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Events

​Schedule and Location will be confirmed soon. 

Graciously hosted by DPP member and President of MCG Consulting, TJ McGovern.

DPP Masterclass in Indianapolis

Join us for a special DPP session to meet with arts leader, entrepreneur, and advisor Aubrey Bergauer.

" reveals how to run a successful arts business in the post-pandemic era, adapting for-profit methods for not-for-profit goals.

In the US alone, the arts are a $763 billion sector whose 100,000+ organizations serve almost every community in the nation. There’s no reason arts organizations should struggle to make ends meet.

Aubrey will join DPP for an honest conversation about:

 is a fundraiser community of 3,300+ who meet monthly to learn together how to grow donor participation in our nonprofits. 

Arts Fundraising: Run it Like a Business!

Did you "fall into" fundraising? Join this DPP Lunch Analysis session to share your story!

Dave Delozier, CDO of Helping Harvest, is deeply committed to studying and improving the pipeline for future fundraisers. 

He will share his personal story of discovering advancement careers, introduce us to his research, and interview McQuillin Murphy, program administrator of Penn State University's Development and Alumni Relations Internship program.

 (DPP) is a community of 3,300+ fundraisers who co-create solutions to reverse the nationwide decline in donor participation (20 million US households lost between 2000-2016).

Discuss this Topic and Learn with Your Colleagues During our October 18 Lunch Analysis

Building the Fundraiser Talent Pipeline [DPP Lunch Analysis]

If you could talk to your data, what questions would you ask?

 for an exploration of some of the most interesting data questions he's working on and a chance to ask your own! 

Join us to learn how to interact with your own data to answer fundraising questions!

Donor Data Lab [DPP Lunch Analysis]

Every month the Donor Participation Project breaks into small groups to deep dive and discuss ideas from a previous Lunch Analysis session.

​​These small groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

Join us for this monthly lunch of the DPP Consulting Interest Group!

Thank you so much to everyone that has joined our first couple meetings! To better aid the group in networking, building community, and helping each other navigate the consulting space, 

. If you have specific questions you want to discuss in the monthly call, please post them in the Slack. If you are new to Slack and would like some help navigating it, send me a message and we can schedule a 10-min Zoom for me to walk you through it. Please feel free to reach out if there's an agenda item you'd like to add.

) if you'd like to volunteer or create your own group.**

: The Donor Participation Project is a fundraiser community of 2,800+ who get together to co-create solutions that improve donor participation. 

[DPP Groups] Consulting Interest

​These small groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

​​Recordings and summaries of previous DPP Lunch Analysis sessions can be found in our 

, Chief Development Officer at The Cambridge School of Weston - Chair for this Group - for a conversation around the last Lunch Analysis session and peer support for your current challenges! 

 with your current challenges that you'd like to discuss or if you'd want to know more about this Group.

: The Donor Participation Project is a community of fundraisers who get together to co-create solutions that improve donor participation. 

[DPP Groups] Independent Schools

 shares his expertise on the profound impact of incentives on human behavior. 

Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work

 Gneezy discussed the importance of aligning incentives within organizations and avoiding common pitfalls.

Join us to learn from his research and how it might apply to your fundraising shop!

What's Better: No Overhead or a Match? And More Fundraising Research [DPP Lunch Analysis]

Join your DPP colleagues for a free screening of UnCharitable!

Led by Dan Pallotta, whose record-breaking Ted Talk on the subject has inspired top philanthropists and changemakers, this feature documentary exposes the dark side of philanthropy and introduces a radical new way of giving.

After three of the most dynamic and successful U.S. charities were shut down by conservative charity watchdogs, destroying lives and cutting off precious resources, many of the top influencers in the field knew something had to be done to overhaul the nonprofit sector.

In an emotional call to action, Uncharitable demands that charities be freed from the traditional sackcloth-and-ashes constraints, so that they can truly change the world. No topic is more crucial and timely as we emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic with the revelation that we are all interconnected and that our fate lies in how much we are willing to invest in positive change.

 is a nonprofit fundraiser community of 3,400+ who meet monthly to learn together how to grow donor participation in our nonprofits.

Film Screening: UnCharitable Movie

 as a host for this DPP Group for those interested in healthcare philanthropy to discuss the challenges affecting donor participation in healthcare.

: The Donor Participation Project is a fundraiser community of 3,400+ who get together to co-create solutions that improve donor participation. 

[DPP Groups] Healthcare

Think about a company like McDonald’s, widely known for consistent branding and food at more than 38,000 locations around the world. About 93% of them are locally owned franchises.

Now think about the 1.3 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, 92% of which are small and community focused.

Gia Nardini, an assistant professor of marketing at the 

, compared the two business models and wondered: What’s the difference? What’s stopping community do-gooders from expanding their work to municipalities across the country?

Gia Nardini has identified a path that she describes has having the shape of a T.

Join us to learn from her research and how it might apply to your nonprofit!

T-shaped Model for Nonprofit Growth [DPP Lunch Analysis]

Every month the Donor Participation Project breaks into small niche groups to deep dive and discuss ideas from a previous Lunch Analysis session. 

These small niche groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

Recordings and summaries of past Lunch Analysis sessions can be found in our 

Join us for the monthly lunch of the Social Services & Agencies - Leadership DPP Group!

, Chief Development Officer at Norwescap, and 

, President and Professor of Religion, Ethics, and Leadership at Meadville Lombard Theological School.

You may contact Heather or Elias if you'd like to know more about this Group!

[DPP Groups] Social Services & Agencies - Leadership

Let's get together with peers to discuss the last Lunch Analysis and your current challenges.

[DPP Groups] All Groups

Learn more about the Science of Philanthropy Initiative Conference here: 

https://economics.uchicago.edu/content/spi-conference-2023

https://economics.uchicago.edu/content/spi-2023-registration-payment-form

Science of Philanthropy Initiative Conference

12:00 pm - What is the Donor Participation Project? - with Louis Diez

12:30pm - How to Sustain Donor Loyalty (AKA Donor Retention is the New Acquisition) 

2:00pm - Lessons Learned from a 1,000 Household Portfolio - by Atticus Rice, CNP

2:30pm - Rest & Recovery for Advancement Roles - by Dr. Elias Ortega

3:00pm - Human Communication for Better Fundraising Results - CJ Ortuno and Louis Diez

3:30pm - Networking:  Meet your Colleagues

Graciously hosted by DPP member and President of Meadville Lombard Theological School, Dr. Elias Ortega.

DPP Masterclass in Chicago

Closing Time - Closing gifts for healthcare organizations.  What tactics do healthcare fundraisers find successful in leading donors over the finish line?

The Psychology of Donor Decision Making and How to Apply It

Discover Ryan Ginard's new book Nonprofit Moneyball in this 

 is a program of the Donor Participation Project, a fundraiser community of 3,300+ who meet monthly to learn together how to grow donor participation in our nonprofits.

Nonprofit Moneyball with Ryan Ginard

These small groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

DPP Group: Academic - Major / Planned Gifts

 will have an honest conversation around the last Lunch Analysis (look it up here: 

Please feel free to bring other topics too.

​Recording and summary of our last Lunch Analysis as well as other Lunch Analysis sessions can be found in our 

, Director of Gift Planning Services, University System of Maryland.

Please feel free to get in touch with Ann to know more about this Group!  

[DPP Groups] Academic - Major / Planned Gifts

Bring your questions, experiments, and lessons learned from playing with AI to help advance your mission!

In addition to what we learn from you, Louis will share tricks and tools for:

Discuss this Topic and Learn with Your Colleagues During our August 16 Lunch Analysis

Bring Your Own AI: Tools, Tips, and Experiments [DPP Lunch Analysis]

, Prospect Management & Research Manager at Weber State University as well as the Founder and Host of the 

After a successful first season and over 40 conversations with fundraisers, we will get to hear Tim's favorite stories and insights so far!

We'll have a brief conversation followed by Q&A.

 is a program of the Donor Participation Project, a fundraiser community of 3,200+ who meet monthly to learn together how to grow donor participation in our nonprofits.

Meet the People in Fundraising Podcast

Join us for a live test of the AI Fundraising Coach.

One of our recent experiments, the AI Fundraising Coach, is a chatbot that is trained with principles of the Donor Participation Project: engagement leads to giving, co-creation with donors leads to better results, and making people feel valued and seen is both the right thing to do and helps with donor retention.

We'll ask the AI Fundraising Coach questions and will take a sneak peak behind the curtain to show you how we built it.

Ask the AI Fundraising Coach

, founder of BuildGood, for the code to running your fundraising operations in a way that scales, avoids disruptions, and gives you peace of mind.

He'll go over the systems that his own team uses and share the tools that you can use to make your fundraising shop hum like a well-oiled engine.

 (DPP) is a community of 2,900+ fundraisers who co-create solutions to reverse the nationwide decline in donor participation (20 million US households lost between 2000-2016).

Discuss this Topic and Learn with Your Colleagues During our July 19 Lunch Analysis

Building an Operating System for your Fundraising Shop

, Director of Gift Planning Services, University System of Maryland, for a discussion about the book 

Ann will be leading the discussion outlined in the Book Club Guide: 

Deep Dive: "The Generosity Crisis" Book Discussion

Fundraising for Research Institutes.  Many healthcare organizations have developed "research institutions," and they are asking philanthropy to secure funds for these institutions.  This discussion will focus on 1)  what tactics fundraisers have found successful in funding research institutions, 2) how donors like to be engaged with the research projects, and 3) telling the story about the [potential] impact of the research on the communities the organization serves.

Join Tracy Malloy-Curtis, Vice President of Legacy Giving at Mal Warwick Donordigital for a frank conversation on the impact of DAFs on fundraising strategies. How much philanthropy is being postponed by being deposited in donor-advised funds? How can nonprofits strategically approach their donors with DAFs to maximize mission support?

 is a program of the Donor Participation Project, a fundraiser community of 2,800+ who meet monthly to learn together how to grow donor participation in our nonprofits.

DAFs Decoded: Winning the Battle for Donor Support

 for a review of their research as part of the DPP research group "Roadblocks to Donor Participation in Higher Education."

Following a survey shared with over 700 higher education fundraisers, they'll be sharing some of the most interesting findings.

This session is part of a series sharing the results of their research. You can 

read about the study and other participants here

. We will appreciate you joining and sharing your thoughts!

There will be a brief conversation followed by Q&A.

 is a program of the Donor Participation Project, a fundraiser community of 2,900+ who meet monthly to learn together how to grow donor participation in our nonprofits.

Friday Research Findings

Why should fundraising leaders prioritize broad-based support? Once they go down this path, how is it actually done? How have successful teams kept the focus on the donor while augmenting their efforts through technology?

Join us today for a conversation with Matthew Lambert, VP for University Advancement at W&M and Dan Frezza, CAO, University Advancement, College of Charleston--two higher education Advancement leaders with hands-on experience growing their support base while keeping the elements that result in strong relationships and, ultimately, larger gifts. They will be joined by technology entrepreneur and past fundraiser Adam Martel.

The panel will share insights into their overall philosophy, their active involvement with fundraising technology, and the opportunities they see for curious, innovative leadership.

Finding our Humanity in Fundraising Technology

: The Donor Participation Project is a fundraiser community of 2,400+ who get together to co-create solutions that improve donor participation. 

This group provides a safe space to brainstorm challenges and find solutions to issues that impact nonprofit news organizations. Some of the topics we've discussed: How porous is the wall between editorial and fundraising at your org? How do you start and grow a major gift program? 

: The Donor Participation Project is a fundraiser community of 2,900+ who get together to co-create solutions that improve donor participation. 

[DPP Groups] Nonprofit News

Social Services & Agencies - Leadership DPP Group

May 24 Lunch Analysis with Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer, GivingTuesday

 where he reviewed recent data trends in the industry and what they mean for practicing fundraisers.

Did you know that investing in fundraising capacity provides greater returns than any other type of financial investment? 

It's almost a truism that most advancement/development departments are under-resourced.

But what type of arguments will be most successful in directing dollars to support fundraising?

 shares the specific blueprint that he applied to make a compelling financial case for increased investment in advancement. 

He draws examples and experiences from his successful career as a past VP of Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, and current role as Principal of Northport Philanthropic Advisory Services.

 (DPP) is a community of 2,800+ fundraisers who co-create solutions to reverse the nationwide decline in donor participation (20 million US households lost between 2000-2016).

Discuss this Topic and Learn with Your Colleagues During our June 14 Lunch Analysis

Making the Case for Investing in Advancement

Join Louis Diez, founder of the Donor Participation Project and 

 for an exploration of the power of community!

He'll share frameworks to help you understand:

Community-led Growth

Fundraising Beyond Patients - Engaging your greater community in the mission of your healthcare organization.  This session will discuss how fundraisers succeed in prospecting, identifying, and introducing community members (not patients) to their organizations. 

US News rankings have dropped alumni giving participation as a factor. Will this hurt or help Advancement teams?

Get ideas on how to adapt by joining this conversation with Shalonda Martin, Sr. Director of Advancement Services at Pomona College, and Perry Radford, Founder at Rad Philanthropy. Together, we'll explore future of alumni giving participation in this new scenario.

Participation Pivot: The Changing Paradigm of Alumni Giving Participation

Are you interested in alternative financing options for your nonprofit? Do the different options seem overwhelming and well... opaque? 

Join us for a conversation with Victoria Philips. She will demystify the world of social impact bonds for EVERY nonprofit.

Practical Guide to Social Impact Bonds

Thank you so much to everyone that has joined our first or second meeting! To better aid the group in networking, building community, and helping each other navigate the consulting space, 

. If you have specific questions you want to discuss in the monthly call, please post them in the Slack. If you are new to Slack and would like some help navigating it, send me a message and we can schedule a 10-min Zoom for me to walk you through it. 

, Senior Director of Annual Giving at Tufts University, is exploring a DPP Group to discuss how we look at, evaluate, rate, onboard, and operationalize Fundraising Technology in our offices.

Join us for the very first meetup of the DPP FUNTech Group! We promise that it will be fun ;-)

For our first meetup, let us spend time getting to know each other and our needs. If there are any topics you'd like to have added to the agenda, please email Sean your ideas.

[DPP Groups] FUNTech

Join your colleagues for a conversation with Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer at GivingTuesday.

As the steward of some of the most comprehensive and high quality data sets in the industry, Woodrow will review recent trends and what they mean for practicing fundraisers.

As Chief Data Officer for GivingTuesday, Woodrow has been instrumental in shaping the global generosity movement and has led ground-breaking research and analysis of individual giving behaviors. He leads the GivingTuesday Data Commons, bringing together a coalition of more than 100 collaborators coordinated through eight working groups as well as data teams in 50 countries to understand the drivers and impacts of generosity to inspire more giving of all types. Woodrow brings expertise in moving markets and transforming audiences from passive participants to active and vocal ambassadors. 

Woodrow is also the Founder of With Intent, an international agency specializing in brand re-imagination. Woodrow is a member of the Generosity Commission Research Task Force, serves as a Co-Chair for Global Impact Canada's Board of Directors, and was recently named a Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School with the Technology and Public Purpose project.

 (DPP) is a community of 2,400+ fundraisers who co-create solutions to reverse the nationwide decline in donor participation (20 million US households lost between 2000-2016).

Discuss this Topic and Learn with Your Colleagues During our May 24 Lunch Analysis!

Lunch Analysis with Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer, GivingTuesday

 will have an honest conversation around the last Lunch Analysis - 

What does fundraising look like in the future? With Juan Mones, UNICEF

Every month the Donor Participation Project breaks into small niche groups to deep dive and discuss ideas from a previous Lunch Analysis session.

​​​These small niche groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

​Join us for this monthly meetup of the 

 where we will have an honest conversation around the last Lunch Analysis - 

Recording and summary of our last Lunch Analysis as well as other Lunch Analysis sessions can be found in our 

, Founder, Impact and Dialogue Foundation. 

If there are any topics you'd like to have added to the agenda, please email Pallabi your ideas.

, Contact No.: +91 9811737441) to know more about this Group.

: In the previous DPP India meetup, we spoke about- 

⇉ The Social Stock Exchange, India's new initiative to help finance nonprofits.

⇉ The perennial observation that donor engagement, retention and stewardship are under-invested (this must be a universal law of fundraising!).

⇉ Increased need for accountability and operational efficiency.

[DPP Groups] India

, Principal at Philanthropy Systems, is exploring a DPP Group for those interested in healthcare philanthropy to discuss the challenges affecting donor participation in healthcare.

Join us for the very first meetup of the DPP Healthcare Group!

For our first meetup, let us spend time getting to know each other and our needs. If there are any topics you'd like to have added to the agenda, please email Ben your ideas.

 - We conducted a short survey asking members of this Group what are the greatest challenges for donor participation in healthcare, and any topics that they'd like to discuss. 

For our second meeting, let's spend time getting to know each other and our needs. If there are any topics you'd like to have added to the agenda, please email Perry your ideas. Possible topics and breakout groups are: Newbies and those considering consulting, consulting veterans, consulting by services, and consulting by organization type. 

Every month the Donor Participation Project breaks into small groups to deep dive and discuss ideas from a previous Lunch Analysis session. These small groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

​This month the DPP Group: Academic - Major / Planned Gifts will talk about Donor Advised Funds, including the latest research on them released by FreeWill.

Please feel free to bring other topics, too. 

​Recording and summary of our last session can be found in our 

 (Chair) for a conversation around our last Lunch Analysis session and peer support for your current challenges!

This month the Social Services & Agencies - Leadership DPP Group will discuss the topic of our last Lunch Analysis - “

You may contact Heather or Elias with current challenges that you'd like to discuss with the Group or if you'd want to know more about this Group.

​​​These small groups are meant to facilitate sharing of ideas and experiences, an environment for asking questions and peer support for your current challenges.

​Join us for this kick-off meeting of the DPP India Group!

For our first meeting, let us spend time getting to know each other and our needs. If there are any topics you'd like to have added to the agenda, please email Pallabi your ideas.

 to learn about digital dashboards for fundraisers. There are reams of data available through Google's free Google Analytics tools that fundraisers can use to measure engagement and gifts.

David will review some of the upcoming changes in Google's measurement tools and how they impact their ad grants program.

We'll have a brief conversation followed by Q & A.