Learning From Our Mistakes

Ohhhh….now I get it! For most of us hindsight is 20/20. Just as in life, as fundraising professionals, we make mistakes. If we are smart about it, we look at those mistakes as opportunities, and figure out how to do better the next time. At this session, a panel of three distinguished nonprofit professionals will humbly share lessons learned on a variety of development topics including career development, management, special events, and donor relations. Participants will be part of this conversation as they live and learn together, and consider how they can avoid easy missteps in the future.

About the Moderator

Katie McGovern
Director of Development
The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter
Katie McGovern has 15 years’ experience in development, communications and volunteer and staff management. Katie currently serves as the director of development at The ALS Association and is responsible for overseeing and facilitating all fundraising activity, along with board, volunteers and fellow staff. Katie is a long-standing AFP member and has served on a number of AFP committees. She has presented on local and national platforms on topics including donor stewardship, building the donor pipeline, growing mid-level donors and the effects of the Ice Bucket Challenge. She has received several awards for her leadership, including Mentor of the Year from the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN.)

About the Panelists

Lyndsey Reichardt
Senior Director of Development
Oasis
Lyndsey has been in nonprofit fundraising for 14 years.  She is Senior Director of Development at Oasis, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to healthy aging through lifelong learning, healthy lifestyles, and civic engagement.  Lyndsey joined AFP in 2009, and has been involved in a number of committees and board positions. She is currently serving as President Elect. Lyndsey earned her CFRE in 2012, her Masters in Public Affairs from Mizzou in 2011, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Missouri State University in 2005.
In 2014, Lyndsey was recognized by the St. Louis Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals as the Young Professional Fundraiser of the Year.  She is also a former Chamberlain Scholar, and was named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s 30 Under 30 list in 2011. Lyndsey and her husband live in Ballwin with their 4 year old daughter and 8 month old son.
Jarel Loveless
Managing Director of Development
Teach for America St. Louis
Jarel Loveless is the Managing Director of Development at Teach for America St. Louis. He has previously held development roles at the Saint Louis Science Center, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the University of Missouri – St. Louis.
Before returning to his hometown of St. Louis and embarking upon his nonprofit career twelve years ago, Jarel worked as a reporter at the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer.
Lisa Picker
Executive Director
Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis
Lisa Picker is Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis, a regional catalyst for workplace, individual, and policy change that advances women’s economic success. During her career, Lisa has worked to protect and empower victims of domestic and sexual violence and to help students to become the first in their family to graduate with a post-secondary degree. Since starting with the WFSTL in April 2018, Lisa’s leadership has doubled the reach and impact of the organization’s Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard initiative. Lisa is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and has been recognized as an “Emerging Leader” through the national Bank of America “Neighborhood Builders” program.