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Thursday, July 23
 

9:00am EDT

Strengthening Your Institutional Fundraising Strategy to Meet the Moment
Thursday July 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Despite significant cuts to public funding, nonprofits continue to mobilize and provide critical community services. There are mission-aligned funding strategies for organizations to pursue, even in difficult times; particularly building meaningful partnerships with values-aligned corporations and foundations. Join this special session with VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment and CIMA Consulting to learn how to diversify your funding sources in ways that are right for your mission, capacity, and the moment.
Speakers
avatar for Rebecca Ellison

Rebecca Ellison

Director of Advancement, VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment
As the Director of Advancement at VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment, Rebecca Ellison leads efforts to secure resources to further the organization’s mission. Her team’s recent successes include completing a $5.5M capital campaign and increasing institutional fundraising by 10x... Read More →
avatar for Marlo Rowland

Marlo Rowland

Senior Consultant, CIMA Consulting
Marlo Rowland, MSW has a decade of experience working with or in-house at 501(c)3 organizations across a diverse range of missions. They have previously worked as a Grant Writer & Manager, and are currently a Senior Development Consultant at CIMA Consulting where they support three... Read More →
Thursday July 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
TBA

10:30am EDT

Transform Sponsors into Partners: A Guide to Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Goals
Thursday July 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Major employers and corporations look to nonprofit partners to live out their values and engagement goals, and they want to do this with meaning and depth. While featuring national trends and changes in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sponsorship relations, presenting leaders from SHARE Greater Lynchburg and their national platform partner Share Good will illuminate examples across their network of communities where corporate engagement and long-lasting partnerships have been maximized. Whether through assisting with volunteer time off (VTO) benefits or providing recognition and engagement at key events and with aligned programs – nonprofit development leaders can leverage their unique position of community enrichment with like-passioned institutions. Examples will illuminate how a convening partner like a SHARE community organizer can assist with connections to corporate leaders. Attendees will glean great lessons from the experiences such organizers have carried out and witnessed for CSR success.
Speakers
MH

Megan Huffman

Director of Community Outreach & SHARE Greater Lynchburg, Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation
Thursday July 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
TBA

1:00pm EDT

Spark, Strengthen, Sustain: Corporate & Donor Partnerships
Thursday July 23, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
This session explores how nonprofits can engage varying donor levels and corporations in mission-driven philanthropy through meaningful donor experiences and corporate gifts. Participants will learn to connect their mission to corporate CSR priorities, center the experiences of those they serve, and clearly articulate ROI. By leveraging donor circles, councils, events, volunteerism, and authentic storytelling, attendees will discover strategies to foster deeper, purpose-driven partnerships that go beyond transactions to co-create real change. Walk away with practical tools to strengthen relationships and position your organization as a compelling business and social value proposition for both corporate and individual partners.
Speakers
avatar for Jill Queen

Jill Queen

Director of Women United, United Way of South Hampton Roads
For the past three years, Jill Queen has served with United Way of South Hampton Roads as the Joan P. Brock Endowed Director of Women United. She collaborates with donors across all levels to support women’s philanthropy initiatives, including local mobility-mentoring programs that... Read More →
avatar for Sierrah Chavis

Sierrah Chavis

Director, Strategic Initiatives, United Way South Hampton Roads
Sierrah Chavis is an accomplished educator, advocate, and strategic leader with a passion for empowering communities and elevating underrepresented voices. She holds an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Administration and Leadership from Old Dominion University and a... Read More →
Thursday July 23, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

2:15pm EDT

The Virginia Grants Landscape: A Field Guide for Right Now
Thursday July 23, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
The grants landscape looks nothing like it did two years ago. Federal funding has contracted dramatically. State priorities are shifting. And private foundations are fielding a wave of new applicants from organizations that never needed them before. If your grants strategy hasn’t changed. It’s already behind.
This session maps the full grants landscape in Virginia — federal, state, local, private, and corporate — so development officers can see the whole board. We’ll walk through what’s happening at each level: where funding is growing, where it’s shrinking, who the new competitors are, and where the overlooked opportunities sit.
We’ll pay particular attention to the ripple effects. When thousands of formerly federal-dependent organizations pivot to private philanthropy, it changes the competitive dynamics for everyone. Foundations are adjusting. Corporate funders are rethinking. And that means different things for everyone.

Speakers
avatar for Matt Leighty

Matt Leighty

Chief Strategy Officer, GrantFlow
Matt is a Virginia native with over a decade of experience securing grants that span tiny nonprofits to big universities and corporations. Matt developed a winning methodology that has secured nearly $200 million in grants for his firm’s clients.
avatar for Amy Bradshaw

Amy Bradshaw

Senior Grants Manager, GrantFlow
Amy Bradshaw, MSW is a Senior Grants Manager with 15+ years of experience in grant writing and nonprofit funding strategy. With a background spanning behavioral health, healthcare access, and youth services, she specializes in helping nonprofits build sustainable, competitive funding... Read More →
Thursday July 23, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
TBA

3:45pm EDT

Building Authentic Relationships with Grantmakers
Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
This workshop provides practical, step-by-step guidance for building effective, authentic relationships with foundation and corporate grantmakers in today’s constrained and competitive funding environment. Participants will learn how to find the right contact for their grant, initiate outreach that gets responses, and structure conversations that advance trust without overselling. The session will break down real-world tactics for introduction, follow-up, documentation, and stewardship—what to say, when to say it, and when to stop talking. With real-world insight from a Senior Program Officer who has given millions of dollars in grants, this workshop will balance strategy with reality and demystify funder engagement…all while acknowledging that even seasoned fundraisers get intimidated by the people who make decisions about grants (and yes, that’s normal).
Speakers
avatar for Niki Wanner

Niki Wanner

CEO, Wanner Impact Strategies
Niki is a former Director of Development and Grants Specialist who understands the entire fundraising life cycle. Over her career, she has won grants from 12 US government agencies and hundreds of grantmaking entities. Her consulting business focuses on All Things Grants, Services... Read More →
Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA
 
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