sponsors" description="]          />/>[/sponsors]