Donor Conversations at 500 Knots: A Chair Flying Workshop
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM ET
Speaker(s): John Maconi, Regional Director, Development, U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, Ted Ahrens, Regional Director, Development, U.S. Naval Academy Foundation
Competencies: Emotional IntelligenceRelationship Building
Experience Level: Level 2- Emerging Early CareerLevel 1- Early Career
Elective Session
Strap in and join us for a fast-paced, high-impact session where fundraising meets flight school. Drawing inspiration from the Blue Angels’ training tactic of “Chair Flying,” this interactive workshop will equip you with practical tools to improve your donor conversations through live role-play and group debriefs. Together, we’ll explore how to ask better questions, gauge capacity with curiosity, build authentic rapport, and qualify prospects more effectively. Whether you're new to frontline fundraising or looking to sharpen your edge, this session will help you chart a more confident flight path from discovery to meaningful engagement.