Advance 2024: Annual Giving Track

Tuesday, Mar. 5

12:00-12:10 pm ET | Welcome

Setting the tone for our time together.

12:10-1:00 pm ET | Giving Days: Building culture to support fundraising success

Philip Thornton, MBA, CFRE, Vice President of Advancement, University of Indianapolis

Philip Thornton joined the University of Indianapolis as Vice President of Advancement in 2022, where he leads all aspects of the University’s fundraising efforts. Previously he was Chief Development Officer, Industrial Engineering, for Purdue University’s College of Engineering. He has also served as Chief Development Officer of Theta Chi Fraternity where he launched two Days of Giving and achieved record-breaking fundraising success year after year. He earned his MBA at the University of Arizona and his BA at San Diego State University.

1:10-2:10 pm ET | Empowering Advocates to Maximize Fundraising

Moderator: Neil Stanglein, Director of Development, Delta Zeta Foundation

Panelists: Sarah Cone, Senior Director of Development Operations, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation; Samantha McGinty Dutton, Director of Marketing, Gamma Phi Beta; Kelsey Girod, Director of Marketing & Communications Specialist, Kappa Delta Foundation; Vince Russo, Senior Director of Advancement, Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation

Sarah Cone is the Senior Director of Development Operations for the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation. She wears many hats for the Foundation, including managing direct mail, stewardship and events, technology, marketing, and online fundraising (including Day of Giving). Prior to joining the Foundation staff in 2014, Sarah as the director of the alumni relations offices at the University of Richmond School of Law and The George Washington University Law School. She is an ADPi from The Ohio State University and volunteers as president for her chapter’s alumnae association. Sarah is also a non-practicing attorney and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Samantha McGinty Dutton serves as Gamma Phi Beta’s director of marketing. She has over a decade of experience in higher education and marketing, working on multiple campuses before joining Gamma Phi Beta in 2021. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and has served as a volunteer, both on the local and national level, since 2007. Samantha earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s in student affairs administration from the University of Georgia. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Kelsey Girod serves as the Direct Marketing and Communications Specialist with the Kappa Delta Foundation. She has been a marketing professional for ten years with experience in a variety of industries such as tourism, archaeology, healthcare and sorority. Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications with an emphasis in public relations and minors in business and sports management from The University of Lynchburg. She is a Virginia native, but currently resides in the southwest corner of Colorado enjoying the skiing, biking, and climbing that the area has to offer.

Vincent Russo serves as Senior Director of Advancement at the Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation where he previously served as Senior Advancement Office and Leadership Gift Officer in prior roles over his five years in fundraising. Russo also served Delta Tau Delta as a Senior and Chapter Leadership Consultant, working with over 40 chapters of the Fraternity across the country from 2017-2019. His career and volunteerism outside of it has continuously immersed him in the contemporary undergraduate and young adult population in the United States and given him insight to the challenges and ambitions of this specific population.

2:20-2:35 pm ET | Try This! Giving Day Social Media

Erin Parks, Foundation Operations Manager, Alpha Chi Omega Foundation

Erin Parks serves as the Foundation Operations Manager for the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. She has an extensive background in education, database management and organizational process improvement. Erin holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education and a graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management. She lives in the Indianapolis, Indiana area and enjoys spending time with her three grown children and granddaughter and traveling with her husband.

2:35-3:00 pm ET | Roundtable Discussion: Strategies to Engage Mid-level Donors

Choose your topic in this peer-to-peer roundtable as an industry expert guides you in discussion. You’ll connect with others who are currently improving or hope to improve this area of work. Bring questions to the table for collaborative problem-solving and find a network of support.

3:10-4:00 pm ET | Reinventing Annual Giving: Adapting to today’s evolving fundraising trends

Kelly Wesley Taylor, JD, Founding Partner, Trek Advancement

Kelly Wesley Taylor

Clients often hear Kelly say “You can do it! Now let’s get started!” She lives to energize others into action. Kelly is an activator. She wants to understand the context of a situation, explain why it happened, in order to find solutions to nuanced problems. She has a gift for making the complex seem simple and works best as a hands-on trainer. Kelly also has a strong sense of commitment and is highly motivated to see things carried through to completion. Her work is a way of life, not just a job. In search of significance, Kelly strives for what’s exceptional, what’s excellent and what’s authentic. Mediocrity is her nemesis. Kelly takes risks and gladly meets new challenges. She believes that philanthropy is an expression of our human connectedness.

In her efforts to design a life well lived, Kelly co-founded Trek Advancement in 2009. Trek’s guiding philosophies of good governance, solid leadership, donor-centered fundraising and mission-focused action help clients build sustainable fundraising efforts. Kelly is a planned giving nerd and uses this passion to navigate comprehensive fundraising campaigns. A talented strategic thinker and influencer, Kelly enjoys working with clients to define their strategic goals and help them create their unique roadmap for success. Kelly likes to engage in conversations either one-on-one or with an audience of hundreds.

Wednesday, Mar. 6

12:00-12:05 pm ET | Recap & Resources

Quick recap of Day 1 learning and where you can find slides, resources and recordings.

12:05-1:00 pm ET | Managing Your Annual Fundraising Plan & Calendar

Neil Stanglein, Director of Development, Delta Zeta Foundation

Neil Stanglein currently serves as the Director of Development at the Delta Zeta Foundation. A member of Lambda Chi Alpha from the University of Missouri, he received a Bachelor of Journalism degree and Master of Education degree from MU. In 2014, after nearly eight years in student affairs administration, he made the switch to fraternal fundraising and has been at Delta Zeta since 2017. Neil currently manages annual giving, Founders Day Challenge (Day of Giving) and other special projects.

Neil served on the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Foundation Board from 2015-2019, and actively volunteers with FFE – serving on past Advance and Seminar planning committees, presenting at Advance and Seminar and served as the 2022 Chair and the 2023 Co-Chair of Seminar.

Outside of fundraising, he likes to think of himself as the “most OK Crossfitter,” reading and spending time with his girlfriend Natasha and Goldendoodle, Rollins.

1:10-2:10 pm ET | Unlocking Donor Commitment: The Power of Effective Stewardship

Cara Augspurger, Ed.M, CFRE, Executive Director, Grace Care Center Foundation (Alpha Delta Pi)

A long-time development professional, Cara currently serves as Executive Director of the Grace Care Center Foundation and currently leads a capital campaign for the Sigma Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi. Her expertise is in coaching, annual fundraising, project management, and communications. She has both a B.S. and Ed.M. from the University of Illinois and she earned her Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credentials. Cara hosts “The Nonprofit Podcast” and serves as an ambassador for Donorbox.

2:20-2:35 pm ET | Try This! 4 Direct Mail Trends You Should Know About in 2024

Todd Moxley, Vice President, Pledgemine

With over 40 years of experience in the printing and direct mail industries, Todd Moxley is an print and design expert, specializing in direct mail strategies. Having dedicated 29 years to this field, he founded Pledgemine in 2009 to enhance direct mail solutions for non-profits, focusing particularly on higher education. In 2022, Pledgemine merged with EverTrue, further advancing donor engagement through innovative fundraising technology.

Todd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Wheaton College, Illinois. He is renowned for his deep understanding of market dynamics and direct mail trends. At the upcoming talk, Todd will share insightful trends in direct mail for 2024, offering practical advice on integrating these trends into effective mailing strategies for professionals in the fraternal industry.

2:35-3:00 pm ET | Roundtable Discussion: Improving Your Direct Mail Appeal

3:10-4:00 pm ET | Easy & Effective Ways to Use Video Messaging in Alumni & Donor Outreach

Joe McClanahan, Sr. Account Executive, Gravyty

Joe McClanahan is a leader on the digital fundraising team at Gravyty. With a background in corporate sales and leadership, he has experience over several specialties including Higher Education, Fraternal Organizations, Digital Fundraising, eCommerce, AI, and Collaborative Work Management. Joe earned his Master’s in Sports Business Leadership from Seattle University. He is passionate about helping his partners learn how to best expand fundraising, engagement, and stewardship efforts with the latest technology.