Join us for a completely reimagined, hands-on Four Pillars Conference this March!
We've reimagined the Four Pillars Conference from the ground up. Our brand-new format takes each of the Four Pillars to a more personalized, hands-on level for every attendee. You’ll join a small cohort of peers with similar organization types and work side-by-side through interactive sessions, real-world scenarios, and tailored discussions designed to meet you where you are. It’s the most immersive, individualized Four Pillars experience we’ve ever offered.
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Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts, explore real-world examples, and dive into meaningful, hands-on discussions with your peers. Over three unforgettable days, you’ll sharpen your writing skills, learn to demonstrate and communicate the impact of your work, and gain tools to level up your donor relations shop from the ground up. This conference delivers the skills, strategies, and inspiration you’ve been looking for.
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The DRG Difference
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At DRG, we conference differently. We believe professional development should be more than informational—it should be memorable, energizing, and fun. That’s why every DRG event is intentionally designed to combine expert insights with a warm, engaging, and highly interactive atmosphere that sets us apart.
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From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel the difference. Here's what makes a DRG experience stand out:
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Training from the best in the business.
Our team of industry-leading experts doesn't just teach—they translate complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
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The content you actually need.
Every topic is built around the challenges you’re currently navigating, not hypothetical scenarios or one-size-fits-all ideas.
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Guidance from top consultants and practitioners.
Our team has been in your shoes. We’ve built the programs, tackled the fires, and have lived and breathed donor relations. In fact, one of us even wrote the book on it.
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Workbooks packed with tools you can use right away.
Each session comes with a workbook loaded with worksheets, templates, checklists, and examples—with full permission to copy, customize, and steal to your heart’s content.
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Practical, tactical, realistic solutions.
We skip case studies and sales pitches. We meet you where you are and focus on real strategies to help you elevate your program from good, to better, to best—no matter the size of your team or budget.
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An environment that fuels creativity.
Great music, fidget toys, dance breaks, laughter, and the most fun you've ever had at a conference. You’ll leave inspired, energized, and ready to put new strategies to work immediately.
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A community to lean on.
You’ll build relationships, swap ideas, and leave with a network of peers you'll stay connected to long after the conference ends.
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At DRG, we don’t just host conferences—we create joyful, transformative experiences that empower you to deliver extraordinary donor experiences at your organization. Let’s learn, grow, and celebrate this work together!
Secure Your Spot
​Bring your team!
Save 10% on 3 or more full conference registrations with the code TEAM10.
Conference Overview
Topics At a Glance
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March 24-25 | The Four Pillars of Donor Relations (1.5 day cohort-based workshop)
March 25 (afternoon) | Messages That Matter: The Art and Science of Writing for Donor Relations (half-day workshop)
March 26 (morning) | Show, Don’t Tell: Communicating the Impact of Donor Relations (half-day workshop)
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Free Bonus Workshop
We're offering a FREE half-day software implementation workshop on March 26 to help you make smart, sustainable tech decisions, facilitated by our industry partners leading some of the top technology platforms in the field. This session is only available to attendees participating in all 3 days of the conference.
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1-on-1 Consulting Add-On
Add on a one-hour, 1-on-1 consulting session with a DRG expert for tailored guidance that fits your specific goals. All consulting sessions will be held the afternoon of March 26. This add-on is only available to attendees participating in all 3 days of the conference.
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Day 1: March 24, 2026
4 Pillars of Donor Relations Interactive Learning Experience: Pillars One and Two (Acknowledgment & Stewardship)
New this year: You won’t just attend this conference; you’ll be immersed in it. With our new format, each attendee will join a small cohort of 15–20 peers, grouped by organization type—such as higher education, healthcare, community foundations, arts and culture, or centralized and decentralized structures. Together, we’ll walk through the Four Pillars of Donor Relations in a hands-on, personalized format designed to foster a true community of practice. You’ll collaborate in real time, exchange ideas, and workshop strategies alongside professionals who understand your unique challenges and opportunities.
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Whether you’re new to donor relations or a seasoned pro ready to refresh your approach, this immersive day brings Lynne Wester’s Four Pillars of Donor Relations to life. You’ll explore the first two must-have pillars—Acknowledgment and Stewardship—through engaging discussions, real-world examples, and hands-on workshops designed to help you evaluate and elevate your program.
Learning Outcomes:
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Understand the Foundations of Donor Relations: Learn the core principles of acknowledgment and stewardship and why they’re essential to donor retention and satisfaction.
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Assess Your Program: Identify strengths, gaps, and next steps to advance your donor relations efforts strategically.
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Refine Acknowledgment Processes: Workshop acknowledgment strategies that strengthen personalization, timeliness, and tone.
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Craft Creative Expressions of Gratitude: Explore real-life examples to discover what delights donors—and what doesn’t.
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Audit Gift Agreements for Integrity: Learn how to review gift agreements for both legal and practical alignment with donor intent and organizational priorities.
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Optimize Stewardship Practices: Design reporting tiers and timelines that make stewardship more efficient, meaningful, and scalable.
Day 2: March 25, 2026
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Morning Session | 4 Pillars of Donor Relations Interactive Learning Experience: Pillars Three and Four (Recognition and Engagement)
We’ll kick off day two with a deep dive into the final two pillars—Recognition and Engagement—and explore how nonprofits are transforming donor relations from a transactional to experiential approach. Learn how to design inclusive, behavior-based recognition programs, hold crucial internal conversations about policies and expectations, and craft experiences that make donors feel seen, valued, and inspired.
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By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear roadmap to elevate your organization’s donor experience—and you’ll walk away with a digital certificate and badge recognizing your comprehensive training in The Four Pillars of Donor Relations.
Learning Outcomes:
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Transition to Behavior-Based Recognition: Explore how modern recognition models reflect donor behavior, not just giving levels.
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Implement Inclusive Recognition Strategies: Apply donor-centered and equitable approaches that honor all supporters authentically.
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Create Unique Donor Experiences: Design engagement moments that go beyond plaques and galas—experiences that truly surprise and delight.
Afternoon Session | Messages that Matter: The Art and Science of Writing for Donor Relations
Writing is the heart of donor relations, shaping how nonprofits inspire, engage, and steward. From acknowledgment letters and impact reports to event scripts, social media posts, and video storytelling, today’s donor relations professionals must wield a wide range of writing styles to connect with diverse audiences across multiple platforms.
This workshop will provide you with the skills and tools to elevate your writing for every stage of the donor journey. You'll explore how purpose and audience shape tone, style, and messaging, and learn to apply storytelling frameworks like the "Hero's Journey" to craft compelling donor-centric narratives that motivate generous hearts to act.
Dive into the nuances of writing for various channels—including web, email, print, social media, and events—and discover practical strategies to create consistent, engaging, and effective messaging. Additionally, you’ll gain insights into leveraging AI-driven tools to streamline your writing process, save time, and deliver high-impact content even with limited resources.
Through hands-on exercises, real-world examples, and best practices, this workshop will stretch your creative muscles and empower you to write with confidence, purpose, and efficiency. Leave with a toolbox of techniques to fine-tune your tone, strengthen donor connections, and make a lasting impression with your words.
Learning Outcomes:
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Pursue Writing with Purpose: Understand how to identify core objectives, tailor your writing style to specific audiences, and use communication plans to optimize frequency and impact.
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Craft Compelling Stories: Apply narrative structures to create donor-centric stories and calls-to-action that resonate and inspire. Learn to incorporate powerful imagery, meaningful language, and effective formatting into your content.
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Adapt Writing Across Channels: Gain expertise creating content for print, web, email, social media, and event communications, ensuring consistency and engagement across platforms.
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Leverage AI for Efficiency: Explore essential AI tools and plugins to enhance your writing process, from brainstorming and editing to creating polished, professional content with ease.
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Day 3: March 26, 2026
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Morning | Show, Don’t Tell: Communicating the Impact of Donor Relations
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Donor relations isn’t just about warm fuzzies—it’s about measurable impact. In this half-day workshop, learn how to demonstrate the value of your work with clarity, confidence, and credibility. Whether you’re navigating tight budgets, skeptical leadership, or competing priorities, this session will equip you with the practical tools to make a compelling internal case for the important role you play in donor retention and revenue growth.
We’ll roll up our sleeves and build simple, scalable systems for tracking ROI across the Four Pillars of Donor Relations. You’ll leave with not only ready-to-use templates and impact reporting, but also the language and strategies to elevate donor relations from “nice-to-have” to mission-critical.
We’ll also tackle the art of internal persuasion. Donor relations professionals know our work is vital, but we often struggle explaining the 'how' and 'why' to leadership in ways that resonate. We’ll explore proven methods to shift the narrative—from “nice-to-have” to non-negotiable—by aligning donor experience with organizational goals, retention metrics, and financial outcomes. You'll learn to frame your contributions in the language of strategy, value, and return on investment.
Learn how to:
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Build an Internal ROI Impact Report: Design a simple reporting system to track and communicate the results of donor relations initiatives using the data you already have.
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Translate Donor Relations into Leadership Language: Craft data-informed narratives that align donor experience metrics with your organization’s strategic goals.
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Justify Budget, Headcount, Resources, and Innovation: Use behavioral economics and donor retention benchmarks to advocate for the resources your shop deserves.
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Afternoon | Optional Workshop or 1-on-1 Consulting
Option 1: Free Software Implementation Workshop
Thinking about implementing new fundraising or donor software, but not sure where to start?
Join us for a half-day, hands-on workshop featuring industry-leading platforms in the nonprofit sector. With our partners, we'll guide you through what a successful software implementation really looks like from the pre-decision checklist to post-launch troubleshooting and everything in between.
This interactive session is designed specifically for nonprofit professionals who are preparing to adopt new technology, in the middle of a transition, or recovering from a less-than-perfect rollout.
You’ll leave with:
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A practical roadmap for software implementation
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Insider tips from real customer success stories
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Common pitfalls to avoid
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Checklists and communication templates you can take back to your team
Whether you’re a seasoned tech implementor or a first-timer, this workshop will give you the confidence and clarity you need to make smart, sustainable tech decisions.
Option 2: One hour of 1-on-1 Consulting with DRG (Add-on, $150 per hour)
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Get tailored, expert advice without the big price tag or long-term commitment. Add a 1-on-1 consulting session to your conference registration and spend an hour with a DRG expert focused on your specific goals or challenges.Whether you need help reviewing communications, building leadership buy-in, ideating a new project, rethinking donor engagement, or could use an hour of executive coaching, our team will match you with the consultant best suited to your needs.
We’re offering one hour of in-person, 1-on-1 consulting with our team of experts for just $150 per hour on the afternoon of March 26. Sign up early—space is limited!
Available to full conference (all 3 days) attendees only. Not available for current DRG consulting clients. Purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable. Topics not covered include strategic plans, program assessments, fund audit work, or other areas that fall under DRG’s long-term consulting services.
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CFRE Eligibility: This conference has been submitted for CFRE approval and is expected to be approved for 12.5 CFRE points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Rave Reviews
Truly enjoyed the conference and the facilitators. Lynne and her team are dynamic, fun, and true experts in the field of donor relations. It was wonderful to be in a room with my peers and learn best practices in a fun atmosphere.
Every organization that relies on donors needs this conference. The DRG team is extremely knowledgeable and they are excellent presenters.
Thank you for helping me understand what my role is truly supposed to be doing and what I should be striving to change. This conference has reinvigorated me and I am excited to get home and just take one or two pieces to start with and help our organization be even better for our donors.
The DRG group provides insights that can boost donor retention, giving both seasoned staff and newly assigned staff tools for success. I will personally incorporate concepts provided to assist the organization I work with. If someone is looking for a conference to improve donor relations, look no further, five stars.
Conference Schedule
Day 1: Tuesday, March 24
The Four Pillars of Donor Relations, Pillars One & Two
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9:00 AM | Introduction: Roadmap to the Four Pillars
9:15: AM | Breakout into Cohort Groups for Pillars 1 & 2
10:30 AM | Break
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10:45 AM | Return to Cohort Groups for Pillars 1 & 2
12:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 PM | Breakout into Cohort Groups for Pillars 1 & 2
2:15 PM | Break
2:30 PM CT | Return to Cohort Groups for Pillars 1 & 2
3:45 PM | Wrap-Up & Q&A
4:30 PM | Day 1 Ends
Day 2: Wednesday, March 25
The Four Pillars of Donor Relations, Pillars Three & Four +
Messages that Matter: The Art and Science of Writing for Donor Relations
9:00 AM | Introduction/Agenda for the Day
9:15 AM | Breakout into Cohort Groups for Pillars 3 & 4
10:30 AM | Break
10:45 AM | Return to Cohort Groups for Pillars 3 & 4
12:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 PM | Messages that Matter: The Art and Science of Writing for Donor Relations (Part 1)
2:15 PM | Break
2:30 PM | Messages that Matter: The Art and Science of Writing for Donor Relations (Part 2)
3:45 PM | Wrap-Up & Q&A
4:30 PM | Day 2 Ends
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Day 3: Thursday, March 26
Show, Don’t Tell: Communicating the Impact of Donor Relations + Free Software Implementation Workshop
9:00 AM CT | Introduction/Agenda for the Day
9:15 AM CT | Part 1:
Show, Don’t Tell: Communicating the Impact of Donor Relations
10:30 AM CT | Break
10:45 AM CT | Part 2:
Show, Don’t Tell: Communicating the Impact of Donor Relations
12:00 PM | Conference Ends (Lunch for those attending the afternoon workshop)
The afternoon portion of the day is only available to participants who purchase a full conference registration. (All 3 days)
1:00 PM | Part 1: Free Software Implementation Workshop with DRG Partners
2:15 PM | Break
2:30 PM | Part 2: Free Software Implementation Workshop with DRG Partners
3:45 PM | Afternoon Workshops End
1-on-1 consulting will be scheduled separately and held from 12:00 - 4:00 PM CT on March 26.
Location
Special thanks to our hosts at the Illinois Institute of Technology!​
CONFERENCE LOCATION
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Illinois Institute of Technology
Conviser Law Center
565 West Adams Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-3061
HOTEL
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Kimpton Gray Chicago
122 W Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60603
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Book through the link below for a special DRG rate!
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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 Partners
Our sponsors allow us to keep our prices low while still providing you with the best experience possible. We want to thank 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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