Join us for a presentation for nonprofits and area fundraising organizations on how to move people from interest to investment...
Chamber September Luncheon “Getting to YES: A Review of the Current Philanthropy Landscape” Wed., Sept. 25 | 11:30-1:00 The Forester Hotel
With Special Guest
Donald Cooke
Vice President, The Alford Group
The post-pandemic world is full of challenges for the nonprofit sector and intense competition for resources. As we enter into the last quarter of the year, a particularly important time to inspire and generate support, we have invited an expert in the field of philanthropy to cover the topic for all of us.
Starting with an overview of where support is coming from and where it’s being directed, our guest speaker will share giving trends, best practices, strategies, and examples of how to build relationships, plan solicitations, and move people from interest to investment. There will also be time for questions. All are welcome -- please invite friends and colleagues!
The event includes a buffet luncheon and admission is $40 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members. RSVPs are required by Thursday, Sept. 19.
Before joining Alford Group in 2022, Donald A. Cooke served as Senior Vice President for Philanthropy of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation for seventeen years, overseeing more than 10,000 grants and over $1 billion in granted funds. His responsibilities included providing strategy, oversight and leadership to all of the Foundation’s grant-making programs in democracy and civics, communities, education, violence and justice reform, veterans and special initiatives. He has worked extensively on national issues of returning veterans and Chicago’s gun violence epidemic.
Prior to Alford Group, Don also worked at the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, serving as director of the Fels Planetarium, vice president for external affairs, and acting museum director. He subsequently led fundraising and marketing at the Philadelphia Orchestra and at Chicago’s Field Museum in Chicago. During 25 years in fundraising, he raised over $1 billion, including managing six capital campaigns.
He is an author and frequent lecturer and has served on several nonprofit boards, including the USO Board of Governors (and Chairman of the Midwest region), Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Chairman of Forefront and Illinois Joining Forces. He has been honored by Forefront and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2023, Don received the United States Army Commanders Award for Public Service for his decade of work with military families and veterans’ mental health. He was educated in astrophysics at Williams College and Harvard University