After a wonderfully successful (if cold & snowy!) Faith & Fundraising Conference in Milwaukee last February, we are so excited to announce that the Catholic Development Council will carry that energy forward into the Faith & Fundraising Forum 2023.

The Faith & Fundraising Forum will focus on Christian fundraising and welcomes all denominations and faiths.

Wednesday, August 2 | Faith & Fundraising Forum

This day-long event is designed to bring together faith-based fundraisers to learn from each other, share experiences, and work together to address the biggest challenges facing our missions.

We are excited to be able to offer this alongside the Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference. The Faith & Fundraising Forum will be the day for the faith community to gather and connect around our specific concerns. We will then continue into The Bridge Conference, well-known as the ultimate learning environment for fundraisers with 80+ of the best strategic and tactical presentations in the industry, including a faith-based track of sessions. Faith-based participants, as all Bridge participants, will have the option to join that track or to mix those sessions with any of the other 15 tracks offered.

This Forum is organized by the Catholic Development Council of The Nonprofit Alliance. While organized with particular attention to challenges and opportunities for the Catholic and Christian community, we welcome faith-based fundraisers from all denominations and faiths. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to VP Programs, Abby Graf at agraf@tnpa.org.

Catholic Mass will be offered daily.

With the latest data on how religiosity shapes giving, you’ll gain insight in understanding the multiple ways that faith influences giving. You’ll also be equipped with new questions to consider as trends in religion and giving are changing. Finally, you’ll leave with practical tips to engage donors on issues of faith in your fundraising.

David P. King is the Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving as well as Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies within the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He arrived at IUPUI in 2014 after serving as Assistant Professor of Christian History at Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN. 

Learn more about David King by clicking here.

Who Should Attend The Faith & Fundraising Forum?

The Faith & Fundraising Forum will be attended by fundraising professionals who work through a faith-based lens. All fundraisers who consider their personal or organizational mission to be inspired by faith will be welcome.

Who?
Fundraising Professionals, Nonprofit Leadership, as well as consultants, agencies, and professionals who work within the faith sector, including…Faith-Based Direct Response Fundraisers, Major Gift Officers, Annual Giving-Development Directors & Staff, Planned Giving Officers, Membership Staff, and those who are the only fundraiser on staff and wear ALL of those hats at once.

From what organizations?
All Faith-based fundraisers and marketers are welcome. Attendees will come from Religious Orders, Churches, Archdioceses, and nonprofit organizations working in the name of faith. Attendees will come from across the spectrum of size: some from large, international organizations and others from smaller (but still mighty!) teams.

The Faith & Fundraising Forum Program (August 2) Includes

• Morning Mass
• Continental Breakfast
• Two General Sessions (opening and closing): Ecumenical Service, Keynote Speaker, & Community Conversations
• Two Blocks of Breakouts Sessions
• Catholic Development Council’s Award Banquet Luncheon (all attendees included, both CDC members and non-members)
• Amplification, inspiration, and community.

The faith-based focus will continue with a Faith-Based Fundraising track throughout the Bridge Conference August 3-4. Faith-participants, as all Bridge participants, will have the option to join sessions from that track or to mix with the excellent sessions from any of the 15 other fundraising tracks.

Thursday, August 3 to Friday, August 4 | Faith & Fundraising Track at Bridge

CDC members will also receive special pricing to register and stay through the Bridge to Integrated Fundraising & Marketing Conference August 3-4.

• The Bridge Conference is the ultimate learning environment for fundraisers, with 80+ of the best strategic and tactical presentations in the industry.
• A Faith & Fundraising Track throughout the Bridge Conference will present fundraising strategies through a faith perspective. Faith-based participants, as all Bridge participants, will have the option to join that track or to mix those sessions with any of the other 15 tracks.
• Faith services and other faith gatherings will be organized for the faith-based fundraising community.

The breakout sessions in the Faith & Fundraising track will include:

Mid-Major Gifts: Fundraising as Ministry

Succession Planning for Success: Taking Steps Now to be Prepared for the Future

Tried and True Tips for Engaging Hispanic Audiences

Beyond Transactions: Measuring Relationships with People

Following Shifts in Donor Thinking: How Do Faith-Based Fundraisers Stay Relevant?

Interfaith Lessons for Planned Giving Leaders 

Throughout the Bridge Conference, attended by 2,000+ fundraisers, we, as faith-based fundraisers, will be able to find each other at The Gathering Place for Faith & Fundraising, located in the dining area at the back of the Solutions Showcase. It will be a special place to connect and share what we are learning in various sessions.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions: Abby Graf (agraf@tnpa.org), Vice President of Programming and Community Engagement for TNPA and CDC

Why Attend the Faith & Fundraising Forum?

• The Forum is designed to support you as you amplify your message, reach more supporters, and further your faith and faith-based missions.
• The two Keynote Speakers will inspire you with their insights and stories. You’ll leave feeling energized!
• Several excellent breakout sessions offer you the choice to focus on the challenges that matter the most to you.
• Structured (and unstructured) conversations with faith-based colleagues will illuminate where others are facing similar challenges, how they are addressing them, and where they are successful.
• Opportunities for strengthening our faith community and network of support will be invaluable as we move forward together into the coming years.
• Walk away re-committed and re-inspired to be doing this work in the glory of Christ.

The Faith & Fundraising Forum Planning Committee

• Kevin Dougherty | Executive Director, Association of Marian Helpers
• Rachel Earl | Chief Development Officer, St. Labre Indian School
• Christopher Jungers | Director of East Coast Donor Relations, The Passionists
• Melissa Kellogg | Senior Regional Representative of Gift Planning, Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers
• Laura Lang | Director of Development, School Sisters of Notre Dame
• Ivan Leon | Chief Strategist, Kerux Group
• Louise Moore | President, ​​Huntsinger & Jeffer
• Amy Palmer | Director of Development, Adrian Dominican Sisters
• Kim Richardson | Associate Vice President of Client Strategy, Pursuant

We look forward to seeing you at National Harbor and connecting in-person as a community.