2026 Virginia Fund Raising Institute: Full Schedule

3:15pm EDT

Climbing with Intention: Essential Tools for Fundraising Leadership and Success

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

What does it take to succeed and lead? Technical fundraising skills alone are no longer enough to move into leadership roles. Today’s successful fundraising professionals must combine strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and organizational awareness with strong fundraising fundamentals. This session is designed for fundraising professionals at all career stages who want to intentionally grow into leadership roles. Drawing on real-world experience and practical examples from the nonprofit sector, this session will help attendees identify the skills they need to develop now to prepare for future opportunities.

Speakers

Virginia Thumm

President, Virginia Fundraising Consultants

Virginia Thumm is the Founder and President of Virginia Fundraising Consultants, where she has been responsible for designing and implementing dozens of successful, multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations across the region.Prior to launching her firm... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
DonorPerfect Room

Workshop, Workshop Session I

Audience Mid Career
Area Career Growth/HR

3:15pm EDT

Where Strategic Planning and Fundraising Meet

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

Bloomerang Room

Are you tired of the “spray and pray” approach to fundraising? (Aka: throw it all out there and hope something sticks method)

Is your organization ready to raise substantial funds to grow your programs or operating capacity?

Funding for Good’s experts will outline WHY every organization needs a well-crafted strategic plan and HOW to use it to leverage both dollars and donors. This workshop breaks down the top ways a strategic plan contributes to fundraising success and what donors are looking for in your written plan. Finally, walk away with actionable tips and tools to cover the cost of your next planning process

Speakers

Marie Palacios

Lead Consultant, Funding For Good

Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant for Funding for Good, is an expert educator, consultant, and facilitator who helps leaders achieve their goals.She combines evidence-based facilitation methods and two decades of professional experience to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
Bloomerang Room

Workshop, Workshop Session I

Audience Mid Career
Area Development Operations

10:30am EDT

Designing Donor-Centered Events That Last: A 25-Year Fundraising Success Story

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

GrantFlow Room

Workshop attendees will go behind the scenes of ForKids’ 25th anniversary fundraiser to learn how intentional design, board engagement, and donor-centered strategy fueled record-breaking success. The session highlights practical approaches to committee structure, table hosting, storytelling, sponsorship, and immersive event experiences that deepen donor relationships and drive revenue. Participants will also learn how data, consistency, and year-round planning can turn a single event into a sustainable fundraising cornerstone. Attendees will leave with adaptable strategies they can apply to events of any size to increase impact, engagement, and generosity.

Speakers

Mary Crosby

Senior Director of Development, ForKids

Mary Crosby serves as Senior Director of Development at ForKids, where she leads the strategic direction of the organization’s $5 million annual fund. In this role, she oversees comprehensive fundraising initiatives that deepen donor engagement, strengthen partnerships, and expand... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
GrantFlow Room

Workshop, Workshop Session IV

Audience Mid Career
Area Development Operations

2:15pm EDT

Belonging as a Leading Indicator: What Donors Feel Before They Give More

Thursday July 23, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Bloomerang Room

Donors don’t just give to support a cause; they give to feel seen, connected, and valued. This session makes the case that belonging is the most reliable indicator of fundraising performance. Drawing from research in positive psychology, we’ll explore how fundraisers can design identity-affirming touchpoints, activate board members as authentic ambassadors, and build trust through coordinated donor experiences. Participants will walk away with a simple framework and a roadmap to embed belonging into daily fundraising practice. This session is ideal for fundraisers focused on improving retention, increasing donor lifetime value, and building culture through action.

Speakers

Paul Yeghiayan

Senior Consultant, Benefactor Group

Paul Yeghiayan is a Senior Consultant at Benefactor Group. He supports nonprofit clients in preparing for and running successful fundraising initiatives, and he leads the firm’s Endowment Product Line. His work includes planned giving and endowment building, campaign readiness... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Bloomerang Room

Workshop, Workshop Session VI

Audience Mid Career
Area Individual Giving

3:45pm EDT

Building Authentic Relationships with Grantmakers

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

DonorPerfect Room

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

Dan Peters

Interim Director, Development Policy and Finance, Gates Foundation

Dan Peters has spent the last 10 years at the Gates Foundation, where he coordinates foundation investment priorities with the World Bank and other multilateral development institutions. Over his 30-year career, Dan's leadership experience at Gates, the World Bank, the US Treasury... Read More →

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
DonorPerfect Room

Workshop, Workshop Session VII

Audience Mid Career
Area Fdns/Corp/Grants

3:45pm EDT

Fostering Resilience in Times of Change

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

TowneBank Room

In a world of non-stop change and many unknowns, how do we foster resilience in ourselves and in our teams? This lively and interactive session will look at the practical information that we can glean from the research and will include a self-assessment that may be useful to both you and your team. Participants will gain insight into their strengths and also for areas for growth. The facilitators will provide specific and easily implemented recommendations for enhancing your own resilience and the resilience of those around you.

Speakers

James Burke

Co-principal, TEO Consulting, LLC

James (Jim) Burke, PhD, has worked with numerous leaders as a coach, advisor, and confidant. He is an expert in the use of assessment tools to develop high performing leaders, teams, and organizations. Jim teaches and presents widely on a variety of topics including emotional intelligence... Read More →

Linda Pierce

Co-Principal, TEOconsulting.org

Linda Pierce, MBA, has worked in various business sectors including manufacturing, government, higher education, and not-for-profits. In these capacities, she has overhauled and managed the financial capital of organizations and led strategic and operational projects. Linda focuses... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
TowneBank Room

Workshop, Workshop Session VII

Audience Mid Career
Area Career Growth/HR

3:45pm EDT

Planned Giving in Today's Donor Landscape

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

Bloomerang Room

Planned giving is no longer just about bequests at the end of life. Today’s donors are more financially sophisticated, values-driven, and likely to use tools such as donor-advised funds, appreciated assets, non-cash assets, and blended gifts to align philanthropy with life planning.
This session explores how fundraisers can modernize their planned giving approach to meet donors where they are by integrating DAFs, major gifts, non-cash assets, and legacy planning into a cohesive, donor-centered strategy that reflects today’s economic realities.
Participants will leave with practical frameworks, messaging strategies, and actionable next steps they can apply immediately.

Speakers

Pedro Rivera, Esq.

Principal & Founder, PJR Consulting LLC

Pedro J. Rivera, Esq., is the CEO and Principal of PJR Consulting LLC, a boutique firm specializing in fundraising strategies, board governance, and planned legacy programs. With a distinguished 30-year career spanning legal, development, fundraising, and wealth management, Pedro... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Bloomerang Room

Workshop, Workshop Session VII

Audience Mid Career
Area Individual Giving

11:00am EDT

From Scenario to Solutions: Navigating Changes in Development

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

TowneBank Room

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
TowneBank Room

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

DonorPerfect Room

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

I am the Development Coordinator at Richmond Hill, an urban monastery in Richmond, VA that is open to all. Trained at Princeton Theological Seminary, I spent five years in congregational ministry before committing to the Rule of Life at Richmond Hill and joining the residential community... Read More →

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

Workshop, Workshop Session VIII

Audience Mid Career
Area Individual Giving

3:15pm EDT

3:15pm EDT

10:30am EDT

2:15pm EDT

3:45pm EDT

3:45pm EDT

3:45pm EDT

11:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

Get help with the event