The philanthropic landscape is undergoing rapid change. The release of Giving USA 2025 provides fresh insights into donor behavior and giving trends — but this year, it arrives against the backdrop of significant policy shifts and growing economic uncertainty that are reshaping how nonprofits must approach fundraising.

In this timely session, The Curtis Group will unpack the key findings from Giving USA 2025 alongside other relevant data and trends from across the sector. They will combine these insights with real-world strategies for sustaining fundraising efforts in unpredictable times.

Join us for a practical and forward-looking conversation, where we will discuss:

• The most important takeaways from Giving USA 2025
• Approaches to deepen donor trust and commitment
• Ways to diversify funding sources for greater stability

Whether your organization is navigating new challenges or simply planning ahead, this session will equip you with tools, data, and strategies to fund your mission with confidence.

Speaker bios:

Abby Webster

Vice President

The Curtis Group

As vice president with The Curtis Group, Abby has worked with a wide array of organizations across different sectors and geographic regions, successfully leading campaign planning studies, campaign management and fundraising capacity building efforts. In addition to her work with her clients, Abby has conducted trainings to support the broader nonprofit community through a variety of organizations, including the Virginia Fund Raising Institute, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Virginia Gift Planning Council and many AFP chapters.

Abby currently serves on the board for the AFP Central Virginia Chapter as a member of the program committee and is a past board member of AFP Hampton Roads Chapter. She is co-chair of the Virginia Fund Raising Institute and an active member of the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives.

Rachel Kimble

Consultant

The Curtis Group

The chance to bring about meaningful change and create more equitable communities is why Rachel Kimble is excited about her work in philanthropy. As a consultant with The Curtis Group, Rachel partners with a diverse group of nonprofit clients, helping them formulate long-term strategy, set realistic objectives and ultimately achieve their goals.  

She brings experience from both higher education and independent school arenas. As a former associate consultant at Marts&Lundy, Rachel has worked alongside dozens of organizations, overseeing assessments and studies as they aim to build strong donor relationships and strengthen their fundraising programs. Rachel currently serves as co-chair of the Giving USA Editorial Review Board, which provides oversight to the editor and authors of the Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy.

VAFRE Members can pay the member rate here.

Registration and networking will be from 8:30 - 9:00 am.

The program will be from 9:00 - 10:00 am.