From Vision to Action: Creating a Marketing Calendar with Intention
Successful fundraising campaigns don’t happen by accident—or at the last minute. This professional development session will explore how organizations can create intentional fundraising and communications calendars that connect long-term goals with practical day-to-day execution. Participants will learn how to start with an 18-month view of campaigns, events, appeals, stewardship, and organizational priorities, then break those goals into manageable monthly action plans and detailed timelines using backward-planning strategies.
The session will focus on helping fundraising and communications professionals better anticipate workload, improve donor communications, coordinate campaigns more effectively, and avoid the stress of constantly reacting instead of planning ahead. From annual appeals and events to stewardship touchpoints, attendees will leave with practical tools to create clearer workflows, stronger campaigns, and more consistent donor engagement.
Be sure to join us for this in person professional development opportunity at the Stark County Campus of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank!
PANELISTS
Tiffany Leeper, Director of Development
Wayne Center for the Arts
Tiffany Leeper brings extensive experience in nonprofit development, fundraising strategy, marketing, and community engagement. She has worked with the Wayne Center for the Arts since 2022 and currently serves as Director of Development, leading fundraising, sponsorships, grants, donor relations, and capital campaign efforts for the growing regional arts organization. Her work focuses on strengthening organizational sustainability through strategic communications, relationship-building, and mission-driven fundraising initiatives that expand arts access and community impact.
Her broader nonprofit experience includes work with organizations such as United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Alaska Conservation Foundation, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, North Union Farmers Market, and Wooster Local Foods Cooperative, giving her a diverse background in nonprofit operations, community partnerships, donor engagement, and public outreach. In addition, Tiffany sits on various community boards and assists with projects for Sustainable Economies consulting firm on occasion.
She holds a Master of Public Administration with specializations in Nonprofit Management and Environmental Management from Bowling Green State University.
John Brkic, Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Volunteers of America
John Brkic is the Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships for the National Office of Volunteers of America, Inc.
Based in Akron, Ohio, he is an operations and management professional with broad experience in marketing, development, and corporate partnerships across mission-driven organizations. John has held leadership roles in nonprofits and youth-serving organizations, including the Director of Field Services with the Boy Scouts of America’s Great Trail Council, where he managed field operations, volunteer engagement, and program delivery across multiple Ohio counties.
Currently, John works in corporate sponsorship and partnership development, helping connect companies with high-impact programs and events that align with their values. His work emphasizes building sustainable revenue streams, creating strong stakeholder relationships, and designing campaigns that elevate both brand and community outcomes.
Deeply committed to service and leadership development, John has been an active Rotarian in Akron, Boardman, and Ashtabula, Ohio; and is a long-time volunteer advisor with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, where he supports undergraduate leaders and chapter operations. He is a two-time graduate of Youngstown State University holding a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Counseling. Additionally, he has completed regional leadership programs such as Leadership Lake County (2015) and Leadership Mahoning Valley (2018), as well as being recognized as a “25 Under 35” honoree by the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals (2020).
In addition to his nonprofit work, John is also a freelance photographer and enjoys hiking, reading, and relaxing with sitcoms and reality tv.
Bethany Sava, Senior Associate Director Of Annual Giving
Kent State University
Bethany Sava currently serves in the role of senior associate director of Communications and Annual Giving. In this role, she collaborates with other Annual Giving team members to develop and implement strategic engagement and solicitation plans focused on the acquisition and retention of alumni, donors and prospective donors at the annual giving level. Bethany also serves as a project manager. In this role, she functions as a liaison with colleges and divisions throughout the university to advise and assist with alumni and donor communications. She began working for Kent State University in August 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Magazine Journalism from Kent State.