The only conference for nonprofits that focuses on corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, employee volunteerism, workplace giving and cause marketing all in one space.
Wednesday, March 13
3:30pm – 6:30pm PDT*
In-person receptions in four cities
*3:00 PM – 5:30 PM in Seattle
Thursday, March 14
8:00am – 1:00pm PDT
Virtual Conference
Presented by
In order of appearance
Keri Pravitz
AMAZON
Manager, Community Engagement
Session: Panelist Mar 13 In Person in Seattle
Gina Breukelman
BOEING
Sr Manager, NW Region Boeing Global Engagement
Session: Panelist Mar 13 In Person in Seattle
Amy Liu
MICROSOFT
Director, Affordable Housing & Human Services in WA State
Session: Panelist Mar 13 In Person in Seattle
Amanda Catala
UPS & UPS FOUNDATION
Regional Community Relations Manager
Sessions: Guest Mar 13 in person in Seattle + Panelist Mar 14 at 11:00 AM PT
Matthew (Matt) Hrdlicka
UMPQUA BANK
VP Relationship Manager
Guest: Mar 13 In Person in Seattle
Sheli O’Connor
UMPQUA BANK
Relationship Banking Officer
Guest: March 13 In Person in Seattle
Elizabeth (Liz) Lorenzo
WELLS FARGO
Social Impact Professional
Guest: March 13 In Person in Portland
Brenden Butler
UMPQUA BANK
VP Community Impact Officer OR, SWWA, CO
Guest: March 13 In Person in Portland
Emily White
SALESFORCE
Senior Director, Philanthropy
Session: Panelist, March 13 In Person in San Francisco
Brian Mattos
VISA
Sr Manager, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability
Session: Panelist, March 13 In Person in San Francisco
Pedar Bruce
UMPQUA BANK
VP Community Impact Officer
Session: Panelist, March 13 In Person in San Francisco
Alissa May
SALESFORCE (formerly)
Social Impact & ESG Leader
Session: Panel moderator, March 13 In Person in San Francisco
Marie Lloyd
AMAZON
Manager, External Affairs
Guest: March 13 In Person in Los Angeles
Debbie Marshall
PNC BANK
Senior VP Client and Community Relations
Guest: March 13 In Person in Los Angeles
Erica Lane
LEADERSHIP TOMORROW
Manager, Fundraising & Alumni Relations
Session: March 14, 8:05 AM Breakfast Banter – Commiserate over coffee
Nikki Kloeppel
CONGRUENCE DESIGN
Master Trainer
Session: March 14, 8:05 AM, Book Review: Professional Troublemaker
Thomasina Tafur
Business Development Leader/Doctoral Student
Session: March 14, 8:05 AM Building a professional roadmap: what skills are needed to be a leader?
Ashley Siegert
VACANVA
Owner/Creative Director
Session: March 14, 8:05 AM PST. Ideation Station: Let’s trade ideas and share inspiration
Allie Bell
FREELANCE
Arts & Culture Project Manager
Session: March 14, 8:05 AM PST. Efficiency Hacks: Work smarter not harder
Hart Hodges (Professor)
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Professor of Economics
Session: Mar 14 at 9:05 AM PT
James McCafferty (Director)
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
College of Business and Economics
Session: Mar 14 at 9:05 AM PT
Abigail (Abby) Hollingsworth
BANK OF AMERICA
Director, Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Session: Mar 14 at 10 AM PT
Anita Whitehead
KPMG
President & Chair, KPMG US Foundation, Inc
Session: Mar 14 at 10 AM PT
Walter Willett
SPONSORSHIP SEEKERS LOUNGE
Principal
Session: 3/14 at 11 AM PT
Maria Perez
SPONSORSHIP SEEKERS LOUNGE
Principal
Session: 3/14 at 11 AM PT
Larry Weil
THE SPONSORSHIP GUY
President and Founder
Session: 3/14 at 11 AM PT
Jessica Blotter
KIND TRAVELER
CEO and Co-Founder
Sessions: 3/15 at 8:05 AM and 9 AM PT
Anne Marie Dillon
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Director, Workplace Giving and Matching Gifts
Sessions: 3/15 at 8:05 AM & 9:00 AM PT
Chris Jarvis
REALIZED WORTH
Partner, Chief Strategy Officer
Sessions: 3/15 at 8:05 AM & 9:00 AM PT
Joy Stephens
CORPORATE GIVING NETWORK
President and CEO
Sessions: 3/15 at 8:05 AM & 9:00 AM PT
Erin Combs (ARTIO STRATEGIES)
Formerly Amazon, Lyft, Starbucks
Sessions: 3/15 at 8:05 AM and 9 AM PT
Cynthia Flash
FLASH MEDIA SERVICES
Media & Public Relations Consultant
Sessions: 3/15 at 8:05 AM and 9 AM PT
Hillary Schneider
SELLEN CONSTRUCTION
Director of Diversity Outreach and Social Impact
Session: 3/15 at 10 AM PT
Ty Cordova
STATE FARM INSURANCE
Corporate Responsibility Analyst
Session: 3/15 at 10 AM PT
Mary Batterson
MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
Corporate Partnerships Officer
Session: 3/15 at 10 AM PT
Mike Cheever
COLLEGE SUCCESS FOUNDAITON
Executive VP Strategy and External Affairs
Session: 3/15 at 10 AM PT
Cassandra Mitchell
KEY BANK
SVP, D, E & I Strategy and Engagement
Session: 3/15 at 11 AM PT
Solynn McCurdy
SYMETRA
SVP Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Session: 3/15 at 11 AM PT
Amelia Ransom
SMARTSHEET
VP, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Session: 3/15 at 11 AM PT
Kim Vu
Formerly REMITLY & BANK OF AMERICA
Advisor
Session: 3/15 at 11 AM PT
Seattle In-Person
Schedule:
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Check-in and Meet & Greet
4:00pm – 4:45 pm: Panel Discussion
4:45pm – 5:30pm: Networking
Panelists:
Guests:
Location:
Columbia Tower Club – Washington Room
701 5th Avenue, 76th Floor, Seattle, WA 98104
Portland In Person
Schedule:
3:30pm -4:00pm: Check-in and Meet & Greet
4:00pm – 5:00pm: Panel Discussion
5:00pm – 6:30pm: Networking
Corporate Funder Guests:
Elizabeth (Liz) Lorenzo, WELLS FARGO, Senior Social Impact & Sustainability Specialist
Brenden Butler, UMPQUA BANK, VP Community Impact Officer
Vanessa Bump, NORDSTROM (formerly), Social Impact Subject Matter Expert
Location:
Portland City Grill, 111 SW 5th Ave 30th Floor, Portland, OR 97204
San Francisco In-Person
Schedule:
3:30pm -4:00pm: Check-in and Meet & Greet
4:00pm – 5:00pm: Panel Discussion
5:00pm – 6:30pm: Networking
Panelists:
Location:
Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Los Angeles In-Person
Schedule:
3:30pm -4:00pm: Check-in and Meet & Greet
4:00pm – 5:00pm: Panel Discussion
5:00pm – 6:30pm: Networking
Guests:
Location:
City Club LA, 555 Flower St 51st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Welcome and Introduction to Program
Opening remarks by AMAZON – Keri Pravitz, Amazon
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Start off Day one of our conference with lively and engaging discussions in your choice of 5 breakout rooms on a variety of topics from career road mapping, to working smarter to a book review. Prime your brain by learning something new, exchange experiences and insights, and make new connections.
1. Breakfast Banter – Commiserate over coffee
Got something weighing on your mind that others may relate to? Join us for candid, open forum to discuss topics you feel the need to get off your chest, hear from others, learn and gain fresh perspectives and insights to perhaps take action on something bogging you down.
Facilitator: Erica Lane, LEADERSHIP TOMORROW, Fundraising and Alumni Relations Manager
2. Book Discussion: Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Have you read the New York Times best-seller that invites you to Speak the truth. Be too much. Live audaciously. We’ll explore together the lessons we’ve gained from what has been heralded as a powerful book that talks about how to tackle fear–that everlasting hater–and live boldly and audaciously in spite of all the reasons we have to cower.
Facilitator: Nikki Kloeppel Conguence Design Master Trainer
3. Building a Professional Roadmap: What skills are needed to be a leader
Professional development: What does your own career roadmap look like to get from where you are now to where you want to be? Have you identified the areas in which you want to grow, upskill, gain degrees or certifications. Have you sought out mentors through building your professional network, served on boards, sought out informational interviews with professionals whose career and titles you aspire to move into someday?
Facilitator: Thomasina Tafur, PhD Candidate, Global Leadership and Change
4. Ideation Station: Let’s trade ideas & share inspiration
Are you a serial “Idea person” or have a new one you wish to explore? Want a place to brainstorm and “workshop” new ideas to get some real time feedback and use that to help move through your creative process and flow? Join us for this interactive session and come away with fresh insights, peer data, and hopefully renewed inspiration for whatever you’re dreaming up next.
Facilitator: Ashley Siegert VACANVA Owner & Creative Director
5. Efficiency Hacks -Work Smarter, Not Harder
Do you know there are better ways to work, but haven’t cracked the efficiency code? Let’s chat about interesting new tools, both technical and non, that have helped us better plan, organize, collaborate, and automate our work processes, saving us time, frustration and energy.
Facilitator: Allie Bell Freelance Arts and Culture Project Manager
BREAK
The State of the Economy: Recession averted but don’t pop the cork yet
Since the official announcement that the US has not entered a recession, what are the implications of this on corporate investments into charitable giving in 2024? What should Fund Development professionals be aware of that is coming down the pike and how can we best prepare our forecasts and strategic planning accordingly?
Back by popular demand, presenter Professor Hodges will rejoin to update us on the state of the economy, reassess and report how aligned he was regarding his predictions for the last half of 2023 (did the recession happen) and move on to what lies ahead in Q2, Q3 and Q4 in 2024. He will tie his predictions into the likely impact this will have on corporate giving.
Speakers: Professor Hart Hodges, WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Economics and James McCafferty, WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Director, College of Business and Economics
BREAK
CSR & ESG: Social impact - Is it measuring up?
Is social impact, that is giving back to the community by channeling gifts, grants and goods-in-kind from companies and corporate foundations via nonprofits, being given the same attention as the environment, governance, and human capital areas?
The panel will discuss the ‘S’ (Social) in CSR/ESG, its modern-day meanings, why there has only been a 1% increase over the last forty years in philanthropy and what companies are doing in addition to grantmaking thereby explaining the true picture of corporate support. Trends like an increased workload for CSR professionals is a factor that will be explored and could this be what is driving ‘by invitation only’ in the grant application process?
Panel:
Anita Whitehead, KPMG, President and Chair, KPMG US Foundation, Inc
Abigail (Abby) Hollingsworth, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Director
BREAK
Corporate sponsors and galas: Falling out of favor?
In multiple conversations we’ve had with nonprofits lately, we’ve heard that companies are no longer as eager to sponsor a fundraising event like a gala as they were in years past. To unpack this further, we’ve invited three companies who make significant contributions to nonprofit events to discuss why they continue to do so and what other companies need to understand about the importance of helping cover the cost of an event.
Panel:
Amanda Catala, UPS, Regional Community Relations Manager
Walter Willett, Sponsorship Seekers Lounge, Principle
Maria Perez, Sponsorship Seekers Lounge, Principle
Larry Weil, The Sponsorship Guy, President and Founder
Lunchtime Networking Chat Rooms
Play a part in shaping our conference programming in real time. We are shifting our Lunchtime Networking sessions to respond to our attendee’s needs as we want these networking sessions to be as useful and aligned to your interests as possible.
We will be polling all attendees in the first half of half day of the conference to request everyone’s input on what topics they would find most valuable and of interest to them.
Please keep your eyes open in the chat for instructions on participating in the online poll, as we’ll be be circulating the poll through an online polling tool.
Thank you in advance for your participation and for sharing your real-time input with us ahead of the the start of our afternoon sessions.
END OF DAY 1
Welcome and Introduction to Program
SKILLS BUILDING WORKSHOPS: SESSION 1
These interactive workshops are designed to sharpen your skills, to teach new tips and tricks, to build on existing knowledge, and offer methods to implement all with the aim to advance your corporate fundraising career. The following six topics will be hosted by subject matter experts, experienced nonprofit professionals and/or corporate funders.
1A. Cause Marketing - Get with a program
Facilitators: JESSICA BLOTTER and SUSAN BELL
Are you new to, or hesitant to try, cause marketing because you don’t really know what it is and how to get started in setting up a program? Are you unsure of which companies you can approach? If you want to learn what you need to do to find a partner as well as best practices in setting up a partnership, this is the workshop for you. CEO and Co-Founder Jessica Blotter of KIND TRAVELER will be sharing her cause marketing story proving that any organization can use this revenue generating tactic in their fundraising plan.
Facilitators: Jessica Blotter, CEO and Co-Founder, Kind Traveler and Susan Bell, Corporate Engagement Officer, Woodland Park Zoo
2A. Workplace Giving and Employer Matching: Raise funds and find corporate prospects
Facilitator: ANNEMARIE DILLON
Does your organization take advantage of workplace giving by using a ‘Double the Donation’ type of application on your website’s donate page? This sort of application asks the donor if their employer will match the gift they gave to your organization. If the donor does not know, some systems give them the chance to look it up. Did you know that an estimated $4-7 billion in matching gift funds go unclaimed each year? Let’s stop leaving money on the table.
Facilitator: Annemarie Dillon, American Cancer Society, Director-Workplace Giving and Matching Gifts
3A. Employee Volunteering requests and how to handle them
Facilitator: Chris Jarvis
How do you respond when you get a request from a corporate donor for volunteering opportunities for their employees? Depending on your cause you’re either elated or filled with dread. You welcome the offer if you’re a food bank as there’s always apples to sort – but not all organizations can comply with the request. We are seeing a trend where requests for volunteering opportunities is increasing so what are you supposed to do? Furthermore, are you seeing that some grantors are ignoring your grant application if you are unable to provide volunteering options? Join us and learn ways to create volunteering opportunities without a lot of work.
Facilitator: Chris Jarvis REALIZED WORTH Partner, Chief Strategy Officer
4A. Five T’s of how your board can help grow corporate revenue.
Facilitator: JOY STEPHENS
You’ve heard of the three T’s: Time, Talent and Treasure but what are the other two? They are Ties and Testimony. You really need your board to be focusing on all five to help you sustain, or rather grow your corporate revenue stream. Join CGN’s Founder and CEO as she breaks these down for you and gives you concrete examples of how you can teach your board to become better corporate fundraisers.
Facilitator: Joy Stephens, Corporate Giving Network, Founder & CEO
5A. Press releases and other publicity is valuable to corporate funders. Learn why and how to create.
Facilitators: ERIN COMBS & CYNTHIA FLASH
Corporate funders give for altruistic reasons, but they also have a need to raise awareness about their efforts. To ensure the message about donations is well received, many businesses look to their nonprofit partners for help spreading the word, however this can be challenging for nonprofits with limited staff or marketing resources. Join Erin Combs, principal at Artio Strategies and an alum of Starbucks, Lyft, and Amazon, to better understand what funders are looking for and learn some strategies to help promote corporate gifts in ways that will benefit both the business and the nonprofit. Cynthia Flash, owner of Flash Media Services, which has served nonprofit clients with communications strategy, public relations, and media relations for more than 20 years, will discuss the current media landscape and offer practical tips for nonprofits that want to tell their stories to the public, their stakeholders, and constituents.
BREAK
SKILLS BUILDING WORKSHOPS: SESSION 2
For our second round of Skills Building Workshops, we’ll be repeating the same five selections from earlier in the day. Here’s your opportunity to choose the workshop that came in as a close second from our wide variety of professional development topics.
BREAK
Bridging the Gap: What corporate funders want and nonprofits can provide and vice versa
Corporate funders and nonprofits met face to face in the fall and winter of 2023 and discussed what each other needs and what the other group can provide. We are looking forward to sharing the results of this candid, curated Roundtable discussion where we learned about each other and where we exchanged top pain points of working with the respective partner organizations. What were the key takeaways? Was there any common ground? How will you use these learnings in developing your Corporate Giving strategy moving forward?
Panel:
Ty Cordova, State Farm Insurance, Corporate Responsibility Analyst
Hillary Schneider, Sellen Construction, Director of Diversity Outreach & Community Impact
Mike Cheever, College Success Foundation, Interim President & CEO
Mary Batterson, Museum of Flight, Corporate Partnerships Officer
BREAK
DEI today: What have we accomplished?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a term becoming well known in most settings, and with more professionals entering the space, we are hearing about the expansion and reach of these initiatives within a wider swath of organizations. What impact and results are we seeing?
Hear from a panel of BIPOC leaders from Corporate America who will discuss the challenges, successes and, some common issues faced within DEI and the resulting impact on corporate funding.
Panel:
Cassandra Mitchell, KEY BANK, Senior VP Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy and Engagement
Solynn McCurdy, SYMETRA, SVP, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Amelia Ransom, SMARTSHEET, VP, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Moderator:
Kim Vu, Advisor & Independent Board Director (formerly Remitly and Bank of America)
PRIZE DRAWINGS AND CLOSING REMARKS
END OF CONFERENCE
Learn about sponsorship opportunities by emailing Joy Stephens at joy@corporategn.com or phone 425.653.1575