Philanthropy center’s nonprofit fundraising seminar to feature donors’ perspectives

  School of Business  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – La Sierra University’s Center for Philanthropy will hold a free seminar on Tues., May 2 designed to give nonprofit fundraisers an inside look at the expectations of donors.

The Center for Philanthropy at the Zapara School of Business will host a nonprofit fundraising seminar on May 2.
The Center for Philanthropy at the Zapara School of Business will host a nonprofit fundraising seminar on May 2.
Dr. Jim Erickson is director of La Sierra University's Center for Philanthropy and a professional fundraiser for universities and nonprofits. (Photo: Natan Vigna)
Dr. Jim Erickson is director of La Sierra University's Center for Philanthropy and a professional fundraiser for universities and nonprofits. (Photo: Natan Vigna)

The seminar, titled “The Cultivation of Major Donors by Nonprofits,” will be held at the Troesh Conference Center in the Zapara School of Business. It is intended for nonprofit corporate executives, development officers, academic deans and other professionals whose work involves fundraising. The event will include a panel discussion by individuals who have donated millions to local institutions and who will provide their perspectives on expectations donors have of nonprofits and their staffs. Jim Erickson, director of the business school’s philanthropy center and organizer of the event will also present advice on donor cultivation derived from his 55-year career in university fundraising.

Donor panelists will include Riverside attorney Terry Bridges, a supporter of the arts and education; business leader Amy Harrison who has supported education and disadvantaged children; Tom Haider, spine surgeon and patent scientist who has aided disadvantaged children requiring spine surgery and who has assisted medical causes, including the University of California, Riverside medical school; and Mark and Pam Rubin, real estate developers who have supported higher education causes and who have developed major areas of Riverside.

“We wanted to provide a service for our nonprofit community which would offer them the enlightened perspective of major donors who will address how they wish to be treated by the charities they support,” Erickson said.

The seminar will be held from 3 – 5 p.m. Admission is free and materials on donor cultivation will be provided.

The seminar is sponsored by the Center for Philanthropy, the Inland Empire chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Milton Murray Foundation which honors the memory of the late La Sierra University alumnus who served as a pioneer in American fundraising.  

For further information, please call Jim Erickson at 951-786-8866. Limited seating is available. To RSVP, please email erickson@lasierra.edu.

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