May Webinar
"Engaging Your Major and Planned Gift Team in Supporting the
Annual Fund"
with Maria Bringer Smith
Monday, May 13, 2013 - 2:30-4:00 p.m. Central Time
In a fundraising world where consultants tell us that today’s donors want to know exactly where their money is going, visiting with donors about the importance of unrestricted giving (gifts of faith) is more crucial than ever. How can you fully engage your major and planned giving colleagues in your annual fund efforts? Are there ways you can help your fellow fundraisers tell your annual fund story when they visit donors? This session will focus on the key challenges we face when working with colleagues to raise unrestricted gifts for the annual fund. Participants will learn strategies for building a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes all giving — restricted AND unrestricted.
Maria Bringer Smith is in her fifth year as Director of Annual Giving at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She oversees all aspects of the Luther College Annual Fund and directs giving campaigns for the 50-year, 25-year and 10-year reunions. Luther’s annual fund efforts include the 350-plus volunteer Phonathon; student engagement programs; direct mail and e-campaigns; donor recognition programs and the Annual Fund Council. A graduate of Luther, Maria’s previous experience includes serving as Coordinator for Music Organizations and Marketing at Luther and as Operations Manager at the Richardson Symphony Orchestra in Richardson, Texas. Active in her community, Maria also serves on the Boards of Directors for the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce and ArtHaus, a home for the performing and visual arts in Decorah. Maria and her husband have two children: a son who is in his second year at St. Olaf College and an 11-year-old daughter.