A practical workshop on grant strategies, readiness, and relationships
Cost: $110 for individuals | $125 (up to 4 people)
Register below
National funders play a growing role in Minnesota philanthropy, and successful approaches require thoughtful preparation, research, and relationship strategy. In this interactive workshop, we will break down national grantmaking trends, organizational readiness, and actionable next steps for pursuing national funding. You will receive curated profiles of mega and national funders, corporate foundations, and family foundations, along with practical guidance on how to evaluate opportunities, prioritize outreach, and approach relationship-building at a national level.
Key Takeaways
- A clear view of current trends in national grantmaking
- A readiness checklist for national funding, including how to vet national foundations and plan next steps
- A practical framework for approaching mega and national funders, including how to engage
- Corporate foundation strategy and stewardship best practices
- Family foundation strategy and stewardship best practices
Agenda Highlights
- Trends in National Grant Making
- Fundamentals of National Grant Seeking: Becoming funder-ready, vetting national foundations, how-to and next steps
- Mega and National Funders: What defines a mega-funder, how they differ, and best approaches, plus funder profiles
- Corporate Foundations: Overview, stewardship best practices, and profiles
- Family Foundations and Others: Overview, stewardship best practices, and profiles
- Audience Q&A
Workshop Takeaways
- A video recording of the workshop
- A workshop book with 100+ national funder profiles, including giving priorities and history, contact info, and application instructions
- Q&A responses compiled after the session
- Two-week trial access to Access Philanthropy’s database
Who Should Attend
- Development Directors and Grant Professionals
- Executive Directors and program leaders involved in fundraising
- Teams ready to expand beyond local and regional funding sources
Presenters:
Steve Paprocki
Access Philanthropy President Emeritus
Steve (he/him) has spent his entire professional career in philanthropy – as a foundation director, fundraiser, trainer, donor consultant, author, researcher, and lobbyist. He knows his stuff. He draws on his diverse experience and extensive network to help nonprofits meet the right people, at the right time, and meet their goals.
Kirsten Gulbro
Access Philanthropy Advisor
Kirsten has 20 years of fundraising experience, raising more than $100 million for Minnesota’s nonprofit community. Her expertise includes grant writing, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, special events, nonprofit communications, and prospect research.
Tam Ho
Access Philanthropy Advisor
Tam has 20+ years of experience leading social impact, strategic philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. She brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to building high-impact partnerships through grantmaking, fundraising, employee engagement, cause marketing, and storytelling.
Jessica Aleshire
Program Officer, Boston Scientific
Jessica oversees foundation strategy and philanthropic investments that advance healthcare access, innovation, and community impact. She works closely with nonprofit partners to identify high-impact opportunities, evaluate grant proposals, and steward funding to ensure measurable outcomes. Jessica brings a strategic, mission-driven approach to philanthropy and is passionate about helping organizations understand how to effectively engage with corporate foundations and align their work with funder priorities.
Charlene Bradley
Director, St. Paul, Knight Foundation
Charlene Bradley is a seasoned executive specializing in organizational development, change management, and transformational leadership. A St. Paul native, she brings 20+ years of leadership experience at Target Corporation and Thomson Reuters, optimizing operations and advancing strategy. She supports foundation investments through her work with Knight Foundation, aligning stakeholders and driving customer-focused growth.
Kris Wilson
General Counsel & PRI Pipeline Director, Venn Foundation
Kris brings legal expertise, cross-sector leadership, and mission-aligned investing to Venn Foundation. Formerly counsel to Massachusetts’ largest private operating foundation, he oversaw governance and launched its first PRI initiative. A Saint Louis University School of Law graduate, Kris enjoys collaborating with teams and helping mission-driven organizations use strategy and catalytic capital to create real-world impact.
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Questions? Contact us at [email protected]