N A S H V I L L E JUNE 9-11
2 0 2 6
Tuesday
J U N E 9 , 2 0 2 6
2:00-2:30 PM
2:30-3:00 PM
Connect for Impact
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Join us before Impact University begins for engaging activities and time to connect with fellow attendees
Welcome to Impact University
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Start Impact University learning about our collective goals and the impact we will create together
S P E A K E R S
JessicaWylie VicePresident,FieldDevelopment
StephanieMoore
SeniorVice-President,MissionAdvancement&FieldOperations
MissionMoment
SloaneCargen,CitizensParticipant
J U N E 9 , 2 0 2 6
3:00-4:00 PM
4:00-5:00 PM
United, We Impact
6:00-8:00 PM
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Hear from our national development teams as they share how we can increase our collective impact through intentional year-round planning across Walk, Champion of the Year, individual giving, and foundations/grants This session will focus on building momentum beyond a single event, strengthening relationships, and aligning strategies to drive long-term growth toward our shared goals.
S P E A K E R S
KatieRose SeniorDirector, ChampionoftheYear
HannahCaudell Director, ChampionoftheYear
Raise with Heart
KyleeStepner SeniorDirector, FriendshipWalks
KelseyGilson DeputyDirector, Grants
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Fundraising is hard, and it's easy to feel helpless but you're more powerful than you know In this funny, heartfelt keynote, auctioneer and dad Tom Riles shares the three steps that turn good intentions into record-breaking results: get the right people in the room, tell the right story, and make the right ask Drawing on his own family's journey of finding their people, Tom will leave you fired up to raise more than you ever have before.
S P E A K E R
TomRiles,Auctioneer
Circle of Champions Reception
Location: The Overlook, Floor 30
Join us for food, drinks, and a short program highlighting our mission and Champion of the Year as we wrap up the first day of Impact University
Wednesday J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 2 6
8:00-8:45 AM
8:45-9:00 AM
9:00-10:30 AM
10:30-10:35 AM
10:40 AM-12:00 PM
Breakfast
Location: Harmony, Fourth Floor
Mission Moment
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
S P E A K E R
Jamie Galvin
Local Ambassador & Jobs Participant
From the Immediate to the Intentional: A
Portfolio Approach to Year-Round
Relationship-Building
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
S P E A K E R
Kate McGinn
CEO and Founder, The Bold Stripe
Transition to Breakout Sessions
Breakout Sessions
Attendees will have the opportunity to customize their experience by selecting two breakout sessions to attend during the following times:
Session 1: 10:35 AM –11:15 AM
Session 2: 11:20 AM–12:00 PM
Choose from three engaging breakout options designed to provide practical strategies, fresh ideas, and collaborative discussion to help strengthen your impact and goals for the year ahead.
B R E A K O U T Option 2:
B R E A K O U T Option 3:
Discover how a coaching approach can help your fundraising volunteers reach their full potential. In this session, Kate McGinn will share practical strategies for building relationships with volunteers and empower them to take ownership of their success. Learn how shifting from managing to coaching can strengthen relationships, increase engagement, and drive greater fundraising impact.
Prospecting & Cultivating Individual Donors
Location: Meadow C, Third Floor
Where do your next donors come from? In this interactive session, discover how to identify new individual giving prospects, build authentic relationships, and create meaningful donor experiences that lead to long-term support Whether you're looking to expand your network, increase donor retention, or strengthen your individual giving program, you'll leave with practical ideas and strategies you can put into action right away
AmandaManly StateDirector,SouthCarolina
The Foundation Funding Blueprint
Location: Willow Pond A, Third Floor
Bridge the gap between grant writing and foundation engagement with Rondal Richardson, a seasoned foundation fundraising expert. Gain practical strategies for stewardship, cultivation, prospect research, proposal development, and competitive grant submissions. Whether you're looking to expand your funding pipeline, strengthen foundation relationships, or increase grant success, you'll learn how to identify opportunities, craft compelling proposals, and build lasting partnerships that support your fundraising goals.
S P E A K E R S
KatieStanton SeniorDirector,Foundations&Grants
RondalRichardson
Kelsey Gilson Deputy Director, Grants
Wednesday J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 2 6
12:00-12:45 PM
1:00-1:45 PM
Lunch Location: Harmony, Fourth Floor
Championing Impact at the Local Level: Insights from Nashville Volunteers
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Hear directly from local Nashville committee members, current Champions, and alumni volunteers about what inspires engagement, drives fundraising success, and builds lasting impact
P A N E L I S T S
TaylorRamsey
PastChampionoftheYear&CurrentGalaChair
TrennieWilliams
PastChampion&CitizensParticipant
IanDurelli
2022ChampionoftheYearRunner-Up&FormerChapterPresident
NathanDean
2024NationalTopChampion
F A C I L I T A T O R
WillMacon StateDirector,Tennessee
1:45-2:45 PM
2:45-3:00 PM
Advisory Board & Committee Engagement
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Taking a closer look at our supporters’ journey from involvement to leadership, setting clear expectations, creating tools & resources for success, and inspiring motivation for action
S P E A K E R
KristenStarcher SeniorDirector,Branding&ResourceDevelopment
Break
Wednesday
J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 2 6
3:00-4:00 PM
4:15-5:00 PM
Real-World Development Challenges and Solutions
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Work through real-world scenarios commonly faced in development roles, including donor challenges, time management, competing priorities, and engagement roadblocks. In this interactive breakout, participants will collaborate on practical solutions, share strategies, and build tools they can immediately apply to strengthen their Champion of the Year and Friendship Walk execution
F A C I L I T A T O R
HannahCaudell
Director,ChampionoftheYear
Meet the Team (optional)
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
Connect with members of the national team after sessions wrap to ask questions and share ideas!
T E A M M E M B E R S
Branding&VolunteerEngagement:LiseLozelle&KristenStarcher
ChampionoftheYear:KatieRose&HannahCaudell
Development&Communications:HaleyWilber
FriendshipWalks&IndividualGiving:JessicaWylie opment:LexieAppleby&EmmaZagar agement:EmilyRaich&AmyColucci arkWylie&AmberCoffman remiahAngel
ening: The evening is yours to enjoy! Feel free to nge into whatever you're comfortable wearing as explore Nashville, meet up with colleagues, or enjoy ner on your own
Thursday J U N E 1 1 , 2 0 2 6
8:00-8:45 AM
9:00-9:45 AM
9:45-10:45 AM
Breakfast
Location: Harmony, Fourth Floor
The Business of Building Great Relationships
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
S P E A K E R
EmilyRaich Director,PartnerEngagement
Explore how intentional relationship-building can transform community engagement, donor cultivation, and partnership growth. Through real-world case studies from national partnerships, this session will highlight practical lessons on building trust, creating buy-in, and turning meaningful connections into lasting impact Staff will walk away with actionable strategies they can apply immediately to strengthen local donor relationships, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships
Voices from the Field: Development Strategies that Deliver
Location: Meadow D
P
A
Hear directly from staff in the field as they share real-world development strategies that are driving results This session highlights practical, tested approaches to donor engagement, fundraising, grants and foundation partnerships, and event execution within Champion of the Year and Walk, offering insights you can apply immediately to strengthen your own impact.
N E L I S T S
TriciaWilliams RegionalDirector,PalmBeach
KellyCarrico Director,MissionAdvancement,KY
F A C I L I T A T O R
RyanLaCosse AreaDirector,CentralIL
KaraFalcone StateDirector,MA&RI
TimBommarito StateDirector,MO
Thursday J U N E 1 1 , 2 0 2 6
10:45-11:00AM
Break
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Radical Curiosity
In our fast-paced professional worlds, it is easy to default to transactional networking that leaves everyone feeling exhausted and disconnected. This interactive workshop introduces the concept of Radical Curiosity as a direct antidote to relational burnout and superficial connections. Through real-world case studies and hands-on group exercises, you will master a "Human First Strategy" to build deep, authentic partnerships while preserving your own energy
Location: Meadow D, Third Floor
S P E A K E R
CaseyCarr ChiefOperatingOfficer,TheNashvilleFoodProject
12:00PM Departure
