Your Southern Impact Session Notes, All in One Place
You couldn't be everywhere at once, but now you can catch up on everything. Below, you will find our team's notes from every session at 2026 Southern Impact: Georgia Fundraising Professionals Conference. Notes organized by title in the same order as the Conference Program & Guide.
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Opening Keynote - Cherian Koshy (author of Neurogiving)
USA Today Bestselling Author Cherian Koshy is a leading expert on the neuroscience of generosity and the author of “Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making”.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), he helps mission-driven organizations harness behavioral science, neuroscience, and ethical AI to inspire authentic giving.
Breakout Session #1
The Lean Machine: Optimizing Small-Shop Fundraising for Growth
Speaker: Susannah Darrow, CEO, Purpose Possible
Key Topics: Small-Shop Friendly, Systems, Revenue Generation
The Comeback Circle: Using Intimate Gatherings to Reclaim and Reignite Donor Giving
Speaker: Shelly Lindsey Fundraising Advisor
Key Topics: Major Gifts, Donor Relations, Revenue Generation
Powerful Stories, Protected People: The Ethical Client Testimonial Playbook
Speakers: Erin Goodier, Founder, Goodier Creative and Andrea Hipwell, Senior Director of Adult Services, Wellspring Living
Key Topics: Marketing & Comms, Storytelling, Ethics
Presence with Purpose: Leveraging How You Show Up to Elevate Fundraising Impact
Speaker: Dr. Rosaria Meek LLC, Founder, Leadership Presence, and executive coach
Key Topics: Personal and Professional Development
AI @ EOY: How to use generative AI to raise more money this calendar year end.
Speaker: Tara Petersen, DonorPerfect
Key Topics: Technology, Revenue Generation
Roll for Revenue: The Audit & Fundraising Adventure (990 Edition)
Speakers: Elizabeth Scott, GALEO, Development Director and Mindy Kaplan, President, MinKap, LLC
Key Topics: Grant Writing, Donor Prospecting, Executives, Major Gifts
Breakout Session #2
Quality Data – the Bedrock of Donor Stewardship
Speaker: Cheryl Hardt, Development Operations Manager, Georgia Conservancy
Key Topics: Data, Donor Relations, Stewardship
Fundraising and the ADHD Brain: Soul Affirming Practices for Executive Function
Speaker: Alisha Johnson Perry, CFRE, SAAFON, Director of Development
Key Topics: Personal and Professional Development
Using Ethical Fundraising Principles to Grow Your Leadership Skills
Speaker: Kate McNeely, Director of Development, Southern Center for Human Rights
Key Topics: Ethics, Executives, Leadership Principles
Confessions of a Federal Grant Reviewer: What the Scoring Rubric Won't Tell You
Speaker: Shavonn Richardson, Founder, Think and Ink Grants
Key Topics: Grant writing
Know Your Numbers: The 5-Step Framework to Build, Grow, and Sustain Monthly Giving
Speaker: Dana Snyder, Founder, Positive Equation
Key Topics: Revenue Generation, Annual Giving
Breakout Session #3
From Plans to Progress: How Nonprofit Teams Execute Priorities with Limited Capacity
Speaker: Stacye Brim/Founder & Principal Consultant/STB Consulting
Key Topics: Small Shop Friendly, Capacity Building
Mindset Shift: You’re not selling anything
Speaker: Emily Carter, VP of Development, Goodwill of North Georgia
Key Topics: Personal and Professional Development; Storytelling; Donor Relations
Unblocked: Breaking Down Giving Barriers— Starting in the Boardroom
Speaker: Christal M. Cherry, Principal & CEO, The Board Pro
Key Topics: Board Relations, Executives, Major Gifts
Manage Your Portfolio Like an Investor
Speaker: Matt Garland, VP of Product Innovation, Atticus Technology
Key Topics: Major Gifts, Revenue Generation, Technology
Are you ready to build a major gift program?
Speaker: Elizabeth Goldberg; VP of Strategic Fundraising; Alloy Fundraising
Key Topics: Major Gifts, Donor Relations, Revenue Generation
Fundraising in Flux: Fundamental Truths and Fresh Strategies for Today’s Campaigns
Speaker: Deborah Ryan, Senior Managing Director, Changing Our World
Key Topics: Capital Campaign, Major Gifts
