Donor Relations Workshop Announced for Island Nonprprofits
/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2025
Beyond the Paddle Raise: Donor Relations Expert Lynne Wester Provides Free Workshop to Help Island Nonprofits Build Lasting Donor Trust and Grow Their Pipeline of Supporters
Sanibel, FL — The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) is proud to announce a special donor stewardship workshop led by nationally recognized expert Lynne Wester, Founder and Principal of Donor Relations Group (DRG). The workshop will take place on Monday, September 8th, from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Sanibel Community House is graciously donating the venue free of charge. Lunch will be provided thanks to generous donors.
Lynne Wester is generously providing this training in-kind, donating her time and expertise because of her deep passion for the islands. Following Hurricane Ian, Lynne was among the first to assist CFI with disaster fundraising and donor communication strategies. Her return highlights her ongoing commitment to empowering Sanibel and Captiva’s nonprofit community.
When crisis strikes, generosity follows. But in a post-emergency environment—where nonprofits rely heavily on events and paddle raises, key donors may be relocating, and staff turnover threatens continuity—the real challenge begins after the gift is made.
This interactive session tackles what often gets overlooked: consistent, strategic stewardship and a strong focus on the donor experience. Without systems in place to thank and report back to donors—especially in high-stakes moments like disaster response or urgent appeals—organizations risk losing their most valuable supporters, and trust in the sector erodes quickly.
“The resilience of Sanibel and Captiva’s nonprofit community continues to inspire me,” said Lynne Wester. “I’m honored to return and share tools that help organizations build meaningful donor trust and sustainable stewardship.”
Together, participants will explore:
· How to build simple, sustainable stewardship habits even with limited staff
· What to report, when, and how — so donors feel and know the impact of their gift
· How thoughtful follow-up today can feed tomorrow’s donor pipeline
· Real-world examples of stewardship wins from across the nonprofit sector
Whether you're facing limited time and resources, scrambling for the next gala, or just trying to keep up—this session will leave you with actionable tools and renewed confidence to grow long-term donor relationships.
“We’re so grateful to Lynne for sharing her expertise in this generous, in-kind capacity,” said Dolly Farrell, Executive Director of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. “Her guidance after the storm made a lasting impact, and we’re fortunate to have her back to support our nonprofit community.”
Space is limited — please RSVP to reserve your spot.
Additionally, a special Q&A session with Lynne Wester, exclusively for CFI partners, will be announced in next month’s newsletter.
For more information or to RSVP, contact:
Savannah Kelly
Charitable Foundation of the Islands
skelly@sancapcfi.org ‘
About Charitable Foundation of the Islands: (MyCFI.org) The mission of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) is to inspire philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration for the vitality of the Island community. CFI has served the Sanibel and Captiva communities since the 1990s through the Francis Bailey Society and was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2011.
