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Conference Speaker Spotlight: Meet Kelley Likes, MBA, CFRE, CAWA

October 5, 2024, The Association

The VP of Philanthropy at Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region shares a sneak preview of what she’ll be sharing during her session at The Annual Conference in November. And P.S., if you’re still on the fence about joining us in New Orleans, be sure to read the last question.

The Association: We can’t wait to see you in New Orleans—also known as the birthplace of jazz. In keeping with that theme, what are you most jazzed about these days?
Kelley Likes: I am most jazzed about seeing organizations work together to solve current and upcoming challenges within animal welfare. Our team at HSPPR has been really innovative, working hard to maintain a low length of stay, find solutions for one of our communities experiencing animal overpopulation, and grow our fundraising capabilities. 

The Association: What are you most jazzed about for our time together?
Kelley Likes: I’m so jazzed to spend time with others in the field, learn about creative ways they’ve overcome challenges, and hear new, inspiring ideas.

The Association: We are looking forward to your session, How to Raise More Money than You Ever Dreamed Possible, in which attendees will walk away with proven strategies, techniques, and tools for their organization. Can you share an example of one of these techniques? 
Kelley Likes: Absolutely! At HSPPR, we’re so proud of our major gift program, which grows every year. One of the things we’ve found to be really successful is using the major gift program to increase giving at signature events by having conversations with our donors in advance. We have some truly amazing people who support us and are willing to ask their friends to match their generous donations. We also use our board post-event to make phone calls the day after our gala to thank any donor who made a gift of $1,000 or more. In this session, you’ll learn additional ways we’ve grown major gifts and been intentional about our donor stewardship.

The Association: What can attendees prepare or think about before your session?
Kelley Likes: I would invite attendees to think about their current development team structure. Does it include an emphasis on major gifts? Is your CEO involved in asks for transformational donations? 

The Association: What would you say to persuade someone who’s on the fence about why they should attend?
Kelley Likes: Attending the conference over the past six years has allowed me to develop genuine connections with others in the field. I now have people I can reach out to, bounce ideas off of, get support from, and gain new knowledge. The educational component feels like a bonus to the incredible networking! 

About The Association
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is a cohort of leaders on a mission to champion, advance, and unify the animal welfare profession.

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