2026 DC Regional

May 5, 2026 | George Washington University

Sesion 1 | Session 2 | Session 3 | Session 4

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8:30 - 9:00 AM | Arrivals & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM | Welcome Remarks

9:15 - 10:15 AM | Session 1: Stop Serving, Start Shaping: The Advancement Services Identity Shift
Kate Nimety & Caroline Chang

Advancement Services professionals are often the most data-rich, operationally fluent people in any fundraising organization, and yet too often, the field is defined by what it supports rather than what it shapes. In this kick-off discussion, we'll challenge that narrative head-on. Through facilitated conversation, peer exchange, and honest reflection, we'll explore what it really means to move from service provider to strategic partner, and what that shift looks like at every level of the organization. Whether you're an individual contributor, a team lead, or a senior leader, you'll leave this session with a clearer sense of your own strategic identity and at least one concrete action you can take immediately to start changing the way Advancement Services is seen and heard in your organization.

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

  1. Distinguish between service provider and strategic partner behaviors in the context of Advancement Services, and identify where their own team currently falls on that spectrum.
  2. Articulate at least one specific action they can take at their level within the organization to reposition themselves or their team as a strategic contributor to fundraising outcomes.
  3. Apply peer-generated strategies and insights from the group discussion to their own organizational context, building a personal commitment to advancing the identity shift within their shop.

10:15 - 10:30 AM | Break

10:30 - 11:30 AM | Session 2: Organizational Culture - Elevating Performance
Shomari White & George Washington University Team

This discussion focuses on building an optimal organizational culture by fostering psychological safety and applying practical tools to improve communication, project design, and performance management.

By the end of this discussion, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the key elements of an optimal organizational culture and the role of psychological safety
  • Identify strategies to build and sustain psychological safety within teams
  • Apply DISC and the Six Types of Working Genius frameworks to enhance communication and collaboration
  • Use these tools to support effective project design and improve individual and team performance

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Lunch

12:30 - 1:30 PM | Session 3: Fund Management: Ensuring your organization is maximizing its resources
Shomari White & George Washington University Team

This discussion examines the importance of effective donor fund management, explores common barriers to success, and presents practical strategies to ensure transparent, accountable, and sustainable financial stewardship.

By the end of this discussion, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the role of effective donor fund management in achieving organizational goals and long-term financial sustainability
  • Identify root causes and key barriers to efficient fund management, including systemic, operational, and governance-related challenges
  • Understand best practices that promote transparency and accountability in donor fund management
  • Apply practical strategies to strengthen fund management processes and improve donor confidence

1:30 - 1:45 PM | Break

1:45 - 2:45 PM | Session 4: Doing Less, Better: How Project Management and Resource Allocation Drive Operational Excellence
Mark Walcott

Organizations rarely struggle because of a lack of ideas. More often, they struggle because too much work competes for limited time, capacity, and specialized expertise. This session explores how project management and resource allocation work together to drive operational excellence. Participants will learn how clear governance, disciplined prioritization, and realistic capacity planning improve execution, reduce overload, and keep teams focused on the work that matters most.

By the end of this discussion, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain how project management and resource allocation work together to drive operational excellence.
  2. Identify how governance, prioritization, and capacity planning improve execution and reduce organizational overload.
  3. Apply practical approaches to align work with available time, capacity, and specialized expertise.

2:45 - 3:00 PM | Closing Remarks

4:00 PM | Happy Hour | Sixty Vines