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

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

2026 Virginia Fund Raising Institute

11:00am EDT

Erik Tomalis

11:00am EDT

Jeremy Rodden

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