Making Your Annual Appeals Count

Originally recorded November 20, 2024

The content of this webinar was developed by and sponsored by Arts Consulting Group.

Each year, orchestras create development plans to meet their annual goals. Depending on the size of their budget and the organization, this may include one or more annual appeals that can make or break annual fundraising goals; for example, an end-of-year appeal, an appeal for programming support, a Giving Tuesday appeal, or a Giving Day appeal.

It’s not only critical to create these plans, but equally important to make sure the organization is ready to execute them, which involves more than the development team. Marketing and other teams must be engaged in the planning and execution for an organization to experience success.

In this webinar, we talk with orchestra development and executive leaders to look at success stories, challenges, and industry trends.

Moderators: Todd Ahrens, Vice President and Practice Leader, Arts Consulting Group and Nan Keeton, Senior Vice President, Arts Consulting Group

Speakers: Catherine Hann, Assistant Director of Individual Giving at Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Sidney Jackson, Vice President of Development, New Jersey Symphony; Giuliano Kornberg, Chief Executive Officer, Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera; and Susana Weymouth, Chief Development Officer, The Florida Orchestra

Who Should Watch?

Development directors and staff, executive directors, board members, and anyone interested in how to craft a successful fundraising appeal.

Cost

$20 for members
$35 for non-members

About the Speakers

Photo courtesy of the speaker

Todd Ahrens (he/him)
Vice President and Practice Leader, Arts Consulting Group

Todd Ahrens has 30 years of nonprofit experience in the arts and education sectors, including 15 years in senior-level management positions. In addition to his extensive experience organizing and leading capital and endowment campaigns, his areas of expertise include major and planned gifts, corporate sponsorship, memberships, and grants. He is experienced in revitalizing earned revenue streams, including subscriptions, retail sales, and facility rentals, as well as with marketing, communication, and branding strategies. Prior to joining Arts Consulting Group, Ahrens spent two tenures with the Toledo Museum of Art. He also worked at the University of Michigan and the University of Findlay. He began is career with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ahrens has served on the boards of numerous arts organizations, including the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, the Black Swamp Arts Festival, and the Ohio Museums Association.

Nan Keeton (she/her)
Senior Vice President, Arts Consulting Group

Nan Keeton is a strategic revenue and external relations leader, who has delivered successful cultural program and venue projects serving artists and communities. With more than 20 years of national leadership experience connecting the arts to broad and diverse audiences, Keeton understands of the needs of arts and culture organizations, the economic realities they face, and the imperative to shape an equitable future that advances inclusion and belonging for all.

Questions?

Please contact Member Services at member@americanorchestras.org.

The content of this webinar was developed and sponsored by Arts Consulting Group.

Additional support is provided by generous grants from the Howard Gilman Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts, as well as, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.