2026 Virginia Fund Raising Institute: Full Schedule

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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

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

Chief Community Officer, Avid

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

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

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience All
Area Development Operations

2026 Virginia Fund Raising Institute

11:00am EDT

Erik Tomalis

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