Heather McDonald

This hands‑on workshop equips small nonprofits to design, launch, and grow a monthly donor program that delivers predictable, unrestricted revenue.

Using practical, low‑cost tactics, learners will craft emotionally resonant appeals, prioritize high‑potential audiences, select and optimize outreach channels (email, social media, website, events, and 1:1 asks), and design a simple, trustworthy giving experience. We will also demonstrate how to use AI tools strategically to draft, repurpose, and test content while maintaining authenticity and donor trust. The session emphasizes real‑world templates, mini‑practice, and a simple launch plan tailored for lean teams.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the value of monthly giving for financial stability and donor lifetime value.
• Draft compelling monthly giving appeals using emotional and relevant storytelling hooks.
• Segment and prioritize audiences most likely to become recurring donors.
• Select and optimize channels (email, social, website, events, 1:1) for effective asks.
• Design a simple, trustworthy donation experience using the right platform features.
• Apply AI tools ethically to write, repurpose, and A/B‑test messaging while protecting authenticity.
• Develop a concise launch plan with clear messaging, visuals, and engagement tactics.
• Implement donor retention systems to thank, update, and deepen relationships over time.

This hands‑on workshop empowers small nonprofits to lead their own strategic planning process—no costly consultants required. Participants learn to gather and analyze data (surveys, interviews, program results, financials), facilitate productive staff/board discussions, and synthesize themes into a clear set of 3–5 strategic pillars. Using practical tools and examples, attendees build a draft strategic framework with goals, success metrics, and accountability structures—rooted in their mission, resources, and community needs.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Design a strategic planning timeline tailored to organizational capacity and calendar.
• Gather and synthesize input using stakeholder surveys, staff/board interviews, program evaluations, and financial reviews.
• Identify key themes and articulate strategic pillars through facilitated discussions with staff and board.
• Determine an appropriate number of pillars (typically 3–5) to balance focus with flexibility.
• Recognize common pillar domains (e.g., Program Impact, Fundraising & Sustainability, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Governance, Community Engagement, Internal Capacity/Operations).
• Facilitate conversations that prioritize and align ideas—managing competing interests and building consensus.
• Create a draft Strategic Framework that outlines goals, success metrics, owners, and review cadences.

Strengthen your organization’s voice and tell your story to inspire action. Learn to distill your mission, tailor messages by audience, mix emotion with data, and avoid common pitfalls—then practice live and leave with ready‑to‑use templates.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Clarify and distill their mission into emotionally engaging, repeatable language.
• Identify key audiences (donors, partners, media, policymakers) and tailor messaging accordingly.
• Assemble a Mission Messaging Toolkit including elevator pitches, origin stories, impact stats, and testimonials.
• Integrate emotion and data to make messages resonate with both hearts and minds.
• Apply a simple storytelling framework (Problem → Solution → Impact → Call to Action).
• Diagnose common pitfalls (jargon, complexity, mission drift) and revise to avoid them.
• Activate board and staff as brand ambassadors through shared talking points and practice.