2019 Virtual Conference for Small Development Shops

Kari Aanestad is the director of advancement at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, where she secures and stewards grant and individual donor support and supports the development of other fundraising professionals throughout Minnesota through various channels including in-person and online trainings, the Minnesota Grants Alert, and the Minnesota Grants Directory. Kari brings a holistic wealth of experience to her role including international travel to over 20 countries, hospital chaplaincy in England, and teaching and tutoring positions ranging from elementary to post-graduate levels in writing and compassionate communication.

Vinney Arora is the principal consultant at The Arora Collective, where he and his team help organizations realize their growth opportunities by increasing efficiency, visibility, and supporter engagement. In 2014, Vinney co-founded PartyChild.org, an organization that hosts birthday parties for children from low-income families. In 2015, Vinney was awarded the “Young Innovator" award from Thrive – The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County for his work as a donor relations director of a local nonprofit. He currently serves on the board of his local AFP chapter in Silicon Valley.

Steve Boland is the managing partner of Next in Nonprofits, a consulting firm focusing on social fundraising and social communication. Steve has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including being the only staff member of a small nonprofit, and being the only fundraising and communications staff member at two others.  Steve holds a Master of Nonprofit Management from Hamline University, and serves on the Board of the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

Sarah Brooks considers it an honor to raise money for the causes she cares about, and she takes real joy in inspiring others to realize they too can change the world through smart and authentic fundraising. Sarah is the Associate Director of the Methow Conservancy in rural North Central Washington State. Now in her 16th year with the organization, Sarah is responsible for fundraising, financial oversight, and daily operations. A former Board Member of Advancement Northwest, Sarah has been a highly rated presenter at the National Land Trust Alliance Rally and numerous regional conferences on fundraising.  

Carlo Cuesta brings 25 years’ experience working for and consulting with nonprofit organizations as founding principal and managing partner of Creation In Common. .He has worked on engagements with Scholarship America, Youthprise, South Dakota State University, McKnight Foundation, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, National Council on Family Relations and Walker Art Center. Carlo is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota and is vice chairman of the board of for the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.

Amy Eisenstein is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Capital Campaign Toolkit. She is also a consultant, speaker, author, and trainer. Her published books include: Major Gift Fundraising for Small Shops, and 50 A$ks in 50 Weeks. Amy served as president of the AFP-NJ Chapter in 2014 and 2015. She became a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2004 and received her advanced certification, ACFRE, in 2013. She blogs at www.amyeisenstein.com. 

Alice L. Ferris is the founding partner of GoalBusters, providing outsourced development for small nonprofits, as well as integrated fundraising, marketing, and strategic planning and customized education and training for clients. Alice has more than 25 years of fundraising experience in small shops and is a member of the ACFRE board, the CFRE International board, and the Bolz Center for Arts Administration Advisory Board. She is also an AFP Master Trainer.

Sabrina Walker Hernandez, President/CEO of Supporting World Hope, helps nonprofits with their capital campaigns, major gift fundraising, board development, marketing, annual fundraising efforts and public relations. Sabrina has a reputation for transformational leadership through staffing and mission alignment, fundraising, program expansion and community partnerships. Prior to starting Supporting World Hope, Sabrina was CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Edinburg RGV. One of her greatest successes was increasing its revenue from $750,000 to $2.5 million over eight years. She also led the largest capital campaign in the organization’s history ($12M). Sabrina is also a master national trainer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Dana Holt, founder of HOLT Consulting, is a charitable gift planning educator, coach, and professional speaker. She teaches fundraisers how to raise millions more by accessing wealth, not just cash, and teaches advisors how to grow their practice with the power of philanthropic planning. Before starting HOLT Consulting, Dana began her career as an estate planning attorney and then spent 13 years at a Fortune 300 Financial Services company. Now she focuses exclusively on teaching charitable planning through professional speaking and her coaching program, Turning Wealth Into What Matters. 

Steve Lew is a Project Director at CompassPoint. He has been with fundraising as praxis over the past 30 years, working as a development director, executive director, board member, trainer and leadership coach. Steve is also a member and donor organizer with API Equality - Northern California and the Chinese Progressive Association and has organized the Fundraising Academy for Communities of Color & the Fundraising Bright Spots programs at CompassPoint. 

Mallory Mitchell is a Major Gift Officer at Metropolitan State University where she raises critical funds to advance the university's mission. Originally from Alabama, Mallory earned her bachelor's degree in business from the University of Montevallo and her Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Mallory is active in the community as a board member for Women Winning, YWCA of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Ruth Peebles, President and Founder of The INS Group, has over 30 years of hands‐on experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, organizational development and project management. She is an instructor for the Duke University Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management and served as an adjunct instructor for the School of Public and International Affairs at North Carolina State University. She has created several capacity building workshops including on grant writing and compliance, fundraising, individual donor development, direct mail campaigns, and strategic planning. Ruth is on the Wake County Affiliate Board of the North Carolina Community Foundation and Student U Board of Directors and is a founding member of the Next Generation of African American Philanthropists giving circle.

Kishshana Palmer is a national speaker, trainer, and coach with a 17 year background  in fundraising, marketing, and talent management.  She’s a supernova on any stage and platforms due to her charismatic and candid delivery. It doesn’t matter if she’s speaking about philanthropy, living your most authentic life, or diversity, the energy she brings to the stage is always entertaining and edifying. Kishshana is an adjunct professor at Baruch College and Long Island University,  Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer (CGT) and an AFP Master Trainer.  When an organization wants to grow, find and retain people on their team, raise money, and more she is the philanthropic fairy godmother they have on speed dial. Her work isn’t limited to organizations, she also coaches social good professionals.

Jim Shapiro is the fundraising coach you always wanted, the proven Sherpa who can help you get to the top of the mountain. He has 20 years of experience raising money, including serving as the VP of Development for a $100M nonprofit. He then co-founded The Better Fundraising Co. to help small-to-medium nonprofits raise more money.

Cary Walski, is owner & nerd-in-chief of the consulting firm Copilot: Web, Social & Storytelling for Nonprofits. Cary helps mission-driven people and organizations inspire empathy to create change. Using code, design, and story, she works with clients to create online experiences that move audiences to action on the web, and in the world. A former nonprofit employee herself, she knows from personal experience what it means to lead change across a wide range of stakeholders with often limited resources.