Developing Annual Sustainability
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 8:30 AM - Thursday, October 22, 2026 5:00 PM (EDT)
Description
Join KNN for Developing Annual Sustainability, an interactive three-day fundraising training led by experts from The Fund Raising School at the nationally recognized Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
This training helps you build a reliable base of donor support and strengthen the systems needed to sustain fundraising success over time. You'll learn how to develop an effective annual fundraising strategy, engage donors more meaningfully, and implement practical tools to grow and retain donor support. The training includes newly updated content on digital engagement, donor psychology, AI tools, and ethical fundraising, with a strong focus on hands-on planning and practical strategy development.
Through expert instruction, practical exercises, and hands-on planning, you'll leave with actionable tools and strategies you can immediately apply within your organization!
This training will help you:
- Build a dependable base of annual donor support
- Create a strategic and actionable fundraising plan
- Strengthen donor relationships to increase retention and giving
- Develop a compelling case for support
- Engage board members, staff, and volunteers in fundraising success
- Evaluate fundraising strategies for effectiveness and sustainability
- Use annual fundraising as part of a comprehensive development program
You'll learn how to:
- Determine which strategies to use and when to use them
- Manage your time effectively
- Make a convincing case for support
- Create gift range charts for planning
- Get volunteers actively involved with your fundraising
- Use the annual fund to support a total development program
- How to put together an annual fund by using worksheets
- How to assess the cost efficiency and effectiveness of your annual fund
What You'll Receive:
- Three days of in-person training led by faculty from The Fund Raising School
- An easy-to-use, comprehensive study guide to use for future reference
- Checklists for organizing special events
- Training exercises to use in your workplace
- Planning tools for your direct mail program
- Tips from annual fund specialists
Additional support opportunities:
To help you put learning into action and practice, registration also includes access to these special opportunities:
- Three group calls following the training
- Up to two 1:1 coaching calls with a fundraising consultant
- Goal-setting and progress support
- Access to an online communications platform to maintain connections with peers from the training for questions, resources, and more
- Free access to a one-day, facilitated Development Planning Clinic on November 5 in Lexington, KY
Together, the training and additional support opportunities are designed to help organizations move from learning to implementation and build stronger, more sustainable fundraising programs.
Three-Day Training Details - Developing Annual Sustainability:
- Training Dates:
- Tuesday, October 20: 9:00am-5:00pm ET (8:30am check in and breakfast)
- Wednesday, October 21: 8:30am-5pm ET
- Thursday, October 22: 8:30am-5pm ET
- Continental breakfast and lunch are provided to participants all three days of the training.
- Location: Berea Gallery & Event Center, Berea, KY
Reduced Registration Fee:
- Generous support from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund allows KNN to offer this program to KNN members at a significantly reduced fee of $599 (the regular price for the three-day training alone is $1,495). For this deeply reduced fee, participants receive registration for the 3-day training (including meals) and the additional support opportunities outlined above, including a one-day Development Plan Clinic, individual coaching, and three group calls.
Program Components:
- Onsite training (October 20-22 in Berea): The interactive three-day training is led by experts from The Fund Raising School from the nationally recognized Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy.
- One-day, facilitated Development Planning Clinic: Participants gain free access to this clinic on November 5 in Lexington, KY.
- Goal setting & progress check-ins: To support your success in implementing what you learn, and to help KNN understand program impact, all participating organizations commit to completing brief goal‑setting and progress check‑ins (via online forms) between October 2026 and mid-2027. This information is used for program learning, improvement, and required funder reporting.
- 1:1 coaching check‑ins: Two complimentary coaching sessions are available for each organization prior to mid-2027 to support goal progress, troubleshoot challenges, and refine action steps. Additional coaching time may be purchased by your organization, if desired. This is a valuable, included benefit of the program - we highly encourage you to take advantage of this built-in coaching support.
- Group calls: Three group calls are available to help you deepen learning and implementation following the onsite training.
- Online engagement: Access to an online community platform for peer conversation, resource sharing, questions, and ongoing connection with your colleagues from the onsite training.
Registration Details:
- We encourage organizations to register multiple team members to engage in a unified fundraising approach and strengthen internal collaboration.
- No cancellations or refunds are available. If you are no longer able to attend after registering, you may transfer your registration to a colleague at your organization.
- Note: This program is limited to 40 participants - register now to reserve your spot!
- Your organization must have an active KNN membership to participate.
- The three-day training, Developing Annual Sustainability, qualifies for 20.5 CFRE Education Points/Hours and fulfills education point requirements for the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Training Provider:
Program Funder:
Sponsor:
KNN Member Exclusive: $599
Not yet a KNN member? Join now and participate!
633 Chestnut St.
Berea, KY 40403 United States
Fundraising/Development