The Secret Sauce: Strategies & Tactics to Engage Institutional Funders & Raise More Revenue (In-Person)

What’s the secret? Whether you are a seasoned fundraiser seeking new strategies or a development lead or grants writer relatively new to the field, understanding the process of identifying, engaging, and soliciting funds from institutional donors is pivotal to our work. In this session, we’ll review what works, what will likely fall flat, and what to expect when reaching out to prospects to build or expand your institutional donor program.

This session will cover the following topic areas:

Prospecting - including identifying top prospects, interpreting often contradictory descriptions of funder guidelines, and the tools that can help you find solid information.

Initial Outreach & Meetings - whether you are reaching out to a new lead or someone is willing to introduce you to a corporate or foundation decision-maker, we share which steps often work and what to avoid. We’ll also discuss how much you should push to get a meeting, and how to prepare for your initial meeting when you get through.

Staying Connected - while you might be invited to submit a proposal after your initial outreach, often your first engagement will be one of several needed before you’re asked to submit. We’ll review different options for staying in touch, the appropriate cadence during this time, how to build and maintain relationships, and creative approaches to stay on a funder’s radar.

Creating Proposals That Stand Out - we’ll share highlights from proposals that have led to funding, noting best practices to collaborate with program teams, presenting your organization in a strong light, and strategies to emphasize key elements about your programs and services.

Notes From the Field - in this final segment, we’ll share details about funder outreach and meetings as well as challenges we’ve faced. From multi-year projects requiring strong project management skills to align proposal deliverables with your program activities, to requesting no-cost extensions or what to do when a funder changes their giving priorities or a program officer who has been a major advocate for your organization leaves their role, we’ll share our past experiences with funders. 

Location: 
Association of American Medical Colleges
655 K St NW Suite 100, Washington, DC 20001

Meeting Time:
Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

*Registration will open at 8:30 am. The presentation will be from 9:00 am - 10:00 am. 

Speakers:
Nadine Gabai-Botero & Heather Koslov

Please contact [email protected] for questions regarding this event.

Full participation in The Secret Sauce: Strategies & Tactics to Engage Institutional Funders & Raise More Revenue is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.