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Join the Retention Revolution at the Four Pillars Conference
in New York City!
In a time when nonprofit revenues are declining, donor retention is more than a buzzword—it’s the lifeline for your organization’s future. This conference, held over three transformative days in New York City, offers a comprehensive guide to building sustainable, meaningful donor relationships. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or donor relations professional, this conference delivers the strategies, tools, and insights you need to increase donor loyalty and maximize the impact of every dollar raised.
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Our expert-led workshops and interactive sessions provide actionable solutions for today’s most pressing fundraising challenges. Over three days, you’ll explore the Four Pillars of Donor Retention—Identification, Operationalization, Connection, and Renewal—and learn how to elevate your donor relations strategies from transactional to transformational. Gain the skills to personalize the donor experience, achieve success in your next (or current) campaign, craft airtight gift agreements, and build collaborative partnerships across your organization.
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The Four Pillars Conference in New York is your opportunity to invest in proven techniques that will transform how your organization retains donors, grows revenue, and achieves its mission.
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The DRG Difference
At DRG, we conference differently. We believe conferences should be more than just a learning experience—they should be memorable, inspiring, and FUN! That’s why every DRG event is carefully crafted to deliver expert insights in an engaging, intimate, and dynamic atmosphere that sets us apart.
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From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel the difference. Our presentations are vendor-free, ensuring that the focus stays squarely on your professional growth, not sales pitches. You’ll be guided by dynamic presenters who are experts in the field, delivering practical strategies and innovative ideas you can implement right away. And you won’t leave empty-handed—our detailed workbooks serve as your roadmap for success, packed with resources to help you take what you’ve learned and apply it directly to your work.
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We also know that the best learning happens in an environment that’s as enjoyable as it is educational. That’s why we infuse our events with good food, great music, and an abundance of laughter. Whether it’s a thought-provoking discussion, a moment of connection with your peers, a shared laugh, or a dance break you didn't know you needed—you’ll leave feeling energized and ready to take on new challenges.​
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At DRG, we don’t just host conferences—we create joyful experiences that inspire, connect, and empower you to create amazing donor experiences at your organization.
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Conference Overview
Day 1: October 20, 2025
The Four Pillars of Donor Retention
Nonprofit revenues are reaching historical lows. Prioritizing donor loyalty is no longer a choice, but an absolute necessity for the sustainability of your organization. You’ve heard us say retention is the #1 measure of any successful fundraising operation. Now we bring to you the how, why, and what of donor retention in a full-day intensive conference as we launch our new book, the Four Pillars of Donor Retention: Techniques and Strategies to Retain Donors and Grow Revenue—coming soon!
These Four Pillars—Identification, Operationalization, Connection, and Renewal—will guide you through both internal and external strategies and techniques to create a personalized donor experience, effectively convey impact, and craft the perfect renewal journey. When organizations properly balance donor relations and solicitation, they elevate the giving experience from transactional to relational. Focusing on donor acquisition is actually costing you money. Discover how to increase the value of your operational dollars up to 7x instead. This is the retention revolution!
Day 2: October 21, 2025
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Morning Workshop — Effective Donor Relations Strategies for Campaign Success
Embarking on a fundraising campaign is a pivotal moment for any nonprofit organization, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Most organizations are either in campaign-mode or they're prepping for the next one. What does this mean for your donor relations program? This half-day workshop is designed for nonprofit professionals who are either in the midst of a campaign or laying the groundwork for the next—or maybe you're in the silent phase—we won't tell anyone! We'll teach you how to design and implement a strategic, organization-wide stewardship and donor relations program that recognizes donors and delivers high-quality practices and deliverables for acknowledgement, recognition, reporting, and engagement—ultimately strengthening the fundraising goals of donor retention and meaningful communication/connection between your organization and your donors. Knowing which activities, events, and outreach are most appropriate and effective are critical in retaining your donors, especially during a sustained campaign period. Learn how to make donor relations a collaborative, institution-wide effort to provide appropriate donor recognition and to encourage others to invest generously.
Afternoon Workshop — Navigating Gift Agreements for Lasting Partnerships
The success of your nonprofit’s future fundraising efforts hinges on your ability to create solid, strategic, and sustainable gift agreements today. This workshop will teach you invaluable insights into one of the most critical yet under-appreciated aspects of nonprofit fundraising—effective gift acceptance practices and gift agreements. Gift agreements are more than just formalities—they are the foundation for sustainable fundraising. A poorly crafted agreement can lead to confusion, donor dissatisfaction, or even legal and financial risks. This workshop will arm you with the tools and knowledge to avoid these pitfalls, ensuring your agreements safeguard both donor intent and organizational priorities. Navigating the complexities of restricted gifts, special cases, and compliance issues can be daunting. We'll tackle real-world scenarios and provide actionable strategies to streamline approval processes, ensure compliance in spending, and avoid common errors that could jeopardize your donor relationships. Whether you’re new to this area or seeking to refine your approach, the conference promises insights that will enhance your stewardship practices. You’ll also develop strategies to align donor intent with your organization’s mission, strengthening your ability to act as a strategic partner within your nonprofit.
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Day 3: October 22, 2025
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Morning Workshop — Building Bridges: Strengthening Partnerships
Between Donor Relations and Fundraising
The success of your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts depends on fostering strong, collaborative relationships between donor relations and gift officers. By attending this half-day conference, you’ll gain invaluable insights for creating seamless partnerships, navigating complex donor situations, and adopting modern stewardship practices that can transform your donor relationships.
Effective collaboration is more than just good teamwork—it’s the key to delivering a donor experience that drives sustainable giving. When roles are unclear or partnerships falter, it can lead to misaligned expectations, missed opportunities, or even strained donor relationships. This workshop will equip you with the tools to avoid these challenges and build stronger, more strategic fundraising partnerships.
Navigating the nuances of donor relationships, varied stewardship practices, and difficult conversations can be daunting. This interactive session will tackle real-world scenarios, offering actionable strategies for clarifying roles, managing complex donor interactions, and applying modern donor relations practices that are scalable to organizations of any size. Whether you’re refining your tactics or building new skills, you’ll leave with practical tools to enhance your collaborative approach immediately.
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CFRE Eligibility: This conference has been approved for 15 CFRE points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification. ​
Rave Reviews
This conference was a rich experience enhanced by relevant content, interactive sessions, and a broad range of institutional knowledge from the presenters and participants. I highly recommend!
The best donor relations conference I've been to. Each session packed a punch with great info, super tactical tips and lots of laughs!
I truly appreciated this conference and being able to interact with peers in the same role as me. I've been to conferences through other organizations but they never seem to have the right content for donor relations professionals. I felt I was in a room of people who have the same wins and struggles as me - it made me feel like I am not alone!
This conference didn't feel like a conference---it was an experience! The DRG Group clearly applied what they know about donor relations to every piece of the conference. It was personal, memorable and valuable. Thank you to the entire team for a great three days.
Conference Schedule
Day 1: Monday, October 20
The Four Pillars of Donor Retention
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9:00 AM| Introduction: The Four Pillars of Donor Retention
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9:15 AM | Pillar One: Identification
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10:30 AM | Break
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10:45 AM | Pillar Two: Operationalization
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12:00 PM | Lunch Break
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1:00 PM | Pillar Three: Connection
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2:15 PM | Break
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2:30 PM | Pillar Four: Renewal
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3:45 PM | Wrap-Up & Q&A
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4:30 PM | Day 1 Ends
Day 2: Tuesday, October 21
Effective Donor Relations Strategies for Campaign Success + Navigating Gift Agreements for Lasting Partnerships
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9:00 AM | Introduction/Agenda for the Day
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9:15 AM | Part 1 - Effective Donor Relations Strategies for Campaign Success
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10:30 AM | Break
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10:45 AM | Part 2 - Effective Donor Relations Strategies for Campaign Success
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12:00 PM | Lunch Break
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1:00 PM | Part 1 - Navigating Gift Agreements for Lasting Partnerships
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2:15 PM | Break
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2:30 PM | Part 2 - Navigating Gift Agreements for Lasting Partnerships
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3:45 PM | Wrap-Up & Q&A
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4:30 PM | Day 2 Ends
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Day 3: Wednesday, October 22
Building Bridges: Strengthening Partnerships Between Donor Relations and Fundraising
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9:00 AM | Introduction/Agenda for the Day
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9:15 AM | Part 1 - Building Bridges: Strengthening Partnerships Between Donor Relations and Fundraising
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10:30 AM | Break
10:45 AM | Part 2 - Building Bridges: Strengthening Partnerships Between Donor Relations and Fundraising
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12:00 PM | Conference Ends
Can't wait to dive into the content?
Grab your copy of the book that started it all—The Four Pillars of Donor Relations—and discover why Lynne's Four Pillars framework is the guide that every donor relations shop needs. A brilliant partner to the Four Pillars Conference, this book contains a dozen examples of creative communications with donors from real institutions, and 60 pages of appendices offering specific advice on everything from what to include in a gift acceptance policy to donor event management. Learn the framework during the conference, and keep the book as a reference for everyone at your organization for years to come!
Ready to take your donor relations to the next level? The 4 Pillars of the Donor Experience—knowledge, strategy, culture, and emotion—builds upon the foundation of the Four Pillars of Donor Relations, and lets us understand the fundamental truths behind why donors continue to respond to our work, continue to give, and deepen their relationships with our organizations.
In The 4 Pillars of The Donor Experience, Lynne breaks down the philosophy of donor engagement while providing concrete strategies, tangible examples, and a whole slew of images and samples from organizations across the nation doing great work. Now available in print or as an audiobook!
Our Sponsors
Our sponsors allow us to keep our prices low while still providing you with the best experience possible. Thank you to our friends who partner with us to make these conferences and workshops possible. We couldn't do it without you! Click on the logos below to learn more about the incredible work they do.
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