Thank YOU! #Bridge14: Another Successful Conference

The 9th Annual Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference was a resounding success! The conference, which took place July 9-11, was sold-out by noon on the first day – and #Bridge14 produced over 3,000 tweets (up from 2,000 in 2013). Beyond the numbers, the conference went off without a hitch and was full of insightful speeches, cutting-edge presentations, and valuable networking opportunities.

Check out the buzz we are seeing online:

• Bridge Conference: Sold Out Conference and Three Standing Ovations
• Connected Cause: Recap of Bridge Conference #Bridge14 Tweets
• Fundraising Success: Bridge Conference: Your Mission or Your Overhead Ratio
• IMAB: 8 Tips on Integrated Fundraising from the 2014 Bridge Conference
• Production Solutions: Make an Impact: 5 Key Themes from Bridge 2014 

First and foremost, I want to thank my wonderful co-chair, Nadine Gabai-Botero of Focus Fundraising, for sharing this incredible experience with me and for working tirelessly to put together a phenomenal line-up of keynote speakers and an overall fantastic conference. Nadine and I are especially grateful for the 100+ volunteers, staff, and sponsors who dedicated their time and resources, working day in and day out to execute this successful and cohesive event.

Photo: (from left) Allison Porter, Donna Tschiffely, Steve Nardizzi, and Nadine Gabai-Botero.

Second, I want to acknowledge our incredible keynote speakers. Steve Nardizzi, executive director at Wounded Warrior Project, kicked off the conference with a poignant and powerful speech against charity watchdogs. Steve is leading the charge to “answer questions about ethics and ratios head on by explaining your strategy to donors and clarify why these ratings do not show the whole picture.” Dr. Janet Lapp, honored by Toastmasters International as a top speaker worldwide, urged each of us, as individuals, to discover our drive and pursue it energetically. And, Craig Kielburger, our closing speaker and co-founder of Free the Children, spoke eloquently about “minga,” or coming together for the collective good. Craig delivered the important message that one person can make a huge impact, sharing what Mother Teresa once said to him: “we cannot do great things… we can do small things with great love.” I could not have asked for a more inspiring line-up.

Third, I want to express appreciation to my Avalon colleagues and clients for their Bridge participation. In addition to my role as co-chair, Jackie Biancolli served as a member of the Bridge Conference marketing committee, and Jamie Natelson served as a member of the DMAW MAXI Awards committee, which hosted its annual event on the eve of the conference. During the conference, not only did Avalon send a delegation of attendees, but several of our vice-presidents and clients were also active presenters. If you missed us, you can watch Avalon’s presentations here: