As a Leadership Annual Giving Officer, I contacted over 1,000 donors a year through multi-touch cadences. These cadences included emails, phone calls, text messages and handwritten cards. I’ve heard remarks at times like “So you’re pestering donors?” But the reality is this consistent, intentional outreach has sparked over 100 genuine donor relationships in just the past year with remarkably few negative responses.

In this session, I’ll share real examples and data that demonstrate how persistence, when rooted in clarity and authenticity, can scale your efforts and deepen donor engagement. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to build more connections, and—just as importantly—ways to avoid burnout.

One phrase I hear often from donors? “Thank you for your professional persistence.”