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 to meet your Pod Leader and catch one of these departing shuttles to the Welcome Party.

Shuttle Departure Schedule 
Ace Hotel Brooklyn to Dumbo House (55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201)

• • Departure: 5:15pm 
• • Departure: 5:35pm
• • Departure: 6:00pm  
• • Departure: 6:30pm 
• • Departure: 7:00pm
• • Departure: 7:30pm (last shuttle!)

Tuesday departures from Ace to Industry City are:

• 8:30AM
• 8:45AM
• 9:00AM

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.

What does AI mean for the future of generosity? In this conversation with the Principal Writer of the OpenAI Nonprofit Commission’s final report, we’ll unpack the findings from a three-month listening tour with hundreds of nonprofit leaders, technologists, and civic voices.

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 Josephson, Head of Growth & Innovation at charity: water

Panelists: Courtney Johnson, Creative Director at Droga5 & Founder of MoNA™; Scott Rising, Social Media @ LinkedIn and National Board Member at American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Rasheeda Childress, Senior Editor, 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.

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 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), 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

Panelists: Mahin Samadani, SVP Experience AI Growth, Publicis; Maya Samadani, former Sr Director People & Culture at International Rescue Committee (IRC) 

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; Jessica Bernat, Director, Digital & Sustainer Marketing, Canadian Red Cross

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 UNICEF USA and President at Impact Fund for Children & UNICEF Bridge Fund; Cathryn McAleavey, Principal, Nonprofit Advisory, BDO

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.

Wednesday departures from Ace to Industry are:

• 9:00AM
• 9:10AM
• 9:20AM

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, Charity Navigator

Attention is scarce and loyalty is earned moment by moment, and “experience” has become the ultimate differentiator. This session brings together a luxury brand experience leader and two nonprofit CMOs to explore how designing for delight, trust, and emotional resonance can transform casual supporters into lifelong advocates.

From the world of high-end hospitality to mission-driven fundraising, our panelists will unpack the shared principles behind memorable experiences - personalization, anticipation, and authenticity - and how they translate into measurable outcomes: higher engagement, stronger retention, and greater lifetime value.

Moderated by: Neen James, Luxury Customer Experience Expert
 

Panelists: Francesco (FDF) De Flaviis, CMO, The National MS Society; Kevin Wong, Senior Vice President of Marketing, The Trevor Project

Presented by: Tobes Kelly, Fundraise Up and Nirmal Kaur, Head of Sales, Google

Catch up on emails, network with guests, or schedule 1:1 time with the Fundraise Up team or Partner for personalized Power Hour coaching session. 

Younger generations expect giving to feel as seamless as shopping online. This session explores how consumer payment behaviors are reshaping giving and why modernizing the donation experience isn't just about technology. Using insights from payment trends and generational research, we'll discuss what nonprofits need to know about digital wallets, recurring giving, and mobile-first experiences as they prepare for the greatest wealth transfer in history.

Presented by: Salvatore Salpietro, Fundraise Up; Yana Gutierrez, Head of Platforms, Stripe

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 

Panelists: Rebecca Moeller, VP, External and Movement Communications
Girl Scouts of the USA; Lucy Casey, Product Innovation Lead, Supply Division, UNICEF

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.