4A | The Power of a Story

Tuesday, Sept. 26
4:00 - 5:00 PM

Sector
Private College/University, Public College/University, Private Secondary School

Experience Level
Suitable for all levels

Shop Size
Suitable for any size shop

Category
Reporting

This session showcases how donor relations and frontline fundraisers within our organization work together to successfully execute moves management by connecting donors to the story of their impact on students and faculty. Using a case study of our firsthand experience, we will highlight the steps of our creative process, ways to package these stories for your organization, and ideas for partnering with development officers to communicate impact to drive gifts from donors across the globe.
Professionals in the early stages of their role will find tools necessary to advance their careers, while more experienced donor relations professionals can learn from our collaborative process to create robust partnerships with fundraising staff at every level. Our hope is to inspire others to capture impact stories to elevate the donor experience and drive giving.  

Lori Pilley

Lori Pilley is the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship for the LSU Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, Music and Dramatic Arts, and the LSU Press in Baton Rouge. Pilley has served LSU for four years and is currently managing donor relations alongside a team of frontline fundraisers in the first integrated fundraising model of its kind at LSU. In the past year, she has conducted the first scalable cross unit scholarship audit at LSU, developed a collaborative video donor stewardship program, and developed a Thank-A-Thon program for annual fund. Prior to this role, Pilley served as the Assistant Director of Donor Relations for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Before coming to LSU, she worked in communications and grant writing for local area nonprofits. In her free time, Pilley studies in the Public Administration graduate program in the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business.

Krista Allen

Krista Allen is the Senior Director of Development for the LSU Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, Music and Dramatic Arts, and the LSU Press in Baton Rouge. Allen has served LSU for seven years and is currently spearheading an integrated fundraising model, the first multi-unit fundraising group at LSU. She is responsible for leading a team of fundraising professionals for the robust relationship management of major donors to LSU, with an emphasis on securing transformational funds. She carries a portfolio of high wealth prospects that are concentrated  regionally and nationally. In her first year in this role, Allen produced record-giving years for percentage growth for the Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences and Music and Dramatic Arts. Prior to stepping into a senior role, Allen spent four years at the E. J. Ourso College of Business at LSU where she successfully implemented a comprehensive corporate giving program.