RaiseMN is excited to share our virtual six-session 2025 Learn-Along calendar, built with the annual donor cycle in mind.
We’ve expanded our selection of Learn-Alongs this year to help nonprofit leaders and fundraisers build on previous success and raise more money throughout the year.
Register for individual events below, or purchase a class pass for $225 and receive six learn-along registrations for the price of five!
With so many fundraising metrics to track, where is the most important place to start? In the first LearnAlong of 2025, join the RaiseMN team to learn more about the most critical metrics for an organization to track and receive our metrics and dashboard creation tool!
In honor of Valentine’s Day, Join the RaiseMN team for tips on creative, meaningful donor stewardship! After the busy year-end season, learn strategies that go beyond thank-you notes to surprise, delight, and build stronger relationships with your supporters.
Board members are key fundraisers! Join the RaiseMN team to explore ways to equip your board with the tools and confidence to find new supporters, raise funds, and promote your mission, from committees to peer-to-peer campaigns.
Turn loyal donors into bigger supporters! Join the RaiseMN team to learn strategies for cultivating long-time donors, asking them to increase their giving, and why focusing on current donors boosts fundraising success.
Join the RaiseMN team for tips on creating compelling appeals that inspire action. Learn direct mail and digital strategies to boost your storytelling and fundraising this fall!
The end of the year is the most important time for organizations to reach out to supporters. To help you craft a year-end strategy that stands out from the crowd, the RaiseMN team will share creative ideas and strategies for your organization to use with your audience.
Join Courtney and Clara for RaiseMN's annual year-end appeal webinar, one of our most attended each year! We’ll walk you through templates and resources to keep your entire fundraising team on track, the rest of your staff engaged and informed of your strategies, and create cohesive storytelling language that you can use for all of your asks through December 31st.
We’ll share with you the segmentation strategies that we’ve used in the past and give tips and tricks to incorporate these values into your thank-you process that will leave a lasting impact on your donors.
The “Summer Slump” of fundraising is real. Donors are unplugging and getting busy with summer activities, and it's been about 6 months since your big year-end appeal. This makes summer the perfect time to think about reporting back to your donors, engage them in a deeper relationship with your organization, and spend time properly thanking your donors.
We’ll talk through strategies and techniques for effective and impactful reporting and how to build a retention system to guide your strategies and measure your progress through the rest of the year.
In our second Learn-Along of the year, we’ll talk through tactics and techniques for acquiring new donors in 2024. Courtney and Clara will guide you through strategies on how to re-acquire lapsed donors and ensure that you're stewarding existing donors. We’ll report on trends for millennial donors and ideas for fun and fresh ways to attract supporters to your mission. Courtney and Clara are experts in the field of values-aligned fundraising and will help you to find ways of talking about your work that speaks to values and viewpoints that make sense for your organization.
In our first Learn-Along of the new year, we’ll do a deep dive into data strategies and metrics to track throughout the year, how to build in a retention strategy for your year-end donors, and guide you through prompts and conversations for you and your fundraising team to have as you build in your cohesive yearly fundraising plan.
If your fundraising calendar feels up-in-the-air, intimidating, or daunting, join us to demystify the fundraising planning process!
Give to the Max Day is Minnesota’s biggest day of philanthropic giving each year, raising tens of millions of dollars for thousands of organizations. Join GiveMN’s Courtney Backen and Mightycause’s Bethany Natoli to learn hear highlights from Give to the Max 2023, top-level takeaways and trends, and advice on how to build on momentum from your GTMD campaign during calendar year-end and beyond.
There’s no doubt that the year-end fundraising push is a crucial time to meet many of your organization’s fundraising goals for the year. Many organizations receive the majority of their donations during the last quarter of the year. Others make their only or primary asks during this time.
Summer is a unique time for fundraisers as we wrap up our spring strategies, begin to look forward to what it will take to meet our fall and year-end giving goals, and find time for rest and rejuvenation between the two.
Updated May 14, 2020
GiveMN has made the decision to cancel all RaiseMN in-person group workshops for the remainder of 2020. The majority of these workshops were scheduled to take place in the first half of the year, and there is still uncertainty over when guidance will suggest a group of our workshop size (50-75) may convene, and whether or not holding this type of group gathering is in the best interest of our partners in the foreseeable future.
If you purchased a Class Pass or single tickets to any of our workshops, you will receive an email from the RaiseMN team with more information about our decisions and refunds. We were very much looking forward to meeting with hundreds of you in person through this year’s workshop series, and we’re working hard to build out virtual programming and opportunities for the remainder of the year.
Description:
Our second Learning Lab this year is Getting Your Donors Through Turbulence. Most fundraisers know that the only constant in fundraising is change. Whether your organization is going through a leadership transition, a shift in your mission or core programming, or navigating a crisis, it takes a special set of skills to bring your donors along through these rough or uncertain times.
This session will break down the basics of getting donors through change, and give you plenty of space and time to discuss what’s happening in your organization in small groups and with experienced (or even battle-worn) fundraisers who’ve been there.
Cost:
$10 + processing totaling $10.69
Eligible for RaiseMN Class Pass
What’s a Learning Lab?
For the first time this year, RaiseMN will be offering two Learning Labs. These labs help RaiseMN test out new curriculum and new trainers in front of an audience. We’re offering these Labs at a highly-discounted rate of $10 because you’ll be seeing the dress rehearsal—and it will give you a sneak peek of what’s on the horizon for RaiseMN’s programming!
Who should attend?
This session is best for intermediate to advanced nonprofit fundraising staff. However, if you’re in fundraising for the first time and navigating a crisis already, we feel you and you are more than welcome!
Trainers:
Leah E. Olm | Director of Coaching and Curriculum, GiveMN
Michelle Daniel | Director of Development, YWCA of Saint Paul
Updated May 14, 2020
GiveMN has made the decision to cancel all RaiseMN in-person group workshops for the remainder of 2020. The majority of these workshops were scheduled to take place in the first half of the year, and there is still uncertainty over when guidance will suggest a group of our workshop size (50-75) may convene, and whether or not holding this type of group gathering is in the best interest of our partners in the foreseeable future.
If you purchased a Class Pass or single tickets to any of our workshops, you will receive an email from the RaiseMN team with more information about our decisions and refunds. We were very much looking forward to meeting with hundreds of you in person through this year’s workshop series, and we’re working hard to build out virtual programming and opportunities for the remainder of the year.
Description:
Getting to know your donors on an individual level and communicating with them about your work is 90% of good fundraising. But how do you get to know your donors? What do they care about? Why don’t they respond to your event invitations? Why did they increase (or decrease) their gift this year?
We recommend considering one-on-one meetings. Donor meetings are an essential tool that should be in every fundraiser’s toolbox. In this session we’ll be breaking down 1:1 meetings piece by piece. What’s the point of meeting with a donor? What are you trying to learn? What are areas opportunity to share, and what problematic donor behaviors could arise?
This session will be heavy on roleplay scenarios, giving participants a chance to practice in a super supportive and encouraging environment.
Cost:
$60 + processing totaling $64.14
Eligible for RaiseMN Class Pass
Who should attend?
This session is best for nonprofit fundraising staff. Board members, volunteers, and executive directors are welcome, but this session assumes that participants have a fairly good base of individual giving knowledge.
Trainers:
Unny Nambudiripad | Fundraising Strategist, GiveMN
Second presenter selection in progress
Updated May 14, 2020
GiveMN has made the decision to cancel all RaiseMN in-person group workshops for the remainder of 2020. The majority of these workshops were scheduled to take place in the first half of the year, and there is still uncertainty over when guidance will suggest a group of our workshop size (50-75) may convene, and whether or not holding this type of group gathering is in the best interest of our partners in the foreseeable future.
If you purchased a Class Pass or single tickets to any of our workshops, you will receive an email from the RaiseMN team with more information about our decisions and refunds. We were very much looking forward to meeting with hundreds of you in person through this year’s workshop series, and we’re working hard to build out virtual programming and opportunities for the remainder of the year.
Description:
Are you a board member who’s supposed to fundraise, but every time you think about asking people for money you start sweating? Are you a volunteer who’s been asked to help with the membership phone bank, but you freeze up the second you’re about to start, or simply bail on it altogether? Are you a full-time fundraiser who knows you need to ask donors for support in person, but find ways to avoid putting donor meetings or fundraising events on your calendar?
You’re not alone, team! Our culture is saturated with messages about money—who should have it, whether you should need it, and (especially in Minnesota) that you shouldn’t talk about it—but nonprofits need money to thrive.
The first step is to take a close look at your own personal story with money and how that interacts with fundraising, which is how we’ll be spending our time in this session. There’ll be time for personal reflection and small group discussion and conversation with experienced coaches who’ve been there.
Cost:
$40 + processing totaling $42.76
Eligible for RaiseMN Class Pass
Who should attend?
Anyone involved with nonprofit organizations who finds themselves uncomfortable talking about money.
Trainers:
Unny Nambudiripad | Fundraising Strategist, GiveMN
Second presenter selection in progress
Updated May 14, 2020
GiveMN has made the decision to cancel all RaiseMN in-person group workshops for the remainder of 2020. The majority of these workshops were scheduled to take place in the first half of the year, and there is still uncertainty over when guidance will suggest a group of our workshop size (50-75) may convene, and whether or not holding this type of group gathering is in the best interest of our partners in the foreseeable future.
If you purchased a Class Pass or single tickets to any of our workshops, you will receive an email from the RaiseMN team with more information about our decisions and refunds. We were very much looking forward to meeting with hundreds of you in person through this year’s workshop series, and we’re working hard to build out virtual programming and opportunities for the remainder of the year.
Description:
Let’s face it: a career in fundraising can be very tough on people. You’re not given much support, and often asked to raise unreasonable amounts of money unreasonably fast. It’s isolating work, while being an incredibly public role. Most of your job is unseen emotional labor: managing the feelings of your donors.
While acknowledging that structural changes must be made to fundraising as a field, we know fundraisers are adaptive, resilient folks who have figured out how to take care of themselves in the midst of these challenges. This session will offer topic areas for discussion, and we’ll spend time in small groups and large interactive conversations building a self-care toolkit for fundraisers together.
Cost:
$10 + processing totaling $10.69
Eligible for RaiseMN Class Pass
What’s a Learning Lab?
For the first time this year, RaiseMN will be offering two Learning Labs. These labs help RaiseMN test out new curriculum and new trainers in front of an audience. We’re offering these Labs at a highly-discounted rate of $10 because you’ll be seeing the dress rehearsal—and it will give you a sneak peek of what’s on the horizon for RaiseMN’s programming!
Who should attend?
This session is best for nonprofit staff who hold the majority of responsibility for fundraising at their organization.
Trainers:
Leah E. Olm | Director of Coaching and Curriculum, GiveMN
Camille Cyprian | Founder and Healer in Residence, Centered Spaces
Description:
RaiseMN first offered this workshop in 2019, and we’ve already heard how attendees are using what they learned to polish their live fundraising skills, build confidence, and surpass their goals! We’re bringing it back due to popular demand and just in time for the spring fundraising gala and event season.
This workshop will help strengthen your “live asks,” which are any fundraising ask given in front of a group, like at a house party, performance, gala or community meeting. Together, we’ll unpack examples of great (and terrible) asks, and help you build an ask based on your organization’s work and audience. You’ll have the chance to make your ask and receive feedback in a super supportive and encouraging environment.
Location: (please note this has changed)
Fairview Community Center, 1910 County Road B, Roseville, MN 55113
Parking is available outside. Enter at Door 1 and sign in at desk, then proceed to Great Room.
Cost:
$60 + processing totaling $64.14
Eligible for RaiseMN Class Pass
CFRE Credits:
Full participation in The Art of the Live Ask is applicable for 3.0 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Who should attend?
This session is built for anyone who is in charge of asking for money at a fundraising event, from development staffers and executive directors, to entrusted volunteers and board members.
Trainers:
Leah E. Olm | Director of Coaching and Curriculum, GiveMN
Jake Blumberg | Executive Director, GiveMN
Cost: $140 + processing
The final quarter of the calendar year is a crucial fundraising time for most nonprofits, and for many of us, it’s a scramble. Let’s get you geared up differently this year!
You’ll leave this day-long, interactive training with a head start on planning and tactics that will make your fundraising more successful and less stressful for you and your team.
We’ll tackle defining your audience, how to tell your best fundraising story, how to engage your board, coordinate with your team, and more. We'll spend time thinking about timelines and deadlines for your year-end campaign.
Bonus: in addition to RaiseMN’s Leah Olm, we’re bringing in Jocelyn Wong and Mario Lugay, two extraordinary development visionaries from the San Francisco Bay Area, to share their knowledge and expertise!
Who’s this for?
This session is best for folks who hold responsibility for executing their end of year fundraising efforts for their nonprofits.
Cost: $60 + processing
RaiseMN first offered this workshop in April, and we’ve already heard how attendees are using what they learned to polish their live fundraising skills, build confidence, and surpass their goals! We’re bringing it back due to popular demand and just in time for the fall fundraising gala and event season.
This workshop will help strengthen your “live asks,” which are any fundraising ask given in front of a group, like at a house party, performance, gala or community meeting. Together, we’ll unpack examples of great (and terrible) asks, and help you build an ask based on your organization’s work and audience. You’ll have the chance to make your ask and receive feedback in a super supportive and encouraging environment.
Who’s this for?
This session is built for anyone who is in charge of asking for money at a fundraising event -- from development staffers and executive directors to trusted volunteers and board members.
Live training at GiveMN’s training room in Northeast Minneapolis
Cost: $80 + processing
One-on-one meetings are an essential tool in fundraising. Asking for money at an in-person meeting is incredibly effective, and getting to know your donors through one-on-one meetings is one of the most rewarding parts of individual giving.
But since you’re often alone with the donor, it’s hard to know if you’re doing them well. Are you getting what you need? Are they? These meetings tend to be more of an art than a science, and let’s be real: asking for money in-person can be absolutely nerve-wracking.
So, this is a 4-hour session. Yes, we know a half-day session is long, but that’s because you’re going to get a ton of time to work in small groups with facilitators. We’re going to spend time doing role plays that focus on:
asking for a meeting;
the meeting itself;
reacting to donor questions, tough feedback, and tricky interpersonal dynamics; and
leading an in-person ask at a meeting.
This is a great chance to get feedback on your approach, learn some new skills from trainers and other participants who have all been there, and get really clear about the art of one-on-one meetings.
This session will be co-facilitated by Leah Olm, Director of Coaching and Curriculum at RaiseMN, and Unny Nambudiripad, lifelong fundraiser and nonprofit leader.
Who’s this for? This session is great for beginners who have one-on-one meetings as part of their workplan for this year and need to get the basics, and really great for folks who have experience with donor meetings and want to take their skills to the next level. Also, we believe this could be a great bridge for community organizers who want to make a career shift toward fundraising.
Online webinar
Cost: $25 per person + processing
The internet is full of ideas about fundraising tactics, but at the core of a quality fundraising program are how you answer these three questions:
1) How should you use your time?
2) Who are your people?
3) How do you build your organization’s fundraising culture?
This 1-hour session will give your fundraising a solid foundation and spark important conversations at your nonprofit.
Who’s this for? This is best suited for development staffers or staffers who have fundraising responsibilities, executive directors, and board members of all experience levels.
Live training at GiveMN’s training room in Northeast Minneapolis
Cost: $60 + processing
During this session, you’ll have the chance to dive into the art of live asks in advance of spring gala season. “Live asks” are any fundraising ask given in front of a group, like at a house party, a gala, a performance, or a community meeting.
We’ll unpack examples of great (and terrible) asks, break those down, and help you build an ask based on your organization’s work and audience. You’ll also get the chance to give your ask and receive feedback in a super supportive and encouraging environment.
Who’s this for? This 3-hour session is great for development staffers and executive directors, but it’s also great for volunteers and board members who’ve been entrusted with doing the live ask at an upcoming fundraising event.
![[CANCELED] Learning Lab | Getting Your Donors Through Turbulence](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/588b981ff7e0ab745bab4044/1580414621393-DRSUMETCTMC1ROYSZSKP/shutterstock_1240201.jpg)
![[CANCELED] Exploring Donor Meetings](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/588b981ff7e0ab745bab4044/1580414436433-G1FJ3DJ62RFZD2WKC6CA/011819givemn018.jpg)
![[CANCELED] Exploring Your Relationship with Money](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/588b981ff7e0ab745bab4044/1580407089640-Y5AS8G61GAEDWEF73QX1/shutterstock_618026519.jpg)
![[CANCELED] Learning Lab | Self-Care for Fundraisers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/588b981ff7e0ab745bab4044/1580406821656-C8MHFAC0S2F8B0QWC2JU/011819givemn008.jpg)
