Major Gifts: In this session, John Sullivan will present "How do we do best-practice fundraising when we are a small team (or when I *AM* the team)?" Attendees will discover a deep and broad understanding of a comprehensive development plan. This session lays the foundation for the day's two breakout sessions: Annual Giving and One-to-one Donor Engagement.

Annual Giving:  In this session, Kim Jennings will present and workshop the typical elements of an annual fund. Attendees will have an opportunity to build or redesign the wireframe of her/his school's annual fund. This session will include guided brainstorming, collective sharing, and idea shaping. At the end of this session, each school will have what it needs to start or remodel its annual fund.

Lunch: this is included in the price of the workshop

Major Gift Programming/One-to-one Donor Programming:  In this session, John Sullivan will present and workshop a school-based major gift operation. There will be opportunities to learn better techniques in getting a "yes!" to a one-to-one meeting invitation, cultivating your valuable donors, and soliciting a gift at just the right time. This session will conclude with a voluntary time of role play where everyone can learn from practicing techniques.

Roundtable and Highlights from the Morning: In this session, Kim Jennings, CFRE will facilitate a roundtable where attendees will be invited to submit written questions in advance of the session AND submit questions during the workshops. During this time, we will open the floor for sharing of plans made during the workshop.

John Sullivan, Advancement Strategist
John Sullivan specializes in people, leadership, and organizational health. His mission as a Generis Total Advancement Solution Strategist spans more than 17 years of Christian higher education, Christian PK-12 school, and church executive leadership. Partnership with John looks like integrating all facets of organizational leadership into a kinetic
path leading to the fruition of a greater vision. He has worn departmental hats in enrollment and advancement, in vision and executive leadership, in operations and finance. In his career, John has doubled enrollment, cast vision, erased decades-old debt, wrote policy, raised millions of dollars for organizational growth, coached boards of directors, and partnered with Christian and community leaders all over the United States. Most importantly, the heart of John’s day-to-day leadership looks like walking through despair and grief with anxious high school students, celebrating admission acceptance with newly settled international students, and navigating the most difficult seasons of financial insecurity by
remaining hopeful and encouraging of others. John has two degrees from Harding University: a master’s degree in professional counseling and a B.A. in ministry. He is continuing his education with a doctorate degree from Vanderbilt University that will enable him to serve people in a more meaningful way. John builds teams, grows volunteer bases, and seeks out stakeholders that are diverse and well-rounded. For John, leading diverse teams who collaborate well with one another is not a goal; it’s a priority. John and his wife, Brittany live on a small farm in Fairview, Tenn., where they are raising their young daughter. John is an outdoorsman, and if he doesn’t answer your phone call, he is probably on a small mountain stream fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Also, John enjoys playing keys and singing vocals for local worship bands.

Kim Jennings, Advancement Strategist
Kim is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and experienced leader whose personal mission is to create stronger Christian schools in service to Christ and His Kingdom. She currently guides leaders in Christian nonprofits and schools across the US, after serving in the nonprofit community for more than 20 years, including more than a decade in faith-based K-12 schools. And, with three older children in faith-based schools and a husband also serving in one, for many years Kim’s life has been embedded in the unique Christian K12 community. Kim is experienced in all aspects of comprehensive fundraising including capital campaigns and annual operations, with an emphasis on strategic planning, leadership and major gifts, annual giving, and communications. Kim is a trainer and speaker at conferences, including leading the June 2022 Advancement Intensive course in Strategic Development Planning for the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). She has spoken at two additional CESA conferences and regularly leads virtual training sessions for development professionals across the US. In September 2022, Kim released a digital course entitled “Onboarding New Parents with Purpose: a Proven Plan for Increasing Generosity.” She’s also the host of the podcast “Your K12 Fundraising Coach” which focuses on fundraising in Christian schools. Kim grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, lived and served for many years in Chicago and Boston, and is now based in the Atlanta area.