Advance - Foundation for Fraternal Excellence

Advance is a unique opportunity for fraternal fundraisers to learn, connect and reflect on their work and goals. This program successfully provides dynamic sessions rooted in sharing, small group discussion and networking within the industry.

Real-world, practical education for fraternal fundraisers

Registration information coming soon!

Four Workshops to Enhance Your Fundraising (2026)

Understanding Donor Motivations: Monday, Feb. 23 from noon-3 p.m. ET
Explore the psychology behind giving and uncover what drives donors to support foundation. This session focuses on identifying donor values, aligning organizational impact with personal motivations, and leveraging behavioral insights to strengthen relationships.

Securing Major & Planned Gifts: Wednesday, Feb. 25 from noon-3 p.m. ET
Learn proven strategies for cultivating and closing significant gifts that sustain long-term impact. This workshop emphasizes relationship-building, stewardship, and integrating planned giving into your fundraising portfolio.

Segmentation for Fundraising: Monday, Mar. 2 from noon-3 p.m. ET
Discover how strategic segmentation can maximize outreach effectiveness. This session covers audience analysis, data-driven grouping, and tailoring messages to resonate with different donor segments.

Storytelling Impact: Wednesday, Mar. 4 from noon-3 p.m. ET
Harness the power of storytelling to communicate mission and impact in ways that inspire action. This workshop explores narrative techniques, emotional connection, and integrating stories across digital and traditional channels.

All workshops will take place entirely online.

(Optional) NEWCOMER COFFEE CHAT:
January 21, 1 PM ET
REGISTER HERE

Are you newer to FFE membership, the fraternal foundation industry, or planning to attend Advance as your first FFE program? Join us for our Newcomer Coffee Chat, where you’ll be introduced to the people, programs and resources that make up the FFE community.

Perfect for anyone recently starting their journey in the fraternal foundation space or professionals looking to get the most out of their organization’s FFE membership.

2026 FFE Member Registration Costs & Information

Ultimate Advance Pass: $249 per person, includes access to four virtual workshops and related resources | Registration closes Friday, Feb. 20 at 11:59 pm ET
Any Single Virtual Workshop: $99 per person | Registration closes the Friday before each set of workshops at 11:59 pm ET (Feb. 20 & Feb. 27)

If your organization is not an active FFE Member, you will be charged a $100 non-member fee per registrant. To renew or activate your foundation’s FFE Membership, contact FFE Executive Director Will Foran at will.foran@foundationfe.org.

Alliance Partner Registration: FFE Alliance Partners at the Silver level and above receive complimentary registration(s). Email Will Foran at will.foran@foundationfe.org to access your company/organization’s coupon code.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Advance offers something for everyone working in or supporting fraternal fundraising. New and mid-career professionals benefit the most, but experienced fundraisers find value in refreshing fundraising fundamentals, sharing their organization’s best practices and continuing to build peer-to-peer connections.

This program centers around four topical-focused workshops: Mid-Level & Major Giving, Planned Giving, Segmentation & Personalization, and Donor Retention.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?

All tracks heavily focus on tactics, innovations and real-world experiences. Sessions are hosted exclusively over Zoom. Participants take part in dynamic sessions rooted in sharing, small group discussion and networking connections within the fraternal fundraising industry.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Understanding Donor Motivations Workshop participants will:

Identify key factors influencing donor behavior and decision-making.
Apply donor-centric strategies to enhance engagement and retention.
Use data and conversations to uncover motivations and personalize outreach.

Securing Major & Planned Gifts Workshop participants will:

Understand the lifecycle of major and planned gift cultivation.
Develop approaches for donor conversations that inspire transformational giving.
Incorporate planned giving tactics into existing fundraising strategies.

Segmentation for Fundraising Workshop participants will learn:

Define segmentation models that align with your foundation goals.
Use donor data to create targeted campaigns for higher engagement.
Implement segmentation strategies to improve ROI and donor satisfaction

Storytelling Impact Workshop participants will:

Craft compelling stories that highlight donor impact and organizational mission.
Apply storytelling frameworks to fundraising appeals and stewardship.
Utilize multimedia and digital platforms to amplify reach and engagement.

More Information on Workshops Coming Soon!

GET INVOLVED

Are you interested in volunteering to plan the next Advance program? Submit your Advance Planning Committee interest through the form linked on the right.

SUBMIT VOLUNTEER INTEREST