Speakers
We are recruiting experts from throughout the country to share their tips, tools and best practices as our conference keynotes and breakout session presenters. Each knows first-hand the realities of working in a small development shop. For many, their professional passion is to help organizations just like yours.
Our speakers will include:
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 Founder and Principal Consultant at The Arora Collective where he and his team help organizations realize their growth opportunities by increasing efficiency, visibility and supporter engagement and strengthening leadership. In 2014, Vinney co-founded PartyChild.org, an organization that hosts birthday parties for low-income children. 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.
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.
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.
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.