2026 Virginia Fund Raising Institute: Full Schedule

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8:30am EDT

Friday July 24, 2026 8:30am - 10:30am EDT

Fundraising is evolving rapidly as nonprofits navigate changing donor behaviors, economic uncertainty, shifting community needs and new expectations for engagement. In this interactive panel discussion, keynote speaker Julia Campbell and fundraising leaders representing six AFP chapters across Virginia will share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping philanthropy in their communities. Join us for a candid conversation on how fundraisers can adapt, lead and build resilience in a shifting landscape.

Speakers

Julia Campbell

Author and Speaker, J Campbell Social Marketing, LLC

Named as a top thought leader and one to follow by Forbes and LinkedIn for Nonprofits, and one of the 30 Nonprofit IT Influencers to Follow in 2025, is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to designing social media and storytelling strategies that help nonprofits share their mission... Read More →

Friday July 24, 2026 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
Virginia DEF

10:30am EDT

Beverage Break with Exhibitors

Friday July 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am EDT

Virginia Foyer

Friday July 24, 2026 10:30am - 11:00am EDT
Virginia Foyer

11:00am EDT

From Scenario to Solutions: Navigating Changes in Development

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Have you ever felt alone in development, wishing your executive director, development committee, or board were more involved in fundraising? This presentation is designed for development professionals looking to break out of silos and foster true collaboration. Through the power of analysis and scenario thinking, you’ll discover practical ways to engage leadership, present compelling data, and guide your organization from isolation to partnership. Together, you’ll move from analysis to actionable solutions, building a resilient, mission-driven fundraising strategy that everyone owns.

Speakers

Shannon Williams

Managing Partner, Armstrong McGuire

Shannon Williams serves as Managing Partner at Armstrong McGuire where she helps the team of advisors create winning strategies for their nonprofit partners.

Before joining Armstrong McGuire, she focused on both annual and capital development working with independent schools and human service organizations, including the YMCA of the Triangle—one of the top 5 YMCA’s in the country in terms of revenue. Throughout her career Shannon has... Read More →

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience Mid Career
Area Board Relations/Engagement

11:00am EDT

Fundraising as a Spiritual Practice

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

This workshop is for people who believe deeply in the mission of their work, and are curious about the potential for fundraising to be a catalyst for spiritual growth. We define a ‘spiritual practice’ as a way of showing up for oneself to tend to one’s spirit and the spirit of one’s community. We will offer a way of practicing fundraising through a mindful and relational orientation to inviting financial support, rooted in self-honesty, generosity and gratitude. Participants will be invited to reflect on their relationship to money, scarcity, and abundance, as well as where they find their sense of security. This will lay the groundwork for participants to consider how they could practice fundraising as spirit-tending and invitational in their own context, whatever their spiritual or religious background.

Speakers

Lindsey Franklin

Director of Development, Richmond Hill

Rev. Lindsey Franklin is the Director of Development at Richmond Hill, an urban monastery in Richmond, Virginia praying for the spirit of the city. She began her career in San Francisco at the intersection of technology, philanthropy and social justice before an unexpected call to... Read More →

Kelsey Hawisher-Faul

Development Coordinator, Richmond Hill

Kelsey Hawisher-Faul is the Development Coordinator at Richmond Hill, an urban monastery in Richmond, VA that is open to all. A pastor trained at Princeton Theological Seminary, she spent five years in congregational ministry before committing to the Rule of Life at Richmond Hill... Read More →

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience Mid Career
Area Individual Giving

11:00am EDT

Lessons Learned from Major Campaigns

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

CapDev and Grymes Memorial School team up to share and discuss takeaways from a recent major campaign. Learn about the value of good campaign preparation, relationship development, how to approach events, use of leadership, development staffing, building a strong proposal, a stewardship matrix, and the cadence of campaigns. This interactive session delves into examples and engages participants in exploring concepts.

Speakers

Allan Burrows

CEO, Capital Development Services

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience Late Career
Area Individual Giving

11:00am EDT

The Retention Games: May the Donors Be Ever in Your Favor Donor Retention: A Data-Driven Approach

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

How Personalization, Timing, and Human Touch Drive Giving
In a world where every click, stream, and scroll is personalized, donors expect more than a generic thank-you and a quarterly newsletter. They want to be seen, heard, and valued. But many nonprofits are unintentionally ghosting their own supporters.
This session reveals the surprising data behind donor retention—and what the top-performing organizations are doing differently. Spoiler: It’s not about flashy appeals or perfectly designed emails. It’s about treating donors like humans.
You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how to retain more donors by improving your welcome experience, writing like a person (not a brand), and sending the right message at the right time—all based on real-world data from 91 organizations.
This isn’t theory. It’s a wake-up call to do the small things that actually make a big difference.

Speakers

Erik Tomalis

CRO, Avid

Erik has over two decades of professional fundraising experience, having successfully
conducted more than 5,000 face-to-face donor solicitations, raising millions for various
non-profit organizations across sectors, including healthcare, education, human services,
athletics, and you... Read More →

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience All
Area Development Operations

11:00am EDT

Volunteer Engagement Strategies for Fundraising & Impact

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Strong volunteer engagement is essential to nonprofit success. This interactive workshop explores practical strategies for recruiting, retaining, stewarding, and appreciating volunteers while building systems that support long-term sustainability. Participants will learn how effective volunteer engagement strengthens community relationships, improves organizational capacity, and directly supports fundraising through meaningful data tracking and reporting. Designed for nonprofit leaders, volunteer managers, and development professionals, this session provides actionable tools to create impactful volunteer experiences that drive mission success and donor confidence.

Speakers

Jeremy Rodden

Director of Community Engagement, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore

Jeremy Rodden, CVA, is Director of Community Engagement at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a Service Enterprise accredited organization. With a strong background in volunteer engagement and nonprofit leadership, he has a history of strengthening community... Read More →

Friday July 24, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience All
Area Board Relations/Engagement

12:00pm EDT

Lunch and Closing Announcements

Friday July 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm EDT

Virginia DEF

Friday July 24, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm EDT
Virginia DEF

8:30am EDT

10:30am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

12:00pm EDT

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