Ask the Expert! Roundtable Conversations with Advanced Professionals

Choose your own adventure! At this event, you’ll be able to select the two sessions that most interest you. We’ll have advanced professionals (those with 15 years or more of experience) host conversations around some of the biggest challenges we face as fundraisers – from projecting development revenue to getting your Board involved.
Price
$30 – AFP Members
$45 – Non-members

---

Justice Philanthropy in Practice

Rachel D’Souza-Siebert, MPPA, Founder and Principal
Gladiator Consulting
Rachel D’Souza-Siebert, MPPA started her nonprofit career with Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis and enhanced her skillset as the founding Director of Development at St. Louis Language Immersion Schools. Rachel’s ability to cultivate relationships, earn trust and drive results contributed to her success in her former roles.  Since founding Gladiator Consulting in 2015, Rachel has worked with Funders, Executive Directors, Board Committees and Development staff of grassroots/grass-tops organizations to reimagine strategy, fund development and partnership for the unique challenges that face our community. Rachel is a passionate advocate for collaboration, racial equity, justice philanthropy and community/ movement-centered fundraising.

---

Getting in the Door to Make the Ask

Kristi Meyers-Gallup, Principal
Your Philanthropy
Kristi began her consulting firm, Your Philanthropy, in 2016, leveraging her extensive experience in annual, major and planned giving, including work on multiple capital campaigns, to help her clients reach their fundraising goals.  She offers her clients 30 years of fundraising experience working for multiple organizations, including Washington University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Jewish Federation, The Sheldon and Covenant Place. Her approach is to conduct an objective assessment that identifies opportunities to cost-effectively increase contributed income.  Kristi understands that it takes solid strategic planning, strong volunteer and executive leadership, and positive dynamics and messaging to effectively match donor interests with mission-critical activities.

---

So you think you want to be an ED? Pluses and minus to making the leap from a DD or CDO to ED

Lynn Huelsmann, Executive Director
Burns Recovered
Lynn has worked in the nonprofit sector for 19 years, beginning her career as a director of development, then a chief development officer, then a Vice President of Development before moving into an Executive Director position.  She currently serves as the Executive Director of Burns Recovered a St. Louis-based nonprofit that provides programs and services to assist youth and adult burn survivors throughout the Midwest.

---

Your Job Description and Everyday Reality. Let’s talk about it.

Anne Wiehagen, CFRE, Director of Mission Advancement
Society of the Sacred Heart
Anne Wiehagen, CFRE, is Director of Mission Advancement for the Society of the Sacred Heart, a congregation of women religious whose U.S.-Canada province offices are located in St. Louis.  Anne has been part of the team that ran a nation-wide campaign to raise $47M to fund the sisters’ retirement needs and their spiritual and educational ministries into the future.
Serving as a mentor is Anne’s favorite AFP role. A frequent topic is discussing job descriptions vs. reality. Let’s talk about job descriptions, the real world, and your role as a professional fundraiser.

---

It’s All About Balance: Managing up and down as you lead your team in securing major gifts

Brett Schott, Chief Development Officer
Variety St. Louis
Brett Schott has been raising funds for St. Louis  organizations for twenty-five years, spanning an array of institutions. Brett has worked at human service organizations, institutions of higher education and the arts.  Currently the Chief Development Officer at Variety St. Louis, Brett has previously served on the board of AFP St Louis and served as President longer ago than he cares to remember.

---

How to Project Development Revenue

Linda Haley, CFRE, Owner and Principal
Let’s Build Hope
Since 1995, Linda has successfully developed funds, helping to raise more than $100 million for various non-profits of all sizes, including religious, social services, arts, education, and healthcare organizations. Linda started Let’s Build Hope, LLC, in 2013, where she and her team guide nonprofits by teaching, coaching, and mentoring nonprofit teams about the intricacies of fundraising for the much-needed, ongoing annual needs nonprofits have.  At LBH, she has developed, and her team teaches, a week-long Annual Fund Training Camp which has educated more than 230 fundraisers and volunteers about the intricacies of successful fund development and the need to build a true culture of philanthropy. One of Linda’s nonprofit passions is working with nonprofits in crisis.

---

Converting Annual Donors into Major Donors

Wendy Dyer, President
Wendy Dyer Fund Development Consultants
Wendy has enjoyed working with hundreds of nonprofits over the last 25 years as a consultant.   She has helped pump millions of dollars into the economy – expanding programs and building schools, health centers and cultural places – bringing opportunity to thousands of people.  Currently she is helping to manage $80+ million in campaigns. A frequent presenter and trainer, Wendy encourages agencies to find their “sizzle” and embrace her mantra that “People are giving money away, anyway, might as well be to you.”