Want to Improve Your Fundraising Success?
Level up your fundraising strategies in just two hours while unleashing your creativity and supporting a worthy nonprofit.
2-Hour Fundraising Accelerator with Real Time Brainstorming. A prize will be awarded for the most compelling idea!
MLK National Day of Service
Monday, January 20, 2025
9am to 11am CST - Live on Zoom
Begin 2025 by elevating your fundraising results!
Are you overwhelmed by juggling program oversight, board management, and fundraising?
This two-hour accelerator can be your game-changer. A panel of expert fundraisers will share their most valuable insights that can dramatically boost your fundraising success.
Get valuable insights and strategies like:
- The best way to start writing a grant application (It’s not what you think!)
- How to turn a $20 donor into a $100+ donor over time
- The essential elements of a client success story
- What funders look for on your IRS form 990
- How to hold a fundraising event on a tight budget
- How your leadership impacts your fundraising success
- The most effective social media content in 2025
- The best social media platform for your ideal audience
- The essential format for a grant budget
- The formula for creating compelling grant outcomes
Next, you’ll learn and practice two brainstorming tools that can further magnify your fundraising success.
There will be a Grow and Give Back Strategy handouts and forms available for download to use as a resource over time.
Then, we’ll extend the benefits through a private Facebook group where you’ll share your most compelling fundraising ideas.
A $500 cash prize OR 4 hours of fundraising consultation (winner’s choice) will be awarded for the most compelling fundraising idea developed for Lion of Judah Montessori School.
Accelerator agenda
HOUR ONE: Key grant writing strategies, Effective Fundraising With Social Media in 2025, Events on a budget, Donor tracking & stewardship, The leadership factor in fundraising, and 5 Fundraising mistakes to avoid.
HOUR TWO: Brief panel interaction, followed by Donor Duplication and What If brainstorming tools + Real Time Brainstorming Session. Download the combined panel handout.
EVENT EXTENSION: Access the private Grow and Give Back Facebook group where we will continue brainstorming fundraising ideas and award a prize for the most compelling idea.
Our expert panel
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Patty Bates-Ballard, CEO, WordSmooth
Grant Writing Must-Haves and Pro Tips
Patty is an author, mediator, educator, and grant writer who helps organizations communicate effectively across differences. With more than 30 years of grant writing experience, she currently writes grant proposals for nine Texas nonprofits. Specializing in inclusive writing and compelling outcomes, Patty is also the author of the books ACE-ing Conflict and Judgment Or Joy? the co author of Navigating Diversity, and developer of the Harvest Respect program.
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Rebecca Trejo, Director of Donor Engagement, Ctr for American and International Law
Events on a Budget/Donor Tracking and Stewardship Strategies
Rebecca has 15 years of experience in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. She specializes in conceptualizing, developing and executing marketing campaigns that increase community engagement and stakeholder support.
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Gregory Smith, Director, Institute for Law Enforcement Administration
The Leadership Factor in Fundraising
Gregory leads a team of six and is a lead instructor on management and supervision, ethics and ethical decision making, and diversity education. Gregory earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a Minor in Multi-Cultural Education from Ball State University, and he received his Master of Arts Degree in Social Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Gregory also served in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserve for 21 years and progressed in ranks from private to major.
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Adora Drake, Principal, Highspirits Essentials Marketing
Effective Fundraising With Social Media in 2025
Adora is an expert digital marketing strategist, coach, and consultant of Highspirits Essentials Marketing. She helps nonprofit and mission-driven organizations feel inspired to take action, gain clarity in their marketing strategy, and learn how to convert their followers into raving fans who want to be a part of their mission with her unique digital marketing consulting.
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Nekeya Webster, Head of School, Lion of Judah Montessori School
5 Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid
Nekeya, a dedicated educator with fifteen years of experience, founded Lion of Judah Montessori School in 2021. Located just a block from the intersection of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Boulevards in South Dallas, her school serves as a beacon of progressive education in the community.
Beyond her extensive educational background, Nekeya brings a unique perspective to her role as Head of School. She is also a pastor, a theology student at Dallas Theological Seminary, and a licensed real estate agent. This diverse skillset allows her to approach education holistically, fulfilling the social, economic, and spiritual needs of her students.
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Mark W. Josh Chamberlain, Vision Board Mastermind
Donor Duplication & What If Brainstorming Tools
Mark retired as a VP & Financial Advisor from Merrill to dedicate more time to community service. Mark’s decades in the Financial Services industry, community service in his church, president of a regional Junior Achievement and commitment to the American Heart Association provided him with the foundation to better serve the needs of his community.
Mark is an author, speaker, fund raiser, Vision Board Mastermind. “Donor Duplication,” “Benchmarking Jackie Kennedy Onasis,” and “Rent? Mortgage Lease? Think OPM, Think Win-Win” are a few of his workshops.
Mark is a Purple Heart recipient, combat veteran, USMC 1968-1970, Vietnam.
Grow and give back
Grow and give back is for a wide range of nonprofit leaders, including those who are:
- New to fundraising: Build a strong foundation.
- Ready to scale: Take your fundraising efforts to the next level.
- Seeking community: Connect and network with other passionate leaders.
- Eager to innovate: Unlock your fundraising creativity.