From Vision to Action: Building a Development Plan You Can Actually Use in 2026

Join us at Champions Run in Omaha on Tuesday, January 20

This program will help prepare nonprofit leaders, staff, and board members to create an effective development plan that balances ambition with organizational capacity. The first half explores the theory behind strong development planning—why it matters, how it reflects organizational values, and how research shows that the most successful plans are both aspirational and achievable. Participants will examine how development encompasses more than financial goals: it must also account for staffing, volunteer engagement, board integration, and the internal structures that support fundraising success. The discussion will highlight what makes the Midwest–Mountain West region unique, including its distinct community networks, cross-sector collaboration, and the role of relationships in driving sustainable results.

The second half of the program is highly practical. Participants will use a guided template to begin building the core structure of their own development plan in real time. By the end of the workshop, each attendee will have a customized draft framework ready for refinement and implementation.

You will walk away with:

Theoretical Understanding

• How development plans serve as organizational roadmaps—not just fundraising calendars
• Why effective plans must be aspirational but realistic given staffing, time, and capacity
• The relationship between development, volunteer management, and board engagement
• How regional dynamics shape donor expectations, relationship-building, and planning rhythms

Practical Deliverables (Built in Real Time)

• A personalized development plan framework tailored to their organization
• Clarified annual goals across fundraising, staffing, volunteer management, and board involvement
• A segmented portfolio of giving strategies aligned with capacity
• A preliminary month-by-month or quarter-by-quarter activity structure
• A 90-day action plan to jumpstart the year with clarity and confidence
• A simple, replicable system for evaluating progress and adjusting strategy throughout the year

This program is designed to be both energizing and actionable—attendees will leave not only inspired, but equipped with the tools to launch a successful new year.

About Our Speaker

Eric Heininger, CFRE is a fundraising strategist and philanthropic leadership scholar with deep experience across the Midwest and Mountain West region, where nonprofits rely on strong relationships, adaptable strategies, and community-driven leadership to fuel their missions. As President of EDEN+ Fundraising Consulting, Eric has supported organizations of all sizes in building sustainable fundraising systems, strengthening development operations, and creating practical plans that work in communities with diverse geographies and capacities.

He founded the Des Moines Fundraising Institute, a cohort-based professional development program designed to expand the skills and confidence of emerging and mid-career fundraisers. Eric is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, where his work focuses on professional development, nonprofit capacity-building, and the systems that enable long-term organizational effectiveness.

Eric blends academic insight with hands-on consulting experience to help nonprofit leaders develop clear, actionable strategies that reflect the realities of the region—where collaboration, resourcefulness, and mission alignment are essential for success.

Register Today!

REGISTER ONLINE - or contact Chapter Administrator Joe Pittman at [email protected] or 402-397-0280.

NOTE: Full participation in “From Vision to Action: Building a Development Plan You Can Actually Use in 2026” is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.