The Houston Chapter of the American Marketing Association Hosts Seminar on Non-Profit Fundraisers

Business Wire, March 25, 2005

HOUSTON -- At a breakfast meeting on March 29th, a panel of non-profit professionals will offer tips and advice on fundraising events, entitled "Strategies and Planning for Successful Fundraisers." The program is one of a continuing series on issues facing non-profits, held by the Houston chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Nonprofits regularly create events to raise awareness and money for their organization. The most successful events are those that reinforce the brand value of the organization while facilitating a social gathering of all the organizations stakeholders: individual donors, corporate partners, foundation representatives and key VIP's/influencers. Key issues include: How do you create a single/first successful event and build it into an annual part of your organization's activities? How do you keep people involved year after year? What contingency planning should you do?

Panelists include: Jackson Hicks, Founder and CEO of Jackson and Company, a full service special events presenter. He has created memorable events for the White House, Fortune 500 corporate events, high society parties, and fundraisers for the most prestigious nonprofit organizations in Houston including: Houston Grand Opera, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston Ballet, and The Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Carrie Eickenroht, JD, a Senior Consultant with The Dini Partners, a full service consulting practice for nonprofit organizations mostly located in the Sunbelt. Carrie has a proven track record of successfully coordinating multimillion-dollar fundraising events and most recently Carrie has managed the annual Houston fundraiser for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Sara Haynes has dedicated over 17 years assisting community-based organizations. She is the Administrative Director for The Center for AIDS in Houston where she is responsible for all fundraising and day-to-day administration.

Moderator: Rodi Franco, Immediate Past President/VP of Communications for AMA Houston and Marketing Director/Operations for Houston Grand Opera.

The breakfast meeting is open to the public. The Corinthian is at 202 Fannin Street, Houston. Cost for the luncheon and program is $45 for non-members with reservations and $25 for members with reservations; $55 for non-members without reservations, $35 for members without reservations. Reservations can be made online at www.amahouston.org. For more information, contact David Chambers at dchamber@houstongrandopera.org or 713-980-8673.

The Houston chapter of the American Marketing Association has over 600 members and is Houston's largest and oldest professional services organization.