Day of Education

Thursday, June 5, 2025 at Daemen University
Excitement is building for this year’s Day of Education—an event designed to inspire, educate, and connect like never before! Mark your calendar and get ready to learn from top industry leaders in the philanthropic world. You won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity!

Full participation in the Day of Education is applicable for 4.5 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

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AFP WNY Day of Education Schedule

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Registration, Networking, and Vendor Exhibition - Social Room

9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Sponsor Presentations - Social Room

9:35 - 11:35 a.m. Facilitated Education Tracks

- - Transforming Your Vision: Building a Winning Fundraising Roadmap - Alumni Lounge with Ben Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE

- - Doing Less and Raising More - Social Room with Anna Schlia, M.Ed.

- - Seeds for the Future: Growing Your Legacy Giving Program - RIC 101 with Lisa M. Chmiola, M.S., CFRE, CSPG

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch /Vendor Exhibition - Social Room

12:30 - 12:50 p.m. Sponsor Presentation and Activities

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Facilitated Education Tracks

- - Transforming Your Vision: Building a Winning Fundraising Roadmap - Alumni Lounge with Ben Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE

- - Doing Less and Raising More - Social Room with Anna Schlia, M.Ed.

- - Seeds for the Future: Growing Your Legacy Giving Program - RIC 101 with Lisa M. Chmiola, M.S., CFRE, CSPG

2:40 - 3:30 p.m. Semi-Structured Networking/Discussion Activities - Social Room

3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Networking Reception - Social Room

Our Tracks:

Ben Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE

"Transforming Your Vision: Build a Winning Fundraising Roadmap"

Presented by Ben Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE

Transforming Your Vision: Build a Winning Fundraising Roadmap

Unlock your organization's full potential for philanthropy by joining this hands-on experience. Together we’ll assess your organization's current state, identify effective strategies, and align your fundraising goals with actionable plans. We'll use industry trends and practical tools to help guide the journey from strategic vision to a realistic roadmap.

Ben Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE is the chief executive of GivingThree. Prior to this he served in key advancement roles for Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Eastern Kentucky University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and The University of Texas at Austin. Mohler has served previously on the ACFRE Credentialing Board and chair of the AFP/Wiley Publishing Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the AHP Journal Advisory Council, Apra International Conference Planning Committee, and the boards of both AFP Global and United Way of Kentucky.

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"Seeds for the Future: Growing Your Legacy Giving Program"

Presented by Lisa M. Chmiola sponsored by WNY Planned Giving Consortium

Long-term sustainability is critical to any nonprofit’s success, and one way to build this is through a gift planning program. In this track, you’ll go beyond the basic concepts of legacy and non-cash asset giving and develop a plan for your organization to implement and execute strategies for success. Attendees will learn:

• Essential policies and procedures needed for a gift planning program, including gift acceptance, gift documentation, and metrics to measure.
• How to develop prospect pools for legacy and non-cash asset giving.
• How to have conversations with donors on these types of gifts.
• Essential elements of a gift planning stewardship program, including a Legacy Society for your organization.
• How to build a marketing plan to communicate these giving opportunities to donors, utilizing existing methods within your organization and exploring additional targeted methods to incorporate.

Lisa M. Chmiola, M.S., CFRE, CSPG has 23 years’ experience in philanthropic development. Currently the Assistant Vice President of Development for Loyola University New Orleans, she has served in major gifts and gift planning roles in education (public and private) and religious institutions, following initial career experience in event-based philanthropy. An AFP Certified Facilitator since 2014 and TEDx speaker, Lisa has presented at five AFP International Conferences, and a variety of AFP and other industry association regional conferences, chapter meetings, and webinars. Lisa is an active volunteer, serving as Vice Chair of External Relations on the AFP Global Board, as a past National Association of Charitable Gift Planners board member (and past president of the Houston chapter), as a Junior League sustainer, and is a graduate of Leadership Houston. Additionally, she has co-authored several pieces for AFP’s Advancing Philanthropy magazine.

Lisa M. Chmiola, M.S., CFRE, CSPG

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Anna Schlia, Founder and Lead Consultant

at Brightside Philanthropy

h"Doing Less and Raising More"

Presented by Anna Schlia

In an era where more is often equated with better, this workshop challenges fundraisers and nonprofit leaders to rethink complexity and embrace strategic subtraction. Drawing from behavioral science, innovation research, and practical applications in the nonprofit sector, this session equips attendees with the tools to streamline their efforts, reduce inefficiencies, and achieve greater impact with fewer resources. By the end of this session, participants will:

Understand the psychological and organizational barriers to simplification, such as complexity bias and choice overload theory.
Learn to critically evaluate current fundraising strategies and identify low-value activities.
Develop actionable strategies to prioritize high-impact initiatives and streamline donor engagement.

Anna Schlia is a Ph.D. student at the University of Rochester studying Philanthropy and Education. Through her work as a consultant, frontline fundraiser, and researcher of donor behavior, Anna brings an understanding of the intricacies of nonprofit institutions and the individuals who support them. She is a recognized presenter in the fundraising arena on topics related to donor motivation, fundraising ethics, and research-based stewardship practices. Anna holds a Masters of Education in Institutional Advancement from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and has a B.A. from Loyola University New Orleans. She lives in Rochester, NY with her family and volunteers with the Alliance for the Great Lakes.