National Philanthropy Day 2025

You are invited to National Philanthropy Day, hosted by the Association of Nonprofit Professionals (AFP) Southern Minnesota chapter!

November 12, 2025

Empire Event Center: 1517 16th Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902

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8:00 AM --- Registration and Light Breakfast

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Morning Workshop with Marcy Heim

What’s FIRST, and then what?

Creating Inspired Giver Journeys:

Relationship-based fundraising is built upon conversations—combined with intentionality. This ensures that our relationships move forward and deepen over time when clear giving outcomes resonate with givers values and interests. But what do you do FIRST? To START these relationships? And, then what?

The key to success is creating a RAP – Relationship Action Plan and then working (and adjusting) this plan. RAPS combine the annual fund, events, and major/planned giving together.

In this workshop you will learn how to take step one, then create a simple plan, define vibrant giving options, learn a simple ASK recipe to set intentions, create clarity for your giver and be intentional with gratitude as an equally important player in the relationship. Plus, you will sing and have fun!

In this session, you'll learn how to:

-- Embrace creating engaging and fun conversations with givers at every level that makes them feel as special as they are!

-- Using automation thoughtfully in scaling personalization.

-- Adopting a vocabulary that is authentic and genuine – and using this ALL the time – not just with face-to-face with donors.

-- Using a 3-sentence ask from the first touch to the Major Gift Ask.

-- Creating a RAP – A Relationship Action Plan to connect the Annual Fund, Major Giving and events together in a cohesive cultivation and stewardships strategy.

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11:45 AM – 1:00 PM: NPD Awards and Luncheon

Chapter President’s Message: Kristin Mannix

Awards:

-- Outstanding Philanthropists: Larry & Janet Johnson

-- Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Cheri Krejci

-- Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy: Kinsley Ronningen

-- Outstanding Philanthropic Organization: Eagle Rock Bank

-- Outstanding Philanthropic Organization: Thrivent Emerald Financial Group

-- Outstanding Fundraising Professional: Andrea Chapman

Luncheon Keynote - SHINE ON!

YOU have been called to do important work – transformational work! And you are up to the task! Why should the sky be your limit - in your giving or your life? Join Marcy Heim – firecracker and generosity sparkplug to embrace easy tools to share your magic with other!

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1:30 – 2:30 PM: Afternoon Workshop presentation with Marcy Heim

ASK for Anything Artfully! What You Say to get an inspired, "Yes!"

Major gifts are the fuel for your mission’s momentum—building resilience, driving bold visions, and inviting donors into a meaningful partnership that lifts your community. But when the moment comes to ask, do you hesitate?

Imagine having a simple, powerful 3-sentence formula to confidently ask for anything—from securing a meeting to inspiring a million-dollar gift. What EXACTLY do you say? And, how do you use these asks to set intentions and plan next steps?

Get laser-focused on crafting and delivering asks that get results. You’ve built the relationship—now, it’s time to make the ask with clarity and confidence. Sing, laugh, and master the art of asking with Marcy!

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Thank You to our National Philanthropy Day sponsors:

$2,500

-- OMC Regional Foundation

$1,000 - $2,499:

-- Mayo Clinic

-- Sterling State Bank

$500 - $999:

-- Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation

-- Eagle Rock Bank

-- F&M Community Bank

-- Rochester Area Foundation

-- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

-- The Hormel Institute

-- United Way of Southeast Minnesota

Up to $499:

-- Alerus

-- Vicki Allen Consulting

-- Brian Hale

-- Laurie & Craig Kellagher

-- Kristin Mannix

-- Mark & Gwenn Neville

-- Maggie Schoepski - Edward Jones

-- Stacey Vanden Heuvel

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Do you require an accomodation?

Please email us at: [email protected]

Our goal is to make the National Philanthropy Day event as accessible as possible for everyone who wishes to attend!

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Discounted Hotel Rooms Are Available: Call or Go On-line

If you would like a hotel room for the evening before this event (November 11th), you can receive a discounted hotel room: King bed for $74 or two Queen beds for $79. Discounted rooms must be booked before October 31.

The block name is: National Philanthropy Day

Link: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.24148.html?groupId=M98JL3H3

To call for a reservation, the phone number is: 507-289-8866 ext 1.

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About the presenter:

Marcy Heim, CEO of The Artful Asker, lives to inspire generosity and transformation! A bold risk-taker with deep expertise, she equips fundraisers to achieve success—not just in fundraising, but in life. On stages across North America and beyond, Marcy delivers high-energy, empowering messages packed with tangible tools to set bold intentions and achieve major giving success.

A Certified Speaking Professional, AFP Master Teacher, CFRE, and Professional Life Coach (PLCC - UW Madison), Marcy is a CASE Crystal Apple recipient and AFP’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional. Her book, Empowering Your Board to Serve as Effective Development Ambassadors, is a must-have resource for nonprofit leaders.

For over 20 years, she led the major gifts team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison through three successful campaigns, including the $1.8 billion Create the Future campaign. Now, for more than a decade, she has helped organizations transform their major giving results with her Relationship Action Plans and her signature 3-sentence Ask formula.

Her talks—infused with humor, wisdom, and original fundraising songs—will leave you inspired, singing, and ready to SHINE ON!

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About the AFP Southern Minnesota Chapter:

The AFP Southern Minnesota Chapter is affiliated with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global. The mission of AFP Global is to empower individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy.

The Southern Minnesota Chapter was established in 2003 and has been providing local nonprofit organizations with the training necessary to enhance philanthropy throughout our Southern Minnesota community.

Host or Publisher AFP MN, Southern Minnesota Chapter