2026 Virginia Fund Raising Institute

3:15pm EDT

Activating the Next Generation: Young Professional Boards as a Catalyst for Nonprofit Growth and Impact TBAKayla Smith Climbing with Intention: Essential Tools for Fundraising Leadership and Success TBAVirginia Thumm Donation Form Trends to Increase Giving TBA Everything is a Gift: Strengthening Donor Discovery Through Curiosity TBAJames Wasilewski Where Strategic Planning and Fundraising Meet TBAMarie Palacios

4:30pm EDT

Coaching, Mentoring and Workplace Sponsorship: Building Sustainable Fundraising Careers TBAKen Miller How to Make Donors Obsessed with You (In a Totally Healthy Way) TBARachel Muir Jedi in Practice (Not a Far-Off Galaxy) TBAStephanie Glenn Leading Through Transition: Building a Future Ready Succession Plan in a Changing Fundraising Landscape TBAAmy Nisenson Sustaining the Sustainer: Well-Being for Fundraisers TBAKris Kuhns • Tommy Amal • Doug Trout • Julie Naranjo Upham

9:00am EDT

Building Board Champions: Where Power Skills Become Daily Practice TBAWendy Adams Donor Relations & Retention to Support Sustainability TBAMandy Pearce From the Frontlines: A Development Director's AI Framework for Fundraising Operations TBAReagan Leatherman Leading Like a Hero: Discovering Your Fundraising Strengths TBABrittany Claybourne Strengthening Your Institutional Fundraising Strategy to Meet the Moment TBARebecca Ellison • Marlo Rowland

10:30am EDT

Designing Donor-Centered Events That Last: A 25-Year Fundraising Success Story TBAMary Crosby From First Gift to Lasting Impact: Strengthening Donor Relationships in a Data-Informed Landscape TBAKeith Curtis The Evolution of Making the Ask TBAAlan Hutson Transform Sponsors into Partners: A Guide to Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Goals TBAMegan Huffman Values at Work: Lead from Your Center TBAMary Riddick

1:00pm EDT

Authentic Leadership TBAKaren Owen Enhancing Your Event Through Intentional Engagement TBARachael Schrinel From Oz to Outcomes: Behind the Curtain of Why Donors Give TBAMartha Quinn • Carrie Miller From Plan to Impact: How Communications Can Drive Fundraising TBATricia Ambler • Lisa Resch Spark, Strengthen, Sustain: Corporate & Donor Partnerships TBAJill Queen • Sierrah Chavis

2:15pm EDT

Belonging as a Leading Indicator: What Donors Feel Before They Give More TBAPaul Yeghiayan Getting The Word Out: Working With The Media TBAAmy Lacey How to Create a Social Media Strategy for Small Shops TBAJulia Campbell The other nonprofit cultures: Culture of Curiosity, Culture of Experimentation and a Culture of Innovation TBAJack Alotto • Bree Muehlbauer The Virginia Grants Landscape: A Field Guide for Right Now TBAMatt Leighty • Amy Bradshaw

3:45pm EDT

Building Authentic Relationships with Grantmakers TBANiki Wanner Cut Through the Noise: A Scientist's Guide to What Actually Works TBAShannon Williams Fostering Resilience in Times of Change TBAJames Burke • Linda Pierce Planned Giving in Today's Donor Landscape TBAPedro Riveria Shuffling Your Donor Engagement Strategy for Nonprofit Success TBATara Petersen

11:00am EDT

From Scenario to Solutions: Navigating Changes in Development TBAShannon Williams Fundraising as a Spiritual Practice TBALindsey Franklin • Kelsey Hawisher-Faul Lessons Learned from Major Campaigns TBAAllan Burrows The Retention Games: May the Donors Be Ever in Your Favor Donor Retention: A Data-Driven Approach TBAErik Tomalis Volunteer Engagement Strategies for Fundraising & Impact TBAJeremy Rodden