Reaching More Donors Without Losing What Matters
Date: May 21, 2026
Time: 2:00pm ET/11:00am PT
High-touch fundraising has always been the gold standard. The strongest major and planned gifts are built on trust, time, and deeply personal relationships.
But there’s a problem.
Most advancement teams don’t have the time or capacity to deliver that level of engagement beyond a small group of top-tier donors. As a result, thousands of supporters with real potential remain untouched—not because they lack interest, but because the model doesn’t scale.
At the same time, donor behavior is changing. Today’s supporters are more independent, more digitally fluent, and more likely to engage on their own terms. They don’t want to be managed. They want to be understood.
In this conversation, we’ll explore how organizations can scale high-touch philanthropy without sacrificing what makes it effective.
You’ll hear:
- Why the traditional portfolio model is breaking down
- What truly drives donor readiness (and why it’s not activity metrics)
- How to create meaningful engagement before a one-to-one conversation ever happens
- A real-world case study from Grove City College on blending high-touch relationships with inbound, donor-driven engagement
If you’re trying to deepen relationships, increase gift size, and focus your limited time where it matters most, this session will give you a practical new way to think about major and planned giving.
Register today!
About the Presenters
Brad Smith
Founder
Rootstock Philanthropy and the Philanthropy Network
In 2020, Brad Smith founded Rootstock Philanthropy, a fundraising and strategic advisory firm, delivering practical, world-class fundraising advice to nonprofit clients. While not managing Rootstock, Brad manages the Philanthropy Network on LinkedIn, a 130,000-member LinkedIn Group dedicated to advancing the field of philanthropy. Brad lives just outside of Portland, Maine (US) with his wife Peg, daughters Elle (16) and Evie (15) and his Labradoodle, Jazzie.
Brian Powell
Senior Director of Development
Grove City College
Brian Powell is Senior Director of Development at Grove City College, where he leads fundraising efforts and partners closely with donors to advance the college’s mission. A Grove City alumnus, he has built his career in higher education advancement, including roles at Carnegie Mellon University. He was recently named the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Professional of the Year, recognizing his leadership, innovation, and impact in the field. He has also been a MarketSmart customer since 2014.
Jeff Giannotto
Director of Sales
MarketSmart
Jeff Giannotto began his career at MarketSmart in 2013 and has since partnered with hundreds of nonprofit organizations and consultants, helping them leverage marketing and technology to modernize donor engagement and drive stronger fundraising performance. As Director of Sales, Jeff brings more than a decade of hands-on experience at the intersection of fundraising, data, and innovation. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Emma.