Writing Appeals Workshop

April 4, 2024 11:00am-4:30pm ET

Overview

Writing is one of the most important skills a fundraiser can possess. And while you don’t need to be an award-winning author to write strong appeals, you do need to be able to make the case for support in a clear and compelling way. Developing messages that resonate and selecting words that motivate can make all the difference. By refining your writing skills, your prospects are more likely to read your appeals and respond with a gift.

Join us on April 4th for a one-day interactive learning experience where you’ll learn how to write effective fundraising appeals for your institution.

Participants will have an opportunity to:

Learn about best practices for writing fundraising appeals
Actively share, critique, and rewrite real-life examples
Network with peers to share ideas and experiences
Obtain workshop handouts and other materials
Earn CFRE credit
And more!

This event is ideal for advancement professionals at educational institutions who wish to learn the nuts and bolts, effective techniques, and current best practices of writing direct fundraising appeals.

AGN Members save an additional 40%
Receive further discounts when registering multiple attendees from one institution

Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.

Program

(all times are EDT)

*Note: Only one person/login per institutional registration.

10:50am - Sign-In Begins

11:00am - Welcome/Overview of the Day

11:05am - Getting In Sync With Your Audience

Learn how to address different audiences and craft messages that communicate your institution’s stories in a compelling way.

11:30am - Small Group Breakouts

Engage in small group discussions, while actively sharing, critiquing, and rewriting sample appeals.

12:30pm - Break (30 minutes)

1:00pm - Structuring Your Appeal

Discover how to organize your copy in a way that draws a reader in, builds momentum, and flows smoothly.

1:30pm - Small Group Breakouts

Engage in small group discussions, while actively sharing, critiquing, and rewriting sample appeals.

2:30pm - Break (30 minutes)

3:00pm - Enhancing Your Ask

Find out how to craft an “ask” in a way that stands out and motivates prospects to make a gift.

3:30pm - Small Group Breakouts

Engage in small group discussions, while actively sharing, critiquing, and rewriting sample appeals.

4:20pm - Bringing It All Together

Conclude the day with a summary of lessons learned and opportunities to continue learning.

4:30pm - Workshop Ends

Faculty

Meredith Johnston

With over 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising, Meredith has led programs at Scripps Research, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, and Oklahoma State University. Her other experience includes leading teams through change, developing and leading comprehensive campaigns, and building strong teams while nurturing talent. She holds a B.A. in Literature from the University of North Texas.

Gina Fiorillo

Gina has over 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Annual Giving at New York University and has previously led programs at Rutgers University, Kean University, and Douglass College. She holds a B.A. in English from Douglass College and an M.P.A. from the School of Public Affairs & Administration at Rutgers University.

Dan Allenby | Principal & Founder at Annual Giving Network

Dan is an author, speaker, and consultant who has worked with educational institutions for more than 25 years to improve their fundraising results. An internationally recognized expert on annual giving, he is a CASE Laureate and recipient of the prestigious Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. His book Ideas for Annual Giving offers designs for helping organizations increase their levels of sustainable philanthropic support. Dan has led annual giving and membership programs at Boston University, Tufts University, Georgetown University, and the National Geographic Society. He also served on the faculty for CASE’s Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising and chaired its Senior Annual Giving Professionals Conference and Annual Giving Workshop for five collective terms. He holds a B.A. in History from James Madison University and a M.B.A. from Boston College. Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, writing songs, and getting away to the beaches of Cape Cod. His philosophy is that success comes from focusing on what’s right in front of you.

For more information about this workshop, please contact us at 888.407.5064 or [email protected].