“Dial Down the Drama! Dial Up Your Success!”

The Artful Asking Success Club (formerly the Major Gifts Success Club) is a group of major gift officers, board members, deans, volunteers, annual fund staff, event planners, executive directors and more.  What they all have in common is a thirst for life-long learning with a focus on how our thinking triggers, supports and blocks our success. These sessions are a monthly dose of inspiration – Marcy style!  They are a constant reminder of the power of the words we use, how we think about our work, money, opportunities and limitations.  Do we come from a place of abundance or lack?

This Success Club is for you if a consistent, long-term, set-time coaching and professional development group experience matches your needs. The group format allows Marcy to offer this wonderful program at an extremely affordable rate.  It is audio only – no slides – to allow you to listen wherever you are, and again and again with the audio download.

Four figures clapping

Features:

  • Monthly teleshow featuring Marcy or her special guest with a development high-content topic in the area of major gift development.
  • Periodic group Q & A calls where members can email in questions and Marcy provides direct coaching.

Benefits:

  • Can’t make a call? No worries! All calls are recorded and sent to members as audio downloads for future replay and repeated learning.
  • Group experiences are a cost effective way to experience coaching and interact with a group of like-minded development professionals.
  • Accountability! If you agree to take some action with Marcy, she will help you get it to the “Ta da” list!

Let’s Get Started:

Purchase a 12 Pack  (calls are only $25) – Your best value!

➤ Purchase an individual session (calls are still an affordable $37)

➤ Purchase calls on an automatic monthly subscription basis for $37

“Marcy’s Artful Asking Success Club calls have been a tremendous help to me and gave me the confidence I needed to take a job as a Foundation Director.  I know if I need help, I can always get it from Marcy’s coaching calls.  I also love her guests.  They are relevant and give helpful practical advice.  I highly recommend this club.

“Marcy’s teaching and coaching style really resonate with me.  She lives and breathes success and inspiration throughout her conversations.  Though she is a rock star fundraiser, she still sees the profession through the eyes of a beginner.  Someone like Marcy, who has that degree of success,  could keep her secrets to herself, acting like it is a mystic formula.  But instead, she instills confidence and courage to me with her practical approaches.  I redeem my 35-mile commute with listening over and over to rebroadcasts of both Marcy’s Coaching Calls and her Topic Calls.

The Artful Asking Success Club 2017 Program

“Dial Down the Drama! Dial Up Your Success!”

Get my special brand of Inspiration and Tools YOU need in 2017!  Monthly on-line calls with me and guests

January Topic: Setting Intentions – Getting Clarity For Yourself

February Topic: Creating Rapport – For Amazing Relationships With Givers and Family

March Topic: My relationship to Money – having it, asking for it, wanting it

April Topic: Dealing with Big problems, obstacles and objections

May Topic: Taking Responsibility – I Create My Life- No December Drama!

June Topic: Creating White Space And Protecting My Time, Yet Being There For My Donors (Oh Yeah And Also My Family)

July Topic:  Bringing my body into it – How do you value your health?

August Topic: Unplugging – Why It’s Important To My Givers And Me

September Topic: The Power Of Gratitude And Generosity

October Topic: Leaving a legacy –the difference between FR and Philanthropy

November Topic: Managing My Energy

December Topic: Changing My Relationship With Time

TOPIC CALL GUESTS OF 2016

January 19:  Brent A. Hafele, M.A., Owner/President, NewDay Nonprofit Solutions Topic: Investing in the Foundation of your Non-profit. The Myth of Cost/Dollar Raised.

February 16: Kate Troelstra, Vice President for University Advancement, Clayton State University Topic: Time management for gift officers

March 15: Eddie Thompson, CEO at Thompson & Associates  Topic: Giving Success Blocks

April 19: Elisa Kosarin, CVA, CEO, Twenty Hats Topic: Achieving Buy-In

May 17: Lori Jacobwith of Ignited Fundraising  Topic: Sharing Your Mission Powerfully

June 28: Marc Pitman, CEO at The Concord Leadership Group LLC  Topic: The Current State of Nonprofit Sector Leadership

July 19: Wayne Olson of Wayne Olson Consulting  Topic: Unleashing the Power of Planned Giving

August 16: Marti Hannon, Founder, World Changer Consulting  Topic: Refocus your passion to change the world

September 20: Marcy Heim, Founder, Artful Asker LLC  Topic: Gearing up your Year-End Appeals in partnership with Year End Major Gifts with Marcy Heim

October 18: Jodi L. Bopp, CFRE, Assistant Vice President, University Advancement, Ohio Wesleyan University Topic: Breaking Barriers – Taking down the silos to bring Annual Giving, Major Gifts and Planned Giving programs together

November 15: June Bradham, Principal at Corporate DevelopMint  Topic: It’s great to be big. It’s great to be small. Reflections of a successful fundraising CEO

December 20: TBA

Total 1 CFRE Credit Hour for every session attended.  12 credit hours total for 2016.

TOPIC CALL GUESTS OF 2015

December 15:  Tina Hallis, PhD, CEO of The Positive Edge

Tina Hallis

Tina Hallis is passionate about helping individuals and organizations be more positive. After 20 years in the Biotechnology industry, she found positive psychology and began implementing its techniques and strategies to improve her life. Shortly after being laid off, she founded her own company and has enjoyed working with non-profits, government agencies, academic & healthcare institutions, sales teams, and more.

October 19:  Nick Fellers, Co-Founder of For Impact and President of the Suddes Group

Nick Fellers

Nick Fellers is co-founder of For Impact and president of The Suddes Group. In the last 10 years he’s raised over $75 Million for causes in 30 countries and trained leaders from over 1000 organizations in how to use a sales process to maximize funding opportunities.

September 22:  Mazarine Treyz, Wild Woman of Fundraising

Mazarine Treyz

Mazarine Treyz is the author of The Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising, and founder of Wild Woman Fundraising, a popular fundraising resource with 50,000 monthly readers. Mazarine has co-founded a nonprofit and worked in fundraising roles for 10 years. She’s raised millions for small, national and international charities via grants, events, sponsorships, crowdfunding, appeals. She’s trained over 10,000 people from 2011-2015 and helped nonprofits raise millions more.

August 18:  Kathie Kramer Ryan, Principal at Arroyo Fundraising

“Creating a Joyous Giver”

Kathie Kramer Ryan

Kathie Kramer Ryan is a fundraising coach, consultant and mentor. She founded Arroyo Fundraising Fluency to share her passion for nonprofit fundraising and to help you to build your confidence around fundraising, maximize fundraising results and raise more money for your nonprofit organization’s mission and work..

July 21:  Michelle Smith, Principal at Z & B Consulting

“5 Tips and Strategies to get Donors to say I’m IN!”

Michelle Smith

Throughout her career, Michelle Smith has been consulting with individuals and organizations to help them achieve the success they’ve been dreaming of. She has led day-cares, hospitals, non profits, schools and entrepreneurs. For over 20 years, Michelle has worked for companies that help families. At Z&B Consulting, she helps businesses achieve success so they can enjoy special times with their family and so they can create special times for the families they serve.

June 12:  Laura and Julie Mikuska, Principals at Mikuska Group

“Cost per Dollar Raised Myth and how to talk about it with your donors”

Laura and Julie Mikuska

Mikuska Group is much more than the sum of one+one. Together twins Laura and Julie have extensive experience in fundraising, fund development and governance and have helped organizations of all sizes achieve their potential, including charities, non-profit organizations and academic institutions. Laura and Julie are members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and strictly adhere to their Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice. Mikuska Group is a member of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Imagine Canada.

May 19:  Julie Quinlan Brame, VP for Advancement, Alverno College

“Case study in Implementing Major Donor Relationship Action Plans”

Julie Quinlan Brame

Julie Quinlan Brame has worked in the development field for 15 years and currently serves Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Vice President for College Advancement, with lead responsibility for the College’s fundraising, marketing and alumni relations functions.

April 21:  Amy Eisenstein, Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive

“Happiness, Habits, and Major Gift Fundraising: Strategies to Help You Survive and Thrive”

Amy Eisenstein

Amy Eisenstein has been a development professional and fundraising consulting for more than 15 years. Recognized as a leading expert in her field, Amy has helped small and large nonprofits alike raise millions of dollars through major gift and capital campaigns, board development, annual fund campaigns, direct mail, and planned gift solicitations.

March 26:  Tony Martignetti, Attorney and host of NonProfit Radio

“Where there’s a Will, there’s a Way”

Tony Martignetti

Tony Martignetti is devoted to helping small and mid-size nonprofits in all areas of challenge. Tony has successfully inaugurated planned giving programs at the University level and has written a much acclaimed comprehensive manual detailing state-by-state guidelines for charity registration compliance.

February 24:  Pamela Grow, Founder of Simple Development Systems

“10 Ways to Forge Better Relationships with Major Donors”

Pamela Grow is all about empowering small non-profits raise the money of their dreams, while keeping the donor front and center. Pam has collectively raised tens of millions for her clients, readers and members. An accomplished author and industry expert, Pamela has also been recognized by several organizations, such as being named one of the 50 Most Influential Fundraisers by Civil Society magazine.

January 20:  Maria Semple, Principal, The Prospect Finder

“Where’s the fit for Social Media in a Major Donor Relationship?”

Maria Semple consults with nonprofit organizations and businesses interested in finding and connecting with their best prospects for long-term business relationships. She is an expert in email marketing and simple social media strategies, enabling her to deliver engaging presentations to nonprofit and small business audiences.

TOPIC CALL GUESTS OF 2014

December 16:  Dana Conway, SPHR, CPC, Conway Coaching & Consulting

“Calm the Craze”

Dana Conway

Dana Conway comes from a recruiting and staffing background, and has over 20 years helping individuals and companies identify and excel in the appropriate positions. With certifications in HR and coaching, Dana stands out from her competitors and her results prove it!

November 18:  Marcy Heim, CFRE, Founder, The Artful Asker

“Asking for Overhead”

Marcy Heim

Marcy Heim is a sought-after coach and presenter, and a trusted authority in the not-for-profit arena, with more than 30 years of successful major gift development experience. She holds the CASE Crystal Apple Teaching Award, the AFP Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award, and the AFP Master Teacher designation.

October 21:  Sheree Allison – Executive Director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters/Boy & Girls Club of Miramichi, New Brunswick, CA.

“Finishing Strong”

Sheree Allison

Sheree shares her insights from more than 28 years of outstanding time management, non-profit leadership, team management, board engagement, annual fund and major gift work.  She has an authenticity that resonates with artful long-term donor relationships and a track record of success.  Join us as she shares specific strategies on Finishing Strong as we enter the final quarter of the year.

September 16:  Michael D. Delzotti & Chris Kasavich (respectively) – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Development Office

“Annual Giving and Major Gifts Partnerships: Pipeline Management and Donor Maximization”

Michael Delzotti
Chris Kasavich

August 19:  Schuyler Lehman, Founder/CEO- Mission Advancement Professionals

“The Art and Science of Transformational Gifts”

Schuyler Lehman

Schuyler Lehman had some really great material on creating donor relationships striving to make every gift transformational for the organization and the donor.

July 16:  Meredith Hancks, Prospect Researcher & Doctoral Candidate

“Fundraising Research Made Easy”

Meredith Hancks

Meredith is the director of Prospect Research and Management for Western Illinois University. She most enjoys the search for information and then helping frontline fundraisers be more successful in their work. She has solid advice for those with a research partner AND those who handle this piece on their own.

May 20:  Marcy Heim, CFRE, Founder, The Artful Asker

“Creating a Culture of Philanthropy”

Marcy Heim

Marcy Heim is a sought-after coach and presenter, and a trusted authority in the not-for-profit arena, with more than 30 years of successful major gift development experience. She holds the CASE Crystal Apple Teaching Award, the AFP Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award, and the AFP Master Teacher designation.

April 15:  Melinda Gustafson Gervasi, estate planning attorney

“YOU can help ANYONE leave a legacy.”

Melissa Gustafson Gervasi

Melinda Gustafson Gervasi, estate planning attorney and author of “Middle Class Philanthropist” with a clear and simple message for you to help anyone leave a legacy gift.

March 18: Larry C. Johnson

“What Donors Get!”

Larry C. Johnson

Larry C. Johnson who discussed challenges to explore the anxiety surrounding fundraising and appreciate it comes from a faulty mental paradigm. When we seek out another to ask them for a charitable gift, we assume that we are taking. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

February 18:  Elaine Beaubien, CEO of Management Training Seminars and Edgewood College Faculty member

“Creating a Legendary Major Donor Experience”

Elaine Beaubien

Her incredible experience in the for-profit world will inspire you to new personal and professional success.

January 21: Jeff Schreifels, Senior Partner, Veritus Group

The 7 Pillars of Major Gifts”

Jeff Schreifels

For more than 20 years Jeff has been developing, planning and executing strategic fundraising and marketing programs. He’s served as Development Director at nonprofits and was Senior Strategy Director at The Domain Group where he helped develop record-setting fundraising programs for the agency’s largest clients.

Veritus Group loves helping donors find true joy in their giving. Their work includes detailed analysis, donor management, sales management support, donor offer development and support, planned giving, grants research, writing and reporting services, and leadership performance.

January 14:  Jay Wilkinson

“Online Tools to Educate, Listen and Engage”

Jay Wilkinson

Jay Wilkinson is a lifelong entrepreneur. While attending college, he started numerous businesses and, in 1986, helped launch Campus Connection magazine. In 1992, Jay returned to Nebraska and opened an AlphaGraphics printing franchise. The business broke the first-year sales record for the 350-store network and was the fastest franchise at the time to reach $1 million in annual sales. Renamed Cornerstone Printing & Imaging in 2001, the company is listed today by Quick Printing magazine as one of the 100 largest rapid-response printing operations in America. In 1996, Firespring was spun off of the printing company to develop websites for local businesses. Today, Firespring provides marketing services to more than 3,000 clients on five continents. The company is now offering franchises in all 50 states and master-license opportunities in 25 international markets. Jay has appeared on CNN and other news outlets discussing how emerging technologies are shaping our future and are considered a leading authority on the impact of marketing and the web on nonprofits and small businesses.

TOPIC CALL GUESTS OF 2013

January 22: Richard Perry, Founder, The Veritus Group

“Five Things You Must Do at the Beginning of This Calendar Year”

Richard Perry

Richard has over 30 years experience helping nonprofits transform their Major Donor programs. He co-founded The Domain Group, which was one of the largest full-service fundraising consulting agencies serving major national, regional and local non-profits in the United States. Richard also does management consulting and leadership development and transition, and has worked with mergers and acquisitions.

February 26: Marcy Heim, Founder, The Artful Asker

“The Words We Use and the Questions We Ask”

Marcy Heim

Marcy Heim is a sought-after coach and presenter, and a trusted authority in the not-for-profit arena, with more than 30 years of successful major gift development experience. She holds the CASE Crystal Apple Teaching Award, the AFP Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award, and the AFP Master Teacher designation.

March 19: Rick Dupree , Assistant Dean of Development and Alumni Relations, William J. Godfrey Graduate & Executive Education Center

“Enjoying the Ride Experiencing Major Gift Success”

Rick Dupree

Rick Dupree joined the Office of Development in July of 1996 as Executive Director, and became Assistant Dean with the union of the Development and Alumni offices in April of 2008. A senior development professional for 20+ years, Rick’s extensive background in higher education, the performing arts, and the systems and metrics involved in the evaluation of fundraising professionals has made him a sought-after presenter to and counsel for numerous non-profits in the U.S., Hungary and the United Kingdom. Prior to his post at Indiana, he served on the alumni/development staff at the University of Evansville and as Director of Major Gifts and Managing Director of Capital Campaigns at Michigan’s acclaimed Interlochen Center for the Arts.

April 16: Gail Perry, Gail Perry Associates

“Hard Earned Short-Cut Strategies to Major Gift Success”

Gail Perry

Gail Perry, MBA, CFRE, is a leader in a new breed of fundraisers.  She is the best-selling author of Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action. Her Fired-Up Fundraising approach, developed over the past 22 years as a non-profit philanthropy expert, has helped organizations raise hundreds of millions in gifts and support. Gail launched her fundraising career at Duke University and then directed the fundraising program at The Kenan-Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the founder of Gail Perry Associates, a Raleigh-based consulting and training firm, and is Past President of the Triangle Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

May 21: Russ Howes, Vice President of Legal Affairs, The UW Foundation

“Conversations to Begin and Continue the Planned and Deferred Discussion”

Russ Howes

Russ is vice president for legal affairs at the Foundation. He holds two degrees in theater from Michigan State University as well as a JD from Wayne State University Law School. He was in private practice in the early 1980s and moved on to become the Director of Planned Giving for Western Michigan University. He has been with the University of Wisconsin Foundation since 1988 and has worked in gift planning and legal affairs since that time. He is a past chair of the National Committee on Planned Giving, now known as the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning.

June 18: Marci Shimoff, Author and Motivational Speaker

“Happiness and Mindset in Major Gift Success”

Marci Shimoff

Marcy Shimoff is a #1 NY Times bestselling author, a celebrated transformational leader, and one of the nation’s leading experts on happiness, success, and unconditional love. President and co-founder of the Esteem Group, she delivers keynote addresses and seminars on self-esteem, self-empowerment, and peak performance to corporations, professional and non-profit organizations, and women’s associations.

July 23: Cynthia Cashman, Chief Development Officer, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota

“A Village + A Plan = More Major Gift Success!”

Cynthia Cashman

Cynthia grew up in Minneapolis and attended BSU intending to launch a broadcast marketing career. Her first job out of college was a marketing specialist at WCCO Radio in Minneapolis. It was there she worked side-by-side with local non-profits to partner with their causes. Through this experience, Cynthia was inspired to change her focus to work exclusively in the non-profit sector. She joined her alma mater as the Alumni and Annual Giving Director and went on to positions in fund raising at the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation, YMCA of Minneapolis, and Hamline University. She assumed the position of Chief Development Officer for CFANS in 2004.

August 20: Dan Bowers, President of ArtsBuild

“Major Gifts for Dummies: 10 Things You ALREADY Know To Do”

Dan Bowers

Dan joined ArtsBuild in November 2007. Dan served the United Way of Greater Chattanooga for 13 years, first as Campaign Director and ultimately as President. He left the United Way to become President of the Memorial Health Care System Foundation, where he served for six years, then departed to form his own fundraising consulting firm. He holds B.A and Masters degrees in Communications from the University of Alabama.

September 24: Harvey McKinnon, President of Harvey McKinnon Associates

“The Gift of a Well Written Piece for Your Major Donors”

Harvey McKinnon

Harvey is recognized as one of North America’s leading direct mail experts. He is the author of Hidden Gold, The Eleven Questions Every Donor Asks, Tiny Essentials of Monthly Commited Giving, and coauthor of The Power of Giving. He has won international acclaim for his direct mail packages and has hosted a six-part TV series on fundraising. Harvey has two best-selling training videos and an audio CD of his popular seminar, How Today’s Rich Give. Harvey is a highly rated trainer and has taught fundraising to thousands of nonprofits. Before founding Harvey McKinnon Associates in 1989, Harvey spent ten years with Oxfam Canada as Senior Development Officer.

October 22: Roland Ho, Director of Planned Giving, University of California Irvine

“Planned Giving, Deferred Giving, Year-End Giving: What You Really Need to Know!”

Roland Ho

After graduating from the University of California, Irvine in 2004, Roland went on to work at the Orange County Community Foundation for 10 years in gift planning and planned giving. He is now the Director of Planned Giving at his alma mater, the University of California, Irvine.

November 19: Douglas Dillon, President of the Catholic Health Initiatives Foundation

The Campaign in Changing Times and the 7 Fundraising Verities”

Douglas Dillon

Doug has been actively involved in the management of nonprofit institutions since 1985. He has worked as a fundraising consultant for organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. This includes a variety of institutions of all sizes—medical centers, hospitals, The Salvation Army, YMCAs, the Urban League, and a number of social service agencies. Doug has served as Associate Dean at the AHP’s Madison Institute in the Capital Campaign track for the past decade. The Institute is a partner with the University of Wisconsin’s Graduate School of Business and is recognized as one of the premier educational experiences available in the fundraising world. Additionally, he is a regular presenter at AHP and AFP district and international conferences.

December 17: Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE

“Planning For Your 2014 Success!”

Linda Lysakowski

Linda is one of fewer than 100 professionals worldwide to hold the Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive designation. In her twenty years as a philanthropic consultant, Linda has managed capital campaigns, helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations achieve their development goals, and trained more than 25,000 development professionals in Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Bermuda, and most of the 50 United States.

A graduate of Alvernia University and AFP’s Faculty Training Academy, she is a Master Teacher. Linda is the author of Recruiting and Training Fundraising VolunteersThe Development Plan; Fundraising as a Career: What, Are You Crazy?; Capital Campaigns: Everything You NEED to Know;Are You ready for a Capital Campaign? workbook, Raise More Money from Your Business CommunityFundraising for the GENIUS, a contributing author to The Fundraising Feasibility Study—It’s Not About the Money, co-editor of YOU and Your Nonprofit and The Nonprofit Consulting Handbook and co-author of The Essential Nonprofit Fundraising Handbook and What’s Wrong With Your Fundraising…And How You Can Fix It.