The Art and Science of Donor Development - Sydney, Australia

Discover the art and science of building donor relationships that last—at The Art and Science of Donor Development.

Great fundraising is both a craft and a discipline. At this workshop, you’ll explore the research behind what motivates donors and develop the practical skills to put that research to work: closing more gifts, deepening donor trust, and spending more time doing the work that meaningfully advances donor relationships.

Grounded in decades of adult learning research and real-world application, this experience moves between concept and practice throughout, so you leave with tools you can put to work straight away.

You'll take a fresh look at your donor portfolio, sharpen your ability to identify high-potential supporters, and develop a clear process for moving relationships forward. You'll also explore how exceptional stewardship can strengthen donor confidence and inspire long-term commitment to your organisation's mission.

What You Will Learn

1. Manage Your Portfolio With Intention Apply a practical rhythm for reviewing, prioritising, and advancing your portfolio—quarterly, monthly, and weekly—so your energy goes to the donors most ready to move.
2. Qualify Donors With Confidence Develop the skills to read donor signals, secure meetings with hard-to-reach prospects, and make sound decisions about portfolio health.
3. Lead Donor Conversations That Move Relationships Forward Master the full arc of a donor meeting, from crafting a compelling organisational update to locating philanthropic passions and agreeing upon next steps.
4. Know When and How to Invite a Gift Use a structured readiness framework to assess donor and organisation preparedness before making an ask, and avoid the self-sabotaging habits that undermine even the best-prepared solicitations.
5. Steward Beyond Expectations Move beyond transactional stewardship to build the kind of donor relationships that inspire renewed and increased investment.

What You Will Get

• Comprehensive participant workbook
• ASDD Toolkit with QR code access to all resources
• Donor Commitment Continuum
• Portfolio Management Rhythm framework
• Donor Readiness and Organisational Preparedness Scorecards
• Personality Profile Tools
• Process for Locating Philanthropic Passion™
• Donor Development Chart
• Peer connections
• Practical exercises using your own donors and portfolio
• Donor stories and real-world fundraising examples
• Group activities, table discussions, and breakout sessions
• Time for reflection and action planning

This workshop is being held in partnership with Macquarie University.

**If you would like to register but need to pay later please reach out to AR-Publics@hcg.com.

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