Community Event: AFP April Educational Program – Planning When You Don’t Know What’s Next

Planning When You Don’t Know What’s Next

Presented by: Alice Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE and Jim Anderson, CFRE

To say that today’s environment is rapidly changing would be a gross understatement. Who knows what will happen next? It may seem like this is a time to abandon your plan. President Dwight D. Eisenhower purportedly said, “The plan is useless, but planning is critical.” In this session, we’ll talk about risk assessment, the planning process amid chaos, and how to create a realistic, workable plan and strategies to make it actionable every day.

About the Speakers:

Alice L. Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE and James Anderson, CFRE are partners in GoalBusters, specializing in hands-on, comprehensive fundraising leadership for small to medium-sized charitable organizations and fundraising teams. The GoalBusters team offers services in development and campaign assessment, strategic planning, campaign direction, board and team training, grant writing, and specialty services for public and community media. Alice and Jim are in the trenches with several organizations, helping inspire and facilitate growth in fundraising programs ranging in scope from $100,000 to $54 million. Alice and Jim are seasoned international speakers and AFP master trainers.

Jim Anderson has more than 30 years of sales and training experience through his positions with local media and national consumer research companies. Consistently recognized as a top revenue producer, Jim earned the Sales Executive of the Year, Negotiator of the Year, the New Business, and Over Achiever awards, among many other accolades. Jim specializes in donor psychology, marketing and branding strategy, multimedia production, sponsorship programs, board and organizational coaching, and innovative storytelling approaches. He was honored as AFP Northern Arizona Fundraising Professional of the Year in 2010 and achieved his Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2013.

Alice Ferris, GoalBusters founder, began her career at age 16, blowing bubbles at PBS Wisconsin during a fundraiser for the Lawrence Welk Show. Alice thrives in finding creative solutions for the fundraising challenges of small organizations and teaching and training about practical and realistic tactics. Alice was the 90th professional to receive the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) credential, is a three-time honoree as AFP Northern Arizona’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional, and was the 21st recipient of the AFP Founders’ Medallion, recognizing exemplary service to the sector. Alice is known for her on-air work for public television, both nationally and locally, and currently serves on the advisory boards for the Bolz Center for Arts Administration at the Wisconsin School of Business and the Communication Arts Program at the University of Wisconsin.