The Keys to Becoming an Extraordinary Leader
The Four Pillars of Donor Relations for Small Nonprofit Shops provides a customized approach to transforming your donor relations program with limited staff and resources. In this six-part series, you’ll learn the “must-have” practices you need to attract and retain donors and raise more money for your organization.
These six, one-hour webinars will teach you how to apply Lynne Wester’s Four Pillars of Donor Relations framework to create better relationships with your donors, streamline your marketing and communications for maximum impact, and propel your fundraising and board engagement efforts to the next level.
This series is best suited for nonprofits with donor relations teams with less than 3 full-time employees. The topics, tools, tips, and examples shared in this series are tailored for small shops—and discussions will be focused on issues in fundraising and donor relations in a sole professional or small team context.

PURCHASE THE ENTIRE SERIES FOR $200 (A $160 SAVINGS)
This series includes six one-hour webinars taught by our DRG Group Associates.
Thanks to our friends at Bloomerang, we are able to offer 10 scholarships for this series.
Applications must be submitted by September 20 to be considered.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Session 1: An Introduction to the Four Pillars of Donor Relations and Must-Have Acknowledgement Practices
Recording Now Available | $60
Presented by Holly Kizer and Colton Withers
The Four Pillars of Donor Relations, developed by Lynne Wester, provides the framework for every donor relations shop. Whether you are a one person show or a team of professionals, these are the tools you need to have an effective and efficient donor relations program. In this webinar, we will introduce you to each of the four pillars— acknowledgement, stewardship, recognition, and engagement—and dive deep into acknowledgement practices that will jumpstart your donor relations program. You'll learn how to tailor acknowledgements for donor groups, streamline reports for easy access, and implement best practices to make your acknowledgements stand out from the crowd. Regardless of your organization’s size, your acknowledgements can set you apart when they are used to show impact and tell your story. What must you do to effectively thank your donors? This webinar will answer that and so much more.
Learning Outcomes:
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Learn the must haves for each of the Four Pillars and how your organization can put these to practice today.
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Develop 7 thank you touch-points you can implement on a budget for your organization.
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Understand the importance of acknowledgements as one of the Four Pillars of Donor Relations.
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Learn how to develop a stewardship and donor relations plan based on the Four Pillars framework.
Session 2: Must-Have Stewardship Practices
Recording Now Available | $60
Presented by Liz Menne and Avery Howard
Stewardship is the primary purpose of donor relations and stems from the need to inform donors of the impact of their generosity. In this webinar, you'll learn what stewardship means, industry best practices, and the critical components necessary for a successful program. We’ll also teach you the importance of transparency and accountability and why they are the foundation of any good stewardship program. From reporting to special touches, this webinar will show you how to set the stage for your donors to feel connected and involved.
Learning Outcomes:
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Learn and understand the definition of stewardship.
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Learn what to develop as part of a stewardship program.
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Learn the must-haves for a stewardship program within a small shop.
Session 3: Must-Have Donor Recognition Practices
Recording Now Available | $60
Presented Melissa Carrera and Holly Kizer
Donor recognition is the fastest changing topic in donor relations. What donors want and how they want to be recognized changes from day to day, organization to organization, and are often tied to what is popular and trending in society. Gone are the days of donor honor rolls and names etched onto a wall.
In this webinar, you'll learn what donor recognition means, why it’s important, and how to implement it within your organization. Donor recognition comes in many forms and we’ll discuss what might work best for your constituents. From loyal donor programs to first-time donor programs, from named spaces to endowed fund recognition—we’ll explore what you should implement, how to make it effective, and where to start.
Learning Outcomes:
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Learn the donor recognition basics and why it’s important.
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Learn the different types of donor recognition and best practices for implementation.
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Learn the must haves for small shops and how to get those started.
Session 4: Must-Have Donor Engagement Practices
Recording Now Available | $60
Presented by Colton Withers and Christine McGuire
How do donors want to be engaged with your organization? Access, information, and experiences. What does this mean for you and your organization?
In this webinar, you’ll learn the different types of donor engagement and how engagement differs from events. Many organizations are looking to enhance their engagement opportunities and events have a place in that—but it’s not the end all, be all for involving your donors. You’ll learn other ways to engage your donors that provide them with the access, information and experiences they’re looking for when providing philanthropic support to your organization.
Learning Outcomes:
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Learn how to plan and implement digital and low budget engagement strategies throughout the year.
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Explore successful events and engagement opportunities that will encourage your constituents to be more involved.
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Learn what donor engagement means and how it differs from events.
Session 5: Board Development & Fundraising Fundamentals
Recording Now Available | $60
Presented by Holly Kizer and Melissa Carrera
You are not alone. One of your most valuable resources is your board of directors. We'll explore effective ways to recruit and engage your board and make them your organization’s biggest advocates, donors, volunteers—and fundraisers. Through this webinar, you'll learn practical hands-on strategies to help you identify and present a major gift proposal and fundraise effectively through relationship development. We'll explore the basics in nonprofit fundraising and how to utilize your mission to propel your organization’s fundraising efforts and board engagement to the next level of effectiveness.
Learning Outcomes:
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Learn how to identify, develop, present and cultivate a major gift proposal.
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Develop a framework for an effective board of directors and actionable items your board can take to contribute to your organization.
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Learn the major revenue streams and best practices for growing, sustaining, and developing new sources of funding.
Session 6: Must Have Marketing & Communication Practices
Recording Now Available | $60
Presented by Madelyn Jones and Colton Withers
Your online presence as an organization is often your first impression with donors. Your branding, social media content, website, and solicitations tell donors who you are—and we ALL want to make a great first impression. In this webinar, we’ll explore strategies to enhance, build, and promote your brand effectively and consistently to further engage donors in your mission.
We’ll also walk you through how to develop your organization’s brand—both online and in print—and help you streamline your marketing to ensure donors recognize and respond to your brand through developing a consistent and impactful message.
Learning Outcomes:
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Learn how to identify and promote your brand with consistency and accuracy across all platforms.
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Explore ways to tell your organization’s impact story on your website and general direct mail appeals.
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Learn the “must-have” communication and social media platforms and how you can use them to best leverage your organization.
MEET YOUR PRESENTERS
Meet the DRG Group Associates! This phenomenal group of fundraising and development professionals were selected to join our team of consultants and educators because of their experience, success, and innovative mindsets. These are the up-and-coming All Stars of our industry and they bring a wide range of backgrounds and experience to our team. Want to know more about them? Click their photos below to learn more.
FAQ
Can I buy one registration for my entire team, even if we're all viewing it remotely?
Yes! Just complete your purchase and you will receive a confirmation email (check your junk mail folder if you don't see it) with a link you can share with your team members that allows them to register for free. Only one purchase is required per organization.
Will a recording be provided for those who can't attend?
Absolutely! We send a recording of the live session to all registered attendees within 24 hours of the live event ending. You will also receive a recording if you purchased a webinar after the live session has ended.
Are these webinar included in the purchase of a 2022 Core Subscription?
No. This series is separate from any other webinar purchases that have been offered.
Do these webinars count towards my CFRE certification?
This series has been approved for 6 CFRE continuing education points—1 per webinar.1