Programming Schedule

We’re kicking off the Donor Experience Summit in true New York style. Join us on the rooftop terrace of Soho House overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge for cocktails, substantial bites and incredible views. This is your first chance to meet with fellow DXS attendees, soak in the skyline, and set the tone for an inspiring week ahead. Once you’ve checked in at the Ace Hotel, head to the lobby for (5:30 PM) shuttle to the Welcome Party.

Don't miss Chris Anderson, Curator of TED and author of Infectious Generosity, deliver his keynote, which will explores how small acts of giving can spark massive waves of change. Through powerful stories and fresh insights, Chris will share how generosity - whether in the form of time, ideas, skills, or resources - can spread person to person, community to community, and, with the help of technology, across the globe. Discover how celebrating and amplifying generosity at your Organization and among your community will create a cultural shift where helping others becomes not just admirable, but irresistible.

Today’s donors are discovering causes the same way they discover products and stories: through search, social algorithms, video feeds - and increasingly, AI assistants. Many nonprofit leaders recognize AI’s importance but remain unclear on where to begin, how to prioritize, and which types of AI are most relevant. In this opening session, we’ll level-set the conversation by breaking down the differences between automation, predictive AI, and generative AI - and explore how each maps to your donor experience. We’ll spotlight how AI is transforming donor discovery, campaign optimization, and media activation, and why the foundation for all of it starts with the quality and readiness of your data. Our panel of experts, reflecting on their time with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Google, and Publicis, will share what they've worked on, what’s coming next, and where human input must remain in the process.

Moderated by: Svetlana Filipson, Innovation Initiative Director, Adirondack Community Foundation

Donor discovery has fundamentally changed. In this forward-looking panel, we’ll explore how the next generation of storytelling is being shaped by algorithms, creators, and AI - and what that means for how nonprofits build trust and donor engagement.

Moderated by: Brady Johnson, VP Marketing & Growth at Charity Water

Panelists: Courtney Johnson, Award-Winning Creative Director at Droga5 & Founder of MoNA™, Scott Rising, Social Media @ LinkedIn | Public Policy & Advocacy at American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Rasheeda Childress, Senior Editor, at Chronicle of Philanthropy

Catch up on emails or join networking pods over lunch. You can also visit the Fundraise Up office, tour Industry City, or take a quiet moment for yourself.

Too often, nonprofit finance is framed around restraint - cost-cutting, overhead scrutiny, and doing more with less. But the most ambitious missions require capital strategies that fuel growth, innovation, and long-term impact. This all-women panel gathers forward-thinking CFOs and financial innovators to explore bold new approaches to capital allocation in the nonprofit sector. From impact investing to unrestricted giving and inventive financing models, we’ll look at how nonprofits can build financial approaches that unlock scale and mission delivery - not restrict it.

Moderated by: Anna Daher, CFO Fundraise Up 

Panelists: Ilana Esterrich, CFO at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Cristina Shapiro, Chief Strategy Officer and President at Impact Fund for Children & UNICEF Bridge Fund

We’ll explore the science behind why people give, why they hesitate, and what nonprofits can do to design for "yes". From the psychology of reciprocity and knowing how to "cancel" to the role of timing, emotion, and friction, this session will reveal how small changes in experience can lead to major gains in generosity. Whether you're optimizing your own donation form or rethinking your entire stewardship program, this session will make the science of generosity practical and actionable to enable better donor journey design.

Moderated by: Ajay Chidrawar, Chief Customer Officer, Fundraise Up

Panelists: Clare Purvis, Behavioral Scientist, Founder of WELL, Michael Hallsworth, Chief Behavioral Scientist at The Behavioral Insights Team

This evening we'll break into cohort groups and explore Brooklyn’s best restaurants for dinner. Connect with like-minded peers, catch up on the day's sessions and look forward to Day 2 programing.

Drawing on fresh insights from Charity Navigator, this session explores how supporters truly evaluate nonprofits and what drives their confidence—or skepticism. From transparency and impact clarity to digital, financial, and emotional touchpoints, learn why donor experience is the most powerful lever for building trust. 

Presenter: Michael Thatcher, President and CEO at Charity Navigator

Loyalty isn’t luck. It’s built through intentional rituals that create lasting bonds. Hear CXOs share how they turn first-time customers into lifelong advocates with mission-aligned rewards, impact anniversaries, and consistent emotional engagement. Learn how nonprofits can design similar retention rituals to move beyond transactions and build enduring donor loyalty.

Moderated by: Neen James, Luxury Customer Experience Expert

Younger generations are already transforming philanthropy. This session uses behavioral data and nonprofit case studies to explore what motivates Gen Z and Millennials and how generational experience and culture shapes the why and how people give. What strategies nonprofits need to adopt for the generational wealth transfer ahead? Expect a dynamic debate challenging assumptions about loyalty, advocacy, and acquisition. Yana Gutierrez, Head of Customer Success, Platforms at Stripe

Presented by: Yana Gutierrez, Head of Customer Success, Platforms at Stripe

Catch up on emails, network with guests, or schedule 1:1 time with the Fundraise Up team or Partner for personalized support during office hours. 

Brand partnerships aren’t just marketing - they’re cultural moments that fuel reach and attract donors. This session dives into how collaborations like UNICEF and Paddington Bear redefine audience engagement across generations and deliver fantastic fundraising outcomes. Learn how to use partnerships strategically to deepen connection, expand visibility, and create shared cultural impact.
 

Presented by: Jamie Muller, VP of Partnerships at Fundraise Up 

Collating and reflecting on learnings from two days of programming, an inspiring and exciting take on how the cycle of behavioral strategy, insights, design, and impact evaluation will help us build programs and services that change behavior for the long term.

Close out DXS in style at our rooftop sunset celebration at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Enjoy skyline views, curated cocktails, and one last chance to connect with fellow nonprofit leaders as we toast to everything we’ve learned - and everything ahead.