The Conference Committee is excited to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2016 Annual Conference will be Kathy LeMay, the founder and co-president of Raising Change, Inc!

Kathy has raised $175 million to benefit women, children and animals in the U.S. and around the world. She began her global activism in war-torn Bosnia and has since worked with social change leaders throughout the world creating strategies to elevate the status of women and girls. She is a sought-after international speaker, author of The Generosity Plan, and coach to some of the world's leading philanthropists. Her second book, Letters for Humanity, is due out in Fall 2016.

We hope you'll be able to join us to hear her, and to enjoy the rest of the conference, this spring!

Do you have an idea for an educational session at this spring's conference? The Conference Committee is still accepting educational session proposals. You can submit your proposal on the Call For Conference Speaker Presentations page here. Proposals should include a brief description of the session, a working title and a short personal bio. The complete presentations will be be due in late March. 

Please contact Conference Co-Chairs Lisa Foster or Amy Begg with any questions about the 2016 conference.

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You, yes, you are invited to a NEDRA "Very Informal Networking Opportunity" (VINO)! 

When: Thursday, December 10th, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Meadhall, 4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142

Why: Fun socializing with fellow prospect development professionals

Like previous VINOs, this event is free-of-charge to for NEDRA members and non-members. For more details or to register for this event, please visit the NEDRA website here.

Special thanks to Evertrue, the generous sponsor of the event!  

Please click on the image below for more information about Grenzebach Glier and Associates!

This guest post comes to us from IMPACTism Founding Principal and Strategist Jack Karako. As you plan your professional development opportunities for 2016 and beyond, Jack offers some advice on how to make the most of your next conference.

If you or anyone in your nonprofit organization is looking to attend one of the dozens of nonprofit conferences next year, you’ll want to make sure that you’re prepared to make the most of it.

While it’s exciting to go to a different city and perhaps even a different state for a few days, there are definitely some best practices that you should take along with you in addition to your business attire and laptop.

Take a look at the top three ways to achieve conference success in 2016.

1. Do Research Beforehand

Conferences are great networking opportunities, but it can be overwhelming and intimidating to attend an event with hundreds or even thousands of other people. Instead of wearing yourself out trying to connect with every single person and attending every single session, craft a game plan beforehand.

Nearly every conference will post information about the types of sessions and the speakers they have lined up. After you’ve registered, take some time to figure out which sessions you want (and need!) to attend to help you get the most out of your conference experience.

Additionally, some conference hosts will publish lists of confirmed attendees. While it might take you awhile to sift through a large list, knowing who will be at the conference before you walk through the doors is a great strategy for streamlining your networking list.

2. Be Alert and Engaged During the Conference

After you’ve been at a conference for two days, it can seem impossible to get up early on the third morning, grab a muffin and a cup of coffee, and be in your seat by 8.

Remember, though, that conferences are one of the greatest opportunities for you to learn from colleagues, thought leaders, and experts in your field. You wouldn’t want to miss out on exciting discussions because you decided to hit snooze ten times.

Being alert and engaged during a conference means: 

• Taking notes and asking questions during sessions.
  
• Effectively networking with your peers (not just handing out business cards to everyone!).
  
• Showing up early to events and staying afterward to talk to attendees and speakers.
  
• Posting, liking, and commenting on conference news on social media.
  
• Realizing when you’ve reached your limit.
  

The last point may seem contradictory, but it’s vital to your conference success. You can’t effectively learn and gain new insights if you’ve mentally checked out. Knowing when you need a break during the day is important for staying sharp during the rest of the conference.

3. Follow up and Sign up

If you enjoyed your conference experience this time around, start making plans for next year! Most conferences are held annually, so you’ll always be able to stay up to date on the latest trends in nonprofit technology, fundraising, donor retention and acquisition, and much more.

Additionally, consider signing up to be a speaker or a volunteer at a conference. If you’re a planned giving guru or a fundraising whiz, find out how you can share your knowledge with the nonprofit community.

You can also volunteer to help run a conference. These kinds of events are a massive undertaking, and conference hosts can use all the assistance they can get. Not only will you get a great behind-the-scenes look at how things work, but you might just score VIP passes to special events and sessions as a “thank-you.”

Make sure you also avoid post-conference burnout and keep your enthusiasm high once you return to the office.

Attending a conference can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. But if you incorporate these three tips, you’ll be on your way to success!

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Jack Karako

Founding Principal and Strategist

IMPACTism

Jack has 30 years’ experience within the charitable and philanthropic industry that he brings to the forefront with IMPACTism, a philanthropy portal that aims to improve online charitable giving models by partnering directly with organizations and businesses who make a positive impact on society.

Jack has been a major gifts fundraiser and senior organizational executive working with or consulting to nonprofit and advocacy organizations. A generous community and civic leader who has served on several nonprofit boards, Jack has a unique perspective as a donor, benefactor, and as an industry thought leader. Working closely with senior leadership in strategic planning, Jack has personally raised over $50 million in annual and deferred gifts. 

Jack has a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) degree from Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida), Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from American University (Washington, D.C), and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from State University of New York at Geneseo.

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In the coming months, the NEDRA News blog will be highlighting some of our fantastic members in a series of interviews. Our first spotlight is on Cathy Kingery, who has held the title of Research Officer at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH since May, 2011. She came to the field with a writing and editing background.

Cathy Kingery

Research Officer

Saint Anselm College

Manchester, NH

How did you get interested in Prospect Research and how did you enter the field?

In early 2008 I was laid off from my position as an editor/writer at a local book publishing company. After having no luck finding another permanent position in the publishing field, I decided to take a chance and apply for a prospect researcher opening at Saint Anselm College. I had a hunch that my strong sense of curiosity, attention to detail, writing skills, and persistence would make me a good fit, and these qualities have served me well in this position.

Can you describe your current office/position?

I am the sole researcher at Saint Anselm College, a small liberal arts school in Manchester, NH, with about 2,000 students. Our advancement/alumni relations office has 25 employees. I perform proactive and reactive research in support of the Senior Vice President for College Advancement, three major gift officers, and three annual fund officers. I also prepare event briefings and other materials for the college President, Board of Trustees, and other college executives.

How did you get involved with NEDRA and what has been your experience?

I attended my first NEDRA conference after just two weeks on the job. Much of the material presented at the sessions I attended that year went right over my head, since I was still so green. Despite this, everyone I encountered made me feel so welcome, and I was astounded by the wealth of knowledge they possessed and were so willing to share. I have regularly attended the NEDRA conference since then, and it is one of the highlights of my year. As a researcher in a one-person shop, the chance to spend two days among professionals who share my everyday work experiences is invaluable. It’s wonderful to be able to gain insight, ask questions, share frustrations, and exchange tips with colleagues in person.

How have things changed for you since you first entered prospect research?

When I started in my current position, many aspects of the job confused and, at times, overwhelmed me. (Estimating gift capacities and deciphering SEC documents are two that come to mind.) But, fortunately, these tasks come much easier to me today. That is largely due to the gracious tutoring I have received from my mentor, Dave Perkins, a longtime prospect researcher in higher education. His friendship, advice, insight, and encouragement have been a godsend.

What gives you a feeling of success and/or excitement in your work?

I enjoy discovering a promising constituent in our database about whom none of our gift officers were previously aware. It’s satisfying to think that this prospect might become an important donor in the future and that it all began with a research report that I prepared. Also, although it might be a bit of a cliché, it is gratifying to know that my work is helping to raise scholarship funds for deserving students who might otherwise not get a chance to receive a college education.

Any other thoughts?

My interactions with fellow prospect researchers—at NEDRA conferences, through e-mail exchanges, via phone calls, and through the PROSPCT-L listserve—always amaze and delight me. Our community is made up of such talented, intelligent, and helpful people! I am proud and honored to call myself a member of this wonderful group of professionals.

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This two-part article from 2010-2011 by Suzanne Milauskas, currently Director of Prospect Development and Systems at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, is a treasure-trove of resources for estimating salaries. Some, sadly, don't exist any longer, but read through as there may be a few you have forgotten! What are your favorite salary sleuthing sources? Share below!

Salary Sleuthing Part I - US.pdf

Salary Sleuthing Part II - International.pdf

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