Get in the Habit of Making the Ask!

Session 1: 11:00-11:55 (55 minute workshop)

As simple as it sounds, the likelihood of a person giving of his or her time is closely correlated to being asked to do so.  The likelihood of a person giving of his or her financial resources is also closely correlated to being asked.  Boost your recruitment and fundraising efforts by participating in this fun, interactive workshop that will not only share tips and strategies for “making the ask” but will give participants opportunities to practice their new skills with each other.  Not just for EDs, BODs and development managers -  everyone on your team can and should be involved in garnering necessary resources to fulfill your organization’s mission. 

Intended Workshop Audience: All Audiences

Presented by Chris Kopka, Vice President Strategic Development and Ryan Foss, Business Development Lead, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Chris Kopka describes himself as a poet by passion, a lawyer by training, and a business strategist by accident.  His formal title, though, is Vice President, Strategic Development at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Chris leads a nimble, dedicated team at Thrivent Financial that develops grassroots-based initiatives with a heavy emphasis on integrating faith, financial security and community development--outside the Lutheran community. A child of New England, Chris became a Midwestern adult, graduating from the University of Michigan in 1990 with a history degree.  He earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Chris serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota Law School and is a director on the board of FaithLife Financial in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  He is a frequent author and speaker on fundraising & development, law & ethics, the financial services industry and, increasingly, cooperative business models. 

Ryan Foss began his journey as a cook in a Brainerd area resort kitchen- which led him down a path to become a chef on the east coast with a commitment to organic food. A last-minute trip to Africa to aid a friend in need left him feeling committed to helping others and he joined Meals on Wheels as a coordinator and became a mentor for Bolder Options- the organization which eventually hired him on as a volunteer coordinator and then development director. Ryan is currently working for Thrivent Financial as a senior project lead working to develop ways for Thrivent members and partners to grow their social impact in their communities.