Marian Johnson

Background Info:

Connection to ADRP: 

1. When did you become an ADRP member?

Voices of Experience: How to Maximize Fund Utilization in Advancement

Advancement professionals know that every dollar entrusted to their organizations carries both promise and responsibility. In line with the ADRP mission to empower members with practical, forward-thinking strategies, the webinar on “Use It or Lose It” positioned fund management as an operational necessity and a strategic advantage for deepening donor trust and driving sustainable impact.

By rightfully treating donor relations as more than a compliance or communications checkbox, this approach reinforces ADRP’s vision of a future where members don’t just raise funds but honor donor intent through transparency, accountability, and measurable results. Whether your office supports scholarships, research, or special initiatives, the guiding principle is the same: every gift deserves evidence of impact.

Key Takeaways for Participants

Attendees left the session equipped with three transformative insights:

“Closing the loop” with your donors ignites flywheel fundraising: Integrating gift acceptance, acknowledgment, fund deployment, and impact reporting into a continuous cycle that reignites donor engagement at each turn gives advancement teams a head start on the next gift.

Administrative challenges and information silos impede our work: Advancement teams often manage thousands of funds, and information tends to be scattered across various systems. Breakdowns happen, and they have real consequences. Implementing controls and automating processes can help reduce errors, save valuable time, and equip campus-wide stakeholders with valuable information.

Create Your “Fund Management Playbook”: When scaling a fund management program from the ground up, consider leveraging a task force or working group and start by creating your “playbook.” Outline everything. Establish fund management standards, monitor fund utilization, keep an annual work plan, schedule regular field and fund audits, and train everyone.

Facilitators’ Complementary Perspectives

This framework was delivered and brought to life through two expert voices:

Chelsea Lamego spearheaded the development and growth of the fund management program at UTEP, before moving to co-found FundMiner, where she now serves as CEO. Chelsea brings her wealth of experience in building a fund management program centered on technology and innovation.

Hillary Dudley has been part of the UTEP team implementing and leveraging FundMiner. She has continued to build on the fund management successes at UTEP, now widely considered one of the best Fund Management programs in the country.

The audience Q & A at the end of the session was highly engaging as participants explored how to apply learnings from the session to their organization, develop their own protocols, and leverage technology such as FundMiner to support their work. Participants were granted access to several downloadable resources and templates.

The feedback from the webinar demonstrated how the topic of fund management is growing in importance at fundraising organizations. As a relatively underdeveloped area of philanthropy, there is a hunger for resources, tools, technologies, best practices, and communities where discussions can be had. The ADRP community can play a critical role in elevating this important conversation by continuing to share ideas and best practices among peers. 

Bridgette Jordan

Background Info:

Stephanie Lamphere, Co-Chair, Empire State University
Cheryl Lintner, Co-Chair, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

“The ADRP NEMA Regional was a terrific occasion to network and learn from donor relations professionals from all over the Northeast.”

- Shannon Dowling, UConn Foundation Inc.

Trisha Nkenge, MS
Associate Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations
University of Maryland Medicine Philanthropy

Background Info:

1. Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?
I found my way into donor relations unexpectedly. While I have always been very engaged in my community and philanthropic efforts, I didn’t initially realize my involvement in community engagement was, in fact, donor relations. My career in this field has been shaped by a strong passion for philanthropy and meaningful connection.

When I began working in development, I gained experience in stewardship, event planning, and donor communications. Over time, I discovered that my strengths naturally aligned with donor relations — ensuring that donors feel valued and connected to our institution’s mission. Through my work, I have evolved into a strategic partner, focusing on donor engagement, stewardship, and recognition efforts that enhance long-term relationships.

2. What influenced your interest in and passion for donor relations?
I am inspired by the impact that philanthropy has on organizations and communities. Seeing the tangible results of donor generosity — whether through scholarships, medical advancements, or programmatic growth — motivates me to create meaningful experiences that express gratitude and reinforce the importance of giving. I also find fulfillment in connecting donors with the outcomes of their contributions, ensuring that they feel personally engaged and recognized for their generosity.

3. What lessons, words of advice/inspiration would you like to pass on to other donor relations professionals?
Donor relations is about more than acknowledgment — it’s about storytelling, relationship-building, and fostering a culture of gratitude. My advice is to always be strategic and proactive in your approach. Understand donor motivations, personalize engagement, and collaborate across teams to create seamless experiences. Never underestimate the power of stewardship; a well-thought-out thank-you can pave the way for long-term relationships and transformational giving.

4. Can you speak to a specific donor engagement or stewardship activity that made you feel like you were providing the best experience for donors?
I truly enjoy connecting our donors to the beneficiaries of their giving, whether through video, virtual connections, or at an event. These initiatives allow us to connect with donors in a personalized and impactful way, showing them firsthand the difference their support makes. By incorporating video messages from leadership, beneficiaries, and faculty members, we bring gratitude to life and deepen donor engagement. Seeing donors’ emotional responses reinforces the importance of thoughtful and innovative stewardship.

Connection to ADRP:

1. When did you become an ADRP member?
I joined ADRP almost a year ago, as part of my commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

2. Why is ADRP membership important to you?
ADRP membership is valuable because it connects me with a community of donor relations professionals who share best practices, innovative strategies, and support for the evolving landscape of philanthropy. It provides access to resources, webinars, and networking opportunities that help me grow in my role and implement effective stewardship initiatives.

3. ADRP is universally recognized as the authority on donor engagement for the philanthropy profession. In your own words, how does ADRP serve you in the form of professional development?
ADRP serves as a valuable resource for my professional development by providing insights, best practices, and a network of donor relations professionals who share innovative strategies. The monthly newsletter keeps me informed about industry trends, and the opportunity to connect with colleagues through profiles and discussions has been instrumental in brainstorming new approaches. ADRP’s resources, webinars, and community engagement help me enhance my skills, stay ahead of emerging trends, and implement effective donor stewardship strategies in my role.

Kathryn Munro
Associate Vice President, Arts & Sciences Development
Dartmouth College

Background Info:

1. Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?

In my senior year at the University of Toronto (U of T), I was connected to the alumni relations office which needed administrative help with their annual reunion. This was before online registration was a thing, so I spent a lot of time stuffing invitations in the mailroom, doing data entry, and answering phone calls. 

This led to an interest in planning events and working with data. And I learned that I was able to quickly build rapport with alumni and donors. That early experience kick-started a pretty varied 25-year advancement career — from events to alumni relations, to principal gifts, to recognition and stewardship, to fundraising leadership — at both U of T and now at Dartmouth, where donor relations has been the through-line. 

Suzanne Bellanger
Senior Managing Director, DCF Marketing & Stewardship
Dartmouth College

One of the things I appreciate most about ADRP is the access to creative ideas, innovative practices, and helpful insights shared by peers across the industry. Recently, I was on the other side of the information sharing stream as a presenter for the January webinar “Elevating the Student Voice: Amplifying Impact Through Dynamic Stewardship.” Not only was it fun, but it also gave my colleague, Kate Barlow, and me the opportunity to reflect on a ton of hard work, celebrate our accomplishment, and share our findings with others who were truly interested. And the very best part was the new connections we made. In the days that followed, many fellow ADRPers reached out to ask questions, schedule time to chat or to simply say hi.

Honestly, both Kate and I were a little nervous about hosting the webinar. We debated what to include. Would the content be too much, too little, not relevant? Would people even care? We went through four or five iterations before we felt like we had something worthwhile. And then we made our team listen to us practice. And then listen again. And again. BUT all the prep work was worth it! Despite the mild anxiety about our presentation skills and insecurity about all the technicalities of executing a presentation via Zoom for almost 200 people, it all worked out. And, you know what? You can successfully host one too! Yes, you.

Here’s why:

• ADRP sets you up for success! Sadie Countryman and Sara Ring were our go-to support team who went above and beyond to make sure we had all the necessary tools. They offered useful tips, gave us plenty of practice time, and provided valuable technical support. Plus, they made the whole process fun.
• People want to hear from you! The strength of this organization lies in our talent. ADRP members apply creative ideas to solve similar problems and use innovative technology to elevate our work. Our best work happens when we learn collectively from others and apply that knowledge to help achieve our own unique goals. 
• You are awesome! Designing the presentation content afforded us the opportunity to look back on projects we’d successfully launched over the past year. That reflection felt really good! It helped motivate us as we headed into the second half of the year, which is always busy, busy, busy. 

ADRP hosts webinars all year long and great ideas are in high demand! Consider sharing what’s going on at your institution; I promise it will be valuable and rewarding. You are the strength and the heart of ADRP. Together we can do so much!  

Scott Eichinger 

2024-2025 ADRP President

Mary Weingartner
Managing Director, Donor Relations | UNICEF USA

Individualized Stewardship Plans in Principle and Practice was a virtual workshop focused on creating strategic individualized stewardship plans (ISPs) for donors and partners. Last month, six diverse facilitators brought experience from higher education, healthcare, community service, environmental, and humanitarian organizations to a three-hour professional development course consisting of a presentation, panel discussion, Q&A, and small group discussion. We shared best practices, ideas, ambitions, and challenges with 30 donor relations professionals from across the U.S. and Canada. Together, we explored the very real ways donor relations professionals can propel our relationships with individual donors, and we discussed how to establish ourselves as strategic partners.  

Before

In the planning stage, the facilitators repeatedly returned to a few themes, and ultimately, we developed a workshop that emphasized the following:

1. There is no “right” way to build an individualized stewardship program. Each organization is unique in size, donor base, staffing, and data quality, etc.
2. There is no “right” way to build an individualized stewardship plan. Each organization, donor, and relationship is unique.
3. Individualized stewardship plans should be rooted in data and strategy with the intention to help an organization reach specific goals.
4. Donor relations professionals bring expertise, knowledge, and a valuable strategic perspective to individualized stewardship planning. We are not the “deli counter.” We are consultants, strategists, consensus-builders, subject-matter experts, and much more.
5. Individualized stewardship planning programs are challenging to scale and sustain. They must be built cautiously and avoid putting donors in “permanent stewardship” with no strategic objective. 

During

The three-hour workshop truly flew by, and we packed in plenty. 

As Conference Chair, and Co-Chair, it is our honor to serve ADRP’s international community of donor relations professionals and industry partners for a milestone ADRP International Conference, being held this September (Tuesday 16th – Friday 19th), in Montreal, Canada. A seminal conference, this year’s gathering will live up to its name. We are delighted to host you for what will be ADRP’s first-ever truly international conference.

Aptly themed “Passport to Partnerships,” the 2025 conference explores the power of partnerships and their profound impact on our sector’s success. Whether collaborating across internal teams, joining forces with industry leaders, working closely with vendors, or engaging donors and their advisors, strategic partnerships are a gateway to a world of new possibilities. Creating these connections can build organizational capacity, amplify impact, expand our reach through shared networks, and create meaningful communities. At #ADRPMontreal, you will explore how partnerships can drive innovation and excellence in donor relations—consider this your official passport to a journey of discovery.

We cannot wait to see how ADRP’s diverse, international community will contribute to these important conversations. We hope to see you there!

P.S. Want to stay up to date on exciting announcements and deadlines? Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

	Dawn Green, Conference Chair Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation, Toronto
	Pandora Hess, Conference Co-Chair Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston

Scott Eichinger 

2024-2025 ADRP President

Scott Eichinger 

2024-2025 ADRP President

Anniversaries hold so much meaning. They signify the attainment of a milestone, serving as a time for reflection and connection. For those of us in the donor relations world, we understand the importance of acknowledging these significant moments.

Shortly after my arrival at Providence College (PC), the 10-year anniversary of our humanities building was approaching. We didn’t have previously established guidelines for celebrating and stewarding building anniversaries, so my new team and I seized this opportunity to make our mark and flex some creative muscles.

We tackled the project with intention: we wanted structure to inform our approach to anniversaries, striving for equity yet flexibility to tailor milestones to donors’ preferences. To establish the guidelines, we began by brainstorming ideas for internal and possibly external celebration, as well as stewardship touches that showcase impact and gratitude. Additionally, we researched PC’s prior building anniversary celebrations and stewardship to gauge expectations and equity, performed benchmarking against peer and local institutions, and spoke with donor relations experts for best practices. Going through this exercise served us well when presenting our final recommendations to senior management. 

So, how did we celebrate the 10-year building anniversary? We held an open house-style celebration during a high foot traffic time of day. The donor was invited but declined to attend. There was a cake-cutting, as well as other treats and mocktails during the celebration. Cards were placed on tables: a photo of the building on one side, a blank space on the other where we asked guests to reflect upon what this space means to them and/or to share messages of gratitude. A photographer was hired to capture the celebration and specific areas of the building, especially those spaces actively used by students.

After the event, we created a photo book that included a message from the president, many photos of significant moments and events held in the building over the decade, photos of distinctive features of the building, and images from the celebration. We scanned some of the notecards into the pages of the photo book, and for those less legible but great messages, we typed the quotes into the pages. Enclosed with the photo book was a Spreengs video card we custom-made with images of the building and college branding. The video featured the president, who introduced a faculty member. The faculty member was intentionally selected as he is an alum who has been working at the college for more than 10 years. The faculty member was filmed in the building, and he did a fantastic job articulating the building's impact from many perspectives. 

What were you doing when we founded ADRP? Where did you go from there? Where are you now? 
I was the first donor relations professional at Tufts University School of Medicine. I worked for a year at WGBH before moving to the Bay Area. I am now a development associate at Lifehouse Agency in Marin County, California.

What lessons, words of advice/inspiration would you like to pass on to other donor relations professionals?
If your organization doesn’t have a specific donor relations plan, introduce it to them! Create a plan, and make your mark!

ADRP Memory Lane:

Do you ever tell people about your early history with ADRP? If yes, what reaction do you get?
I do! People often think it’s really cool and it makes them more curious about fundraising.

Blair Scholars Then & Now: A Series
Sarwat Maqbool
Executive Officer
Australian National University ANU College of Law

In 2021, I found myself at a pivotal point in my career, navigating the complexities of a world recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The tertiary education sector was facing a financial downturn, and professional development budgets were limited, making it a challenge for many industries. Amid this, donor relations practices were evolving rapidly, and I saw an opportunity to enhance my own career by gaining international exposure to donor relations professionals and their strategies. This led me to apply for the Sheryl A. Blair Scholarship, a platform that promised quality learning, a global network of professionals, and the chance to elevate my professional profile.

The journey began with the virtual 2021 ADRP annual conference. As someone based in Canberra, Australia, I attended the live sessions from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., adjusting to the time zone challenges. Despite the late hours, I quickly found a strong sense of community with fellow conference attendees. We shared experiences, supported one another, and encouraged each other through the long sessions. Those connections became an important source of professional and personal support.

A particularly special opportunity during my time as a Blair Scholar was the chance to participate in the ADRP mentoring program. Through this, I formed a meaningful relationship with my mentor, a bond that extended far beyond the program's conclusion. The guidance and advice I received from my mentor were invaluable, and our connection continued to thrive long after our formal mentoring sessions ended.