Donor Appreciation: Gratitude in Action

Are your donors getting the attention they need?  Your retention rates will let you know.  Studies have shown that when donors are thanked they are more likely to give again and to give more. 

Join our panel of fundraisers, to discover creative, interesting ways to show your donors they matter and that you care.  Learn to build relationships and demonstrate gratitude.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the value of thanking donors
• Gain new ways to demonstrate donor appreciation
• Recognize the connection between donor appreciation and donor retention

Level

Introductory

Audience

Executive Directors, Board Members, and Development Staff seeking to enhance donor retention.

Presenters

Lynn Trojahn is Vice President of Advancement for Accion New Mexico • Arizona • Colorado.  Lynn has worked with Accion since February 2005, where she has supported raising over $42 million.  She is a board member of United Way of Central New Mexico, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the vice-chair and development committee chair with ANG*L, A Network for Grateful Living.  Lynn received the NM Outstanding Fundraising Executive award in 2003.  In 2012, Lynn received the Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Champion of the Year award.

Rita Butler has been the Albuquerque Museum Foundation’s Program Manager since 2001. She is responsible for three of the Foundation’s most important fundraising programs:  The annual art exhibition and fundraiser, Miniatures & More, which involves soliciting and stewarding corporate sponsors and promoting art sales; the Magic Bus program, which is a community driven fundraising program  annually bringing  over 7,000 children to the Museum  free of charge;  and, the Museum’s Masterworks program which provides traveling exhibition support through an art sponsorship program from both corporations and individuals.  

Kristin Rortvedt Kristin Rortvedt serves as the Executive Director for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico.  She first engaged with the organization as a volunteer Guest Chef and immediately fell in love with the mission.  After serving a member of the Board of Directors for four years, she joined the staff in the fall of 2011.  Prior to joining Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico, Kristin served as the Community Liaison for PNM Resources.   Kristin has also worked as the Volunteer Development Director with the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, Inc.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead.  Currently, Kristin is an advisory board member of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and a member of the United Way of Central New Mexico’s Young Leaders Society Council.

Sarah Newman serves as the Development Director for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico.  Before joining the staff in 2013, she had been a volunteer for the organization.  Previously, Sarah was a Retail Buyer for fortune 500 companies, Manager of the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger and worked as a consultant focused on programming and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Arizona.  She is an active community member and can often be found volunteering in her free time. Until recently she served on the boards of multiple organizations including the Junior League of Albuquerque.