Join Tennessee Nonprofit Network for an exciting Board Fundraising Summit designed to transform how your organization approaches fundraising. This isn’t just another workshop—it’s a dynamic event focused on helping you better engage your board members and unlock new potential for your mission.
At the summit, you’ll have the chance to dive into breakout sessions tailored to your needs, to learn from our Keynote Speaker, national board fundraising expert Donna Murray-Brown, who will inspire new strategies, and take advantage of ample networking time to connect with peers from across the state.
Meet our Keynote Speaker, Donna Murray-Brown!
Donna Murray-Brown is the new President & CEO of Inforum, a professional development organization dedicated to advancing women. Her extensive leadership background includes serving as Vice President of Strategy and Development for the National Council of Nonprofits and a transformative eight-year tenure as President and CEO of Michigan Nonprofit Association.
A recognized leader in the nonprofit sector, Murray-Brown has been twice named to the NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 and was honored by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the most influential women in Michigan. She currently contributes her expertise to the boards of Candid and Detroit Public TV. Murray-Brown holds a master’s degree in community development from the University of Detroit Mercy and a B.S. in business administration from Central State University, with additional executive certifications from Harvard Business School and Boston College.
This is a can’t-miss opportunity for board members, fundraising staff, CEOs, and anyone on your team who wants to create a more collaborative and effective fundraising culture. Get ready to gain the tools and insights you need to take your fundraising efforts to the next level! And trust us – you want to bring a board member! We have some big surprises. Here’s your hint: $$$!
Bring a Board Member Double Ticket (Members Only): $249
Members (Single Ticket): $159
Non-Member Ticket (Single Ticket): $199
8:00am: Registration, Breakfast, and Fellowship
8:30am-9:15am: Welcome and Introductions
Location: Auditorium
Dr. Kevin Dean, Tennessee Nonprofit Network
Michael Detroit, Playhouse on the Square
- Trevor Benitone, Adams Keegan
9:15am-10:00am: Keynote Session: Developing a Culture of Fundraising on Your Board
Location: Auditorium
Donna Murray-Brown, Inforum
10:00am-10:10am Break
10:10am-11:10am Meeting the Moment with Fundraising Success
Katie Spencer, Zipline Consulting
Christy Gilmour, C. Gilmour Consulting
11:20am-12:10pm Panel Discussion: Creative Ways for Boards to Fundraise
Location: Auditorium
Go beyond the traditional “give or get” model. This discussion will highlight diverse methods for board members to contribute to fundraising, including peer-to-peer campaigns, prospect identification, event sponsorship, and leveraging personal networks.
- Michael Detroit, Playhouse on the Square
- Kim James, Young Leaders Council
- TD Smyers, BoardBuild
- Forrest Alton, 1000 Feathers
Introducing “Practice Pods!”
The afternoon will feature a brand-new way of learning: You’ll learn from actual foundation leaders before watching a real-time grant meeting simulation on the stage! The highlight of the day is our brand-new, three-part “Practice Pods” format, culminating in a foundation ask simulation with members of the audience!
Part 1: The Preparation You and your board members will be matched with mentors from local foundations. These experts will provide invaluable guidance on how to have a successful meeting with a foundation—including how to prepare, when to defer to the board member, and what not to say.
Part 2: The Ask Get ready for a “foundation meeting” simulator! Up to four board and CEO pairs will pitch their organization and make a live ask on stage in front of national foundation leader. The audience will watch as the pair meets with a foundation leader and work together to answer some of the more difficult questions that foundations frequently ask.
Part 3: The Review The foundation leader will publicly unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly of the pitches, providing real-time feedback on what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved. The CEO/Board Chair pairs will be eligible to receive a $1500 grant for participating!
How to participate in the live “mini-pitch”: To be eligible, organizations must be members of Tennessee Nonprofit Network, be in compliance with the IRS and state of Tennessee, and have a board member present at the Summit.
12:10pm-1:00pm Lunch
Locations: Lobby, Cafe, Event Space, 5th Floor Event Space, Outside, Gallery
1:00pm-2:00pm Practice Pod Part 1: Preparing Your Board Members for Foundation Meetings
- Foundation leaders will serve as mentors to small groups of participants to explore what a winning partnership between staff leadership and board leadership looks like when meeting with a foundation. We’ll explore the do’s and don’ts, how to prepare board members for the meeting, how to delegate responsibility, and more!
Mentors:- Sutton Mora, Executive Vice President & COO, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
- Whitney Weeks, Assistant Vice President, HCA Healthcare Foundation
- Elizabeth Rouse, President & Chief Executive Officer, ARTSmemphis
Location: Auditorium
- Foundation leaders will serve as mentors to small groups of participants to explore what a winning partnership between staff leadership and board leadership looks like when meeting with a foundation. We’ll explore the do’s and don’ts, how to prepare board members for the meeting, how to delegate responsibility, and more!
2:00pm-3:30pm Practice Pod Part 2: The Ask
- This is where participants get to “learn by doing,” or at least “learn by watching!” Four pairs of board member/staff member pairing will make an ask live on stage in front of a foundation leader for 20 minutes. They’ll be participate in a “mini-pitch” to the foundation while the audience watches.
Location: Auditorium
- This is where participants get to “learn by doing,” or at least “learn by watching!” Four pairs of board member/staff member pairing will make an ask live on stage in front of a foundation leader for 20 minutes. They’ll be participate in a “mini-pitch” to the foundation while the audience watches.
3:30pm-4:00pm: Practice Pod Part 3: The Reviews and the Winner
- The foundation leader will provide feedback to the participants, and the winner will be announced! Audience members will also provide feedback and ask questions of the foundation leader.
Location: Auditorium
- The foundation leader will provide feedback to the participants, and the winner will be announced! Audience members will also provide feedback and ask questions of the foundation leader.
4:00pm-4:15pm: Closing Remarks
Dr. Kevin Dean, President & CEO, Tennessee Nonprofit Network
Location: Auditorium
We are thrilled to host the Board Fundraising Summit at the iconic Playhouse on the Square, perfectly situated in the heart of vibrant Midtown Memphis. If you’re coming in town for the Summit, you’ll be in for a treat!
This prime location places you just steps away from Overton Square, an historic and dynamic entertainment district. Overton Square is a popular hub known for its lively energy, featuring a fantastic array of local restaurants, unique boutiques, cozy coffee shops, and diverse nightlife venues, making it the perfect spot to network and relax after the summit.
For those planning to stay nearby, the luxurious Memphian Hotel is conveniently located directly across the street. Furthermore, the sprawling, historic green space of Overton Park—home to the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum of Art, and the Old Forest State Natural Area—is just a few short blocks away, offering a beautiful retreat for a morning stroll or an afternoon visit.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
AGENDA
8:00am: Registration, Breakfast, and Fellowship
8:30am-9:15pm: Welcome and Introductions
Location: Auditorium
– Dr. Kevin Dean, Tennessee Nonprofit Network
– Trevor Benitone, Adams Keegan
– Michael Detroit, Playhouse on the Square
9:15am-10:00am: Keynote Session: Developing a Culture of Fundraising on Your Board
Location: Auditorium
– Donna Murray-Brown, Inforum
10:00am-10:10pm Break
10:10am-11:10am: Meeting the Moment with Fundraising Success
Location: Auditorium
Get ready for a high-energy, interactive presentation on how boards can meet the moment and increase their capacity to fundraise with two amazing experts on fundraising and board governance!
– Katie Spencer, Zipline Consulting
– Christy Gilmour, C. Gilmour Consulting
11:10am-11:20am Break
11:20am-12:10pm Panel Discussion: Creative Ways for Boards to Fundraise
Location: Auditorium
Go beyond the traditional “give or get” model. This discussion will highlight diverse methods for board members to contribute to fundraising, including peer-to-peer campaigns, prospect identification, event sponsorship, and leveraging personal networks.
- Michael Detroit, Playhouse on the Square
- Kim James, Young Leaders Council
- TD Smyers, BoardBuild
- Forrest Alton, 1000 Feathers
12:10pm-1:00pm Lunch
Locations: Lobby, Cafe, Event Space, 5th Floor Event Space, Outside, Gallery
1:00pm-2:00pm Practice Pod Part 1: Preparing Your Board Members for Foundation Meetings
Location: Auditorium
Foundation leaders will serve as mentors to small groups of participants to explore what a winning partnership between staff leadership and board leadership looks like when meeting with a foundation. We’ll explore the do’s and don’ts, how to prepare board members for the meeting, how to delegate responsibility, and more!
2:00-3:30pm Practice Pod Part 2: The Ask
Location: Auditorium
This is where participants get to “learn by doing,” or at least “learn by watching!” Four pairs of board member/staff member pairing will make an ask live on stage in front of a foundation leader for 20 minutes. They’ll be participate in a “mini-pitch” to the foundation while the audience watches.
3:30am-4:00pm: Practice Pod Part 3: The Reviews and the Winner
Location: Auditorium
The foundation leader will provide feedback to the participants, and the winner will be announced! Audience members will also provide feedback and ask questions of the foundation leader.
4:00am-4:15pm: Closing Remarks
Location: Auditorium
– Kevin Dean, Tennessee Nonprofit Network
