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A Conversation About the Power of Awe & Book Signing
When: Tues, September 8, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (PT)
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (705 Front Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060)
Cost: $10 General Admission, $8 for MAH Members
Join local author, awe researcher, and physician Dr. Michael Amster for an inspiring evening of conversation and readings from The Power of Awe. Dr. Amster will be interviewed (in conversation) with Sharon Papo – local leader, founder, and CEO of Indigo Skies Consulting! REGISTER HERE
Turning Donor-Advised Funds Into Your Next Major Gifts
Presenter: Patrick Schmitt, Co-Founder of Freewill
When: Wednesday, 16 September 2026 | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM PT
Where: Citizens Business Bank (224 Airport Parkway San Jose, CA 95110)
This session offers a practical playbook for raising more through DAFs without adding headcount. Participants will learn how to identify DAF donors and prospects and incorporate DAF giving into websites, year-end appeals, recurring giving, and donor conversations.
Registration is required. Visit the registration page for pricing.
September Development Roundtable
When: Thursday, 17 September 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM PT
Where: Abbott Square Market (725 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060)
Join fellow development professionals, executive directors, and nonprofit leaders for an engaging conversation about fundraising and nonprofit leadership.
There is no charge for this gathering. Feel free to invite a colleague who would enjoy being part of the conversation. REGISTER HERE!
September Executive Directors Roundtable
When: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PT
Where: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Cost: $10
This Executive Director Roundtable offers a space to share experiences, discuss current priorities, explore practical strategies, and learn from one another. Together, we’ll exchange ideas, lessons learned, and approaches that can help strengthen our organizations.
This group is exclusively for Executive Directors. REGISTRATION is required.
AFP Monterey Bay Presents: Summer Fundraising Workshop
When: Wed, Aug 26, 2026 from 08:30 AM to 12:30 PM (PT)
Where: Marina Library Community Room (190 Seaside Cir Marina, CA 93933)
People join boards to make an impact, not dread their next coffee meeting with a major donor. Sharon Papo (she/her) will lead Fearless Fundraising, helping board members, CEOs, and development professionals build the confidence and language to make successful fundraising invitations, alongside Community-Centric Fundraising 101 with Nel Taylor, exploring practical ways to apply community-centric fundraising principles. REGISTER HERE
Nonprofit AI & Fundraising Webinar
AI can create capacity but it should never replace the human side of fundraising. Here are a few takeaways:
Ethics and donor trust come first.
- Organizations should keep asking: Is it ethical? Is it transparent? Is it mission-aligned?
AI can surface opportunities. People build relationships.
- AI can identify donor signals, support finding new donors, and help teams work more efficiently. But the relationship and the ask belong to people.
AI can be a partner, not a replacement.
- By automating repetitive work, AI can create more capacity for staff to focus on mission-driven work, like building authentic relationships.
Culture change matters.
“The technology isn't the hardest part. The people are.” - Gayle Roberts
Successful AI adoption requires leadership support, staff training, and thoughtful change management.
Start small.
- Begin with one well-defined project, engage leadership, train your team, and continue to monitor, evaluate, and adjust.
The goal isn't to use AI simply for efficiency. It's to use it in ways that create greater capacity for meaningful work, stronger relationships, and positive change.
July Development Roundtable
Some of the best fundraising ideas come from conversations with colleagues who are doing the work every day. A few insights that stood out:
Capital Campaigns
- A capital campaign is a major undertaking. Invest time in planning, conduct a feasibility study, and secure meaningful board buy-in before launching.
- Usually the best way to move forward is to slow down and build the right foundation.
Planned Giving
- Invite current legacy donors to share why they made their planned gift through a written or video testimonial.
- Hearing directly from fellow donors can be one of the most powerful ways to inspire others.
End-of-Year Fundraising
- Now is the time to review your donor experience from start to finish.
- Test your online giving process on your phone and desktop and look for opportunities to make giving simple, accessible, and welcoming.
Fundraising During an Election Year
- October can be a crowded communications season.
- If your organization’s mission is connected to a ballot measure or other highly visible issue, right after the election is an optimal time to ask for gifts.
One of the greatest strengths of these gatherings is building community and learning from one another.
June Development Roundtable
Two topics generated especially meaningful conversation: engaging board members in fundraising and building a sustainable legacy giving program.
A few takeaways that stood out:
Board Fundraising
- Set clear fundraising expectations from the beginning during board recruitment conversations.
- Help board members reconnect with their personal connection to your mission and share it as ambassadors.
- Encourage peer accountability and support within the board.
- Take time to celebrate successes.
Legacy Giving
- Make legacy giving a consistent part of your donor communications.
- Add this P.S. to everything you send: "Have you considered a legacy gift?"
- Talk with loyal donors about the lasting impact they can have through planned giving.
- Stay connected with legacy donors through meaningful connections and ongoing gratitude.
One of the greatest strengths of these gatherings is the opportunity to learn from one another. The conversations, shared experiences, and practical ideas continue to strengthen our nonprofit community.
Ready to Strengthen Your Fundraising?
Whether you're looking for fundraising guidance, leadership support, upcoming events, or practical nonprofit resources, we're here to help. Visit our Contact page to send us a message, schedule a conversation, or join one of our communities.