Association of Fundraising Professionals Conference Picks
Whenever I attend an event I like to take a deep dive into the sessions ahead of time to make sure I map out an experience that allows me to come away with new ideas to make Prime Data even more responsive to client’s needs.
This year’s Association of Professional Fundraisers conference (#AFPcongress) is no exception.
As with last year’s conference I will spend most of my time manning the Prime Data booth (#139) answering questions about how to improve direct mail results. More specifically I’ll be talking about how to create a multichannel approach that integrates direct mail with online efforts to increase fundraising returns. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be sneaking off to catch some to the sessions.
Here are my suggested sessions this year. I have high regard for these presenters and the subjects are topical. What are yours? Here’s the link to all the sessions at #AFPcongress.
Monday
I See Lean Campaigns in Our Future
Presenter: Mark Hierlihy, CFRE
When: Monday, November 21, 2016 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Life is so much more enjoyable when we make peace with our foes rather than run away. Take campaign cost of fundraising (COFR,) for example. Mark Hierlihy asserts every fundraiser is challenged by (and perhaps is worried about) campaign costs. Is that you? If so, he thinks you should worry less and instead push yourself to think differently. Social and technology innovators share similar challenges to charities when money is tight, and consequently, can teach them a lot about using data to help maximize every dollar. In this session, Mark will share his latest thinking on fundamentals and mechanics of lean start-ups as they relate to maximizing cause campaign ROI. And yes, there will be a few cool examples. Intrigued?
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how you can turn the COFR conversation to your advantage
- Be challenged in your assumptions about campaign design
- Gain insights on what social profit organizations can learn from social tech star-ups about using data in decision making
Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Story
Presenter: Brady Hambleton
When: Monday, November 21, 2016 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Marketing Automation has many organizations buzzing these days because of the potential for efficiency and personalization to improve responsiveness. On the other hand, it can be an intimidating term that conjures up thoughts of more resourcing, more money and more complexity.
Fundraising is a perfect place for it, but most NFPs are still just starting to use these tools. Join us for an engaging and informative session, where the Heart & Stroke Foundation will share how they have put marketing automation to the test, and how small steps to automation can lead to big payoffs for your not-for-profit.
Learning Outcomes:
- How to break marketing automation down into a series of manageable, actionable steps
- How journey mapping can significantly enhance your marketing automation process
- How marketing automation can ultimately translate into greater engagement and revenue generation for any organization
Tuesday
Revitalizing An Annual Program From The Ground Up!
Presenters: Kimberley Blease , Liza Jerome
When: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
What do you do when your annual fundraising program is humming along nicely but not seeing significant growth? You rebuild it from the ground up to refocus the efforts on high value giving. If you want to kick start your annual giving program, the key is doing things differently and giving donors what they want. See how organizations have substantially improved annual giving by disrupting programs and investing in high value giving: monthly, leadership and legacy. Learn from an organization who is really doing things differently and increasing engagement with donors – Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. From changing the way internal teams are organized to investing in new channels to developing integrated campaigns for leadership & legacy – see how you can think differently about your programs to drive engagement and revenue! Avoid pitfalls and focus your efforts in areas that will generate more revenue and better relationships long-term for your organization – one donor at a time!
Learning Outcomes:
- Know the signs of a program that has become stagnant and build a strategy to turn the program around
- See how you can action growth by investing in the right areas in the annual giving program
- Understand through best practices what is working in different organizations that might apply to your unique organizational challenges
- Develop an action plan for yourself based on these ideas
Ten Years of Takeaways to Maximize Your Monthly Giving Program – Best Practices and Lessons Learned from the Red Cross
Presenters: Jay Hollister , Michelle Lonergan
When: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
This seminar will show you how to maximize the income you earn from your monthly giving program. Sharing lessons learned from a decade of testing, trial and error, join two leaders from the Red Cross as they review some quick wins and operational changes you can make quickly to increase your income. From practical steps and operational insights, you will also learn about an established and effective, ROI positive monthly donor retention strategy with a focus on stewardship and an appropriate focus on donor services.
You will benefit from this session if you have a monthly giving program small or large, as the lessons learned can be applied to a file of any size.
Learning Outcomes
- A checklist of operational quick wins you can implement in your monthly giving program
- How to harness a retention strategy to improve your bottom line
If you can’t attend, I’ll be live tweeting the event. So don’t forget to follow me at @primedata. There is also a dedicated page for the AFP Congress with a downloadable checklist for choosing your next direct mail provider.
I hope everyone stops by the booth to say hello.
Steve Falk.