More details about the timing of the days can be found by clicking Learn More and Register, but session descriptions of the two days are below:  

Considering a New Approach to Philanthropic Relationships
Our opening session offers a chance to reflect on your current approach to donor engagement while exploring a new model for fostering meaningful philanthropic relationships. This model will serve as the foundation for our time together, providing a fresh perspective on how to nurture and strengthen connections with donors.

Applying the Five Paths to Leadership℠ to Interactions
Effective donor engagement begins with understanding your own leadership style and tendencies. In this session, you’ll explore the Five Paths to Leadership℠ Self-Assessment, identifying how you typically approach philanthropic relationships. Through group work and case study discussions, you’ll gain insight into how donors’ leadership styles may differ, and how their leadership styles influence your interactions and their connection to your institution.

Unlocking Values to Identify Shared Interests
Donor values are central to building a strong, lasting relationship. By understanding a donor’s core values, you can uncover shared interests that align with your institution’s mission. In this session, you’ll learn strategies for engaging donors in meaningful conversations about their values. We’ll explore how to facilitate this process, ensuring that you leave with actionable techniques for aligning a donor’s values with the work of your institution.

Engaging in Transformative Conversations to Deepen Connection
Once you’ve identified shared interests, the next step is deepening the relationship through transformative conversations. In this interactive session, you’ll refine your skills in active listening and using open-ended questions to foster genuine, impactful communication with donors. We’ll also explore common pitfalls in discussions with donors, equipping you with new strategies and tools to ensure these conversations lead to deeper, more meaningful communication.

Employing Storytelling to Secure a Meaningful Partnership
As donors become more engaged with your institution’s mission, it’s essential to bring them into the story of your work. You want to encourage them to see themselves as part of the ongoing narrative. In this session, you’ll discover powerful storytelling techniques and practice applying them in conversations and written communications. You’ll leave with practical tools to craft compelling stories that reinvigorate donor relationships and secure long-term partnerships.

Sustaining Alignment Throughout Their Investment
After a donor has made a commitment, it’s essential to maintain alignment with the original vision and ensure their continued engagement. In this session, we’ll explore strategies for sustaining donor involvement by demonstrating how their contributions help advance your institution’s mission. You’ll leave with the tools needed to communicate the ongoing impact of their support and develop strategies for maintaining strong, long-term relationships.

Integrating Your Approach within Your Institutional Context
Philanthropic relationship strategies need to be tailored to fit the unique context of your institution. In this final session, we’ll explore how to integrate the principles learned throughout the workshop into the framework of your institution’s goals, including metrics, campaign objectives, and portfolio management. You’ll leave with a clear action plan for applying what you’ve learned in both the short and long term, ensuring that these approaches are sustainable within your specific institutional context.