1:00-2:00 PM Eastern
Far too often the ask is the focal point of the relationship with a donor. The strategy, the prep, the nerves give it an undeniable weight. Drawing on her career as a Team USA quarterback, working musician, and actor, Sami Grisafe (Head of Relationships, Instil) breaks down why nerves take hold before high-stakes conversations, and the specific mental shift that quiets them. This session gives major gifts teams a trainable model for reading a room under pressure, a technique for handling meetings that go off-script, and a new way to think about what it means to walk in prepared.
Sponsored by:
PLEASE NOTE: BY REGISTERING FOR THIS WEBINAR YOU AGREE TO HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, INCLUDING E-MAIL ADDRESS, SHARED WITH INSTIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF FOLLOWING UP ON YOUR INTERESTS.
Presenter:
Sami Grisafe, Head of Relationships, Instil
Sami Grisafe has spent her career learning how to perform when the stakes are high. As Head of Relationships at Instil, she leads sales for an AI-powered fundraising technology company helping nonprofits build stronger donor relationships. Before entering fundraising technology, Sami became the first woman to quarterback a California Division I varsity football game, captained Team USA, won three world championships, and built a career as an award-winning musician and actor. She has spoken at SXSW and CUSP at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, will speak at AFP LEAD 2026, and is the subject of the award-winning documentary Open Field. Drawing on experience across elite sports, live performance, and donor-facing work, Sami helps development professionals strengthen the presence, judgment, and adaptability required in the moments that matter most.