Nurturing the Gift of New Donors

In a world turned upside down by COVID-19, new donors are stepping up to help our valued nonprofits address challenges within our community. Missoula Gives saw an outpouring of support this year; the community raised almost double the funds from 2019 despite 30 fewer organizations participating. 53% of these donors identified as new donors to an organization. Statistics would tell us that we risk losing four out of every five of these new donors. Join us to learn about best practices for donor retention and hear from a diverse panel of Missoula development professionals on what works to keep new givers connected with your organization. Bring your best ideas and join your Missoula Gives and Missoula Nonprofit Center colleagues for a lively panel Q&A and open discussion about these important stewardship practices.  

Panelists:

• Dorcie Kafka Dvarishkis - Former Executive Director, Foundation for Community Health
• Ramey Kodadek - Annual Campaign Director, Five Valleys Land Trust
• Bill Mathews - Chief Development Officer, Montana Food Bank Network
• Katie Moore - CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County
• Moderated by Marcy Allen - Executive Director, Missoula Community Foundation

 **All attendees who RSVP will be entered into a special raffle! Winners will be announced at the end of the workshop.** 

Panelist Bios:

Dorcie Kafka Dvarishkis is a joyful and seasoned donor and development professional. Her work with donors in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and beyond has spanned more than 35 years, including 17 years with The University of Montana Foundation and 12 years with Community Medical Center Foundation/Foundation for Community Health. Dorcie is also an ordained social justice ministries Deacon and long-time church school teacher in the Episcopal Diocese of Montana. 

Ramey Kodadek is the Annual Campaign Director for Five Valleys Land Trust. She brings 16 years of development experience to the organization and oversees the year-round fundraising efforts of Five Valleys. Ramey grew up in the Bitterroot Valley where the importance of having access to open space was something her parents instilled in her at a young age. Ramey has BA in Journalism from the University of Montana. She, her husband Jesse, sons Evan and Olin and dog Luna, love getting outside to enjoy all the fun activities western Montana's open spaces offer year-round. 

Bill Mathews is the Chief Development Officer who works for the Montana Food Bank Network based in Missoula Montana. Bill believes that his development team is always working in the direction of creating more opportunities to raise more funds to impact the lives of those in need across the state of Montana. He is one of six senior staff for the organization and oversees development team job positions that include- Grant writer, Major donors, Volunteer coordinator, Marketing/Events coordinator and Donor Database Coordinator. After spending over 13 years recently in the non-profit world, Bill knows that relationships are key with individual donors, corporations, foundations and businesses to move an organization forward spurring growth in many areas. Bill has spent his career in Sales, Marketing, Development & Business owner.

Katie Moore joined the Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County as the Chief Executive Officer in July 2018 after relocating to Missoula in June from a six-year stint New Orleans. Prior to entering the nonprofit sector, Katie worked in education for six years, beginning her career as a ninth-grade teacher. Fueled by a vision for a more equitable and inclusive city, Katie joined the New Orleans school district, working to recruit and retain teachers, oversee a $1.3 million grant for students with exceptionalities, and strengthen early childhood education opportunities across the city. Most recently, Katie served as the school district’s first Director of Secondary Pathways, where she worked to build career pathway programs and work-based learning opportunities for high school students in the region’s high-wage, high-demand industry clusters. Katie is an alumnus of Teach For America-Greater New Orleans, holds a Master of Public Administration, and graduated cum laude from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

When she’s not working, Katie spends most of her time running, since she is currently training for a 100-mile race. She also engages in many DIY renovation projects on her new home, attempts to ski over the winter, and finds any excuse to get out in the mountains with her dog. Despite having grown up in New York City, Katie claims that she has never felt more at home than when she first sat on the deck of her new home looking out at the mountains in the crisp (not humid!) Missoula fall air.

 Marcy Allen is a connector, a strategist, a community builder, and a believer in people and place. Her secret superpower in connecting the dots between people, ideas, and systems. For the last 18 years, Marcy has built organizations from the ground up and helped others with the resources to the same. She has a deep understanding of community issues, resources, and people. She believes we all rise together. She oversees day-to-day operations of Missoula Community Foundation and is responsible for translating broad board objectives into specific plans to achieve immediate goals.  Marcy embraces change, and believes real organizational shifts comes from a place of understanding. Marcy loves to ski, bike, and run with her family in Missoula, the magical place she likes to call the perfect town.