Hosted by the Blue Grass Community Foundation & facilitated by 20/twenty

Workshop is designed as a practical, high-energy campaign training that helps participating nonprofits move from registration to readiness.
About this Event

Better Together: Turning Connection Into Generosity

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 25, 2026

Bluegrass Gives enters 2026 with strong momentum. In 2025, 235 nonprofits generated 12,476 gifts and raised $3.14 million. The average nonprofit raised $12,038, the average gift was $160, and one in four donors gave to a nonprofit they had not previously supported. Those results show that Bluegrass Gives is both a fundraising opportunity and a donor-acquisition opportunity.

The 2025 match analysis also provides a compelling strategic lesson: nonprofits with matching sponsors substantially outperformed those without matches. Matched organizations averaged $29,444 raised compared with $7,317 for organizations without a match. This makes matching gifts, donor urgency and campaign momentum central teaching points for the October training.

Through hands-on activities, peer learning, practical tools, and guided discussions, participants will move beyond traditional presentations and engage directly with other organizations facing similar opportunities and challenges.

Together, we’ll learn and explore how to:

· Set a clear and attainable Bluegrass Gives fundraising and donor goal.

· Build a campaign team and define roles for board, staff and ambassadors.

· Identify potential matching-gift sponsors and develop an ask strategy.

· Craft a concise Giving Day story and donor-facing call to action.

· Develop a practical communications and activation plan for Early Giving and Giving Tuesday.

· Create a short list of immediate next steps to complete after the training.

Each participant will leave with a one-page Bluegrass Gives Campaign Blueprint containing:

· Fundraising goal and donor goal

· Campaign team and ambassador list

· Match prospects and match ask strategy

· Core campaign story and giving examples

· Key communications milestones

· Three immediate next actions

Come ready to engage, share, collaborate, and leave with new ideas and a stronger path toward Blue Grass Gives 2026 BetterTogether success.

Agenda

09:00 AM - 09:15 AM

Welcome & Opening Connection

09:15 AM - 09:45 AM

Session 1: Start With Strategy

09:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Session 2: Build Your Better Together Team

10:15 AM - 10:25 AM

Break

10:25 AM - 10:55

Session 3: The Match Effect

10:55 AM - 11:25 AM

Session 4: Tell a Story Worth Sharing

11:25 AM - 11:50 AM

Session 5: Activate Your Crowd

11:50 AM - 12:00 PM

Campaign Commitment & Closing