This panel discussion will provide real time examples of the challenges and opportunities facing volunteer-driven, major, capital, and comprehensive campaigns. Speakers will discuss the varying landscape of personal outreach and engagement, effective use of solicitation tools including in today’s more technology-driven world and share candid perspectives on how the capital campaign process has changed over the past decade. The formal session will end after one hour, but anyone with additional questions for the panel may stay for an additional 15 minutes.
Session Moderator:
- John Lanham, VP/Campaign Director, Demont Associates
Session Panelists:
- Craig MacDonnell, Board Chair at the Timanous Foundation (ME)
- Heather Plati, Executive Director at Camp O-AT-KA (ME)
- Peter Gregory, Campaign Executive Committee Member at Hale Education (MA)
- Tori Robertson, Not-for-profit Volunteer, Leader, and Fundraiser at Keewaydin Foundation (VT) and others
Questions? Contact Kerry Salvo, Director of Education and Professional Development at ACA, New England, kerry@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080.
About the speakers:
About the speakers:
John Lanham, VP/Campaign Director, Demont Associates: After working with the international nonprofit organization, Up with People, John Lanham joined Demont Associates in the fall of 2016. At Up with People, he managed partner relations with community sponsors including the International Lions Club, Habitat for Humanity, The University of Arizona, and numerous public schools and local governments. Since joining Demont, in and through a pandemic John has provided campaign services to Camp O-AT-KA, The Timanous Foundation, Keewaydin Foundation, Hale Education as well as to other youth, education and conservation not-for-profit organizations. John manages fundraising campaigns ranging from $3,000,000 to $40,000,000, while overseeing daily operations of the company. John resides in Saco, ME. He enjoys running, reading, live concerts, a good movie and volunteers as a Big for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine.
Peter Gregory: Peter Gregory grew up in Westwood, MA. He discovered Hale’s Education’s 1,150 acres of nature and trails as a college student (Connecticut College) who was using them for runs in preparation for Crew season. In the late 80’s his cousin, Elisha, asked that he get involved with Hale. He is motivated to support Hale with time, talent and treasure because he likes helping inner city children and thinks the staff has done a great job with measured, thoughtful growth. Peter currently serves on Hale’s Corporate Board and continues to lend his time, talent and treasure on Hale’s $46M campaign as a volunteer, member of the Campaign Cabinet, and critical leader on the Campaign Executive Committee.
Craig MacDonnell: Craig MacDonnell has been the Timanous Foundation Board Chair since 2016. He is an experienced environmental and conservation leader, realty steward, lawyer, and consultant across non-profit, private, and government sectors. He is recognized for his ability to develop consensus and establish strategic partnerships. Craig also has a demonstrated track record of fund raising and building productive boards of advisors. He has been a steady force in the Timanous Foundation’s transition from a privately owned camp through to the preparation and completion of its first campaign, raising $8M in its first 6 years as a not-for-profit organization.
Heather Plati: Heat her Plati joined the O-AT-KA staff in 2015 as the first full-time Director of Advancement and became the Executive Director in June of 2017. From the time she joined the O-AT-KA family, her focus on fundraising (including planning and executing an $8M campaign), as well as bringing alumni and parents together for events, communications, and volunteer opportunities translated seamlessly in the area of increasing enrollment, staff development, and executing a long-term strategic vision for O-AT-KA. Before joining O-AT-KA, Heather was in various fundraising and public relations positions at Simmons College, Bentley University and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. She sits on the American Camp Association (ACA), New England Board of Directors as a Vice President and leads the Fund Development committee. Heather holds a BS in Marketing from Bentley University.
Tori Robertson: Tori Robertson grew up in Toronto, Canada, has lived in New York and Paris and currently resides in London, England. She was educated at the University of Toronto, Trinity College and York University. Tori has a strong volunteer background having been involved with various not-for profit boards and organizations associated with education and childhood through young adult development. She has extensive experience in non-profit development, strategic planning and board governance; she knows the satisfaction that successful fundraising brings and how critical it is in supporting an organisation’s mission. Tori was a member of the Board of Trustees of the American School in London (ASL) for 11years. Most recently Tori was a member of the Keewaydin Foundation’s Board of Trustees for 7 years, Today she continues to enjoy being a source of counsel and mentorship for not-for-profits in Canada, the US and the UK.