29th Annual Building Blocks Conference: Foundation For The Future
Friday, September 20, 2024 | 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
SPEAKERS
Register Today | Credentials: 5.5 CE points
| Josh Birkholz is the CEO of BWF, the nonprofit service and technology company known for its innovations in elevating philanthropy around the world. Josh is a leader in big philanthropy and an architect of the business of fundraising. He is the author of the books Fundraising Analytics (Wiley, 2008) and Benefactors (Wiley, 2022). Josh is the Chair of the Board of the Giving USA Foundation and an instructor at the Rice University Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. |  |
| Brynne Brown is an attorney with the Kansas City office of Lewis Rice, specializing in estate planning, taxation, and business law. She provides high-level service to individuals, families, both nonprofit and for-profit entities, and corporate fiduciaries. Brynne has extensive experience drafting and administering estate plans, forming public charities and private foundations, and advising on tax matters. Brynne received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with emphases in finance and economics, from the University of Missouri – Columbia, and her Master’s degree in Business Administration, with emphases in finance and management, her Juris Doctor, and her Master’s degree in Taxation Law from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Brynne was the Chair of the 2021 Building Blocks Conference and is a current member of Mid-America Charitable Gift Planners. Brynne lives in Kansas City with her husband, Eric, their daughter, Nora, and their senior Boxer pup, Watson. |  |
| George Fernandez, a professional executive and business coach with extensive experience in non-profit review boards, well-established non-profits, and non-profit start-ups. George specializes in developing business strategies, fostering personal growth, and enhancing donor relationships. Certified in various coaching disciplines, he brings the latest trends and innovations to our work, making complex concepts accessible and engaging. His expertise supports non-profits in navigating challenges and achieving success |  |
| Alison Patterson has a 25-year track record of building trust and helping organizations and causes align their efforts with board members’ and philanthropists’ passions and goals. Alison created Patterson Advisors, a boutique advisory firm, to transform givers, businesses, nonprofit organizations and the community through philanthropic engagement. She empowers her clients’ generosity by helping them become intentional, joyful philanthropists. Alison grew up in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky and earned a psychology degree from Duke University. After pursuing a career in public service on Capitol Hill, in 1997 she landed in Kansas City and never looked back. Don’t ask about her daughter’s college plans, gardening, needlepoint, birdwatching or her latest Audible binge unless you have an hour or two to spare. |  |
| Nathan Stelter is the president of The Stelter Company, a leading source for gift planning marketing solutions for the nonprofit community. The Stelter Company, which was founded in 1962, currently partners with more than 1,200 organizations nationally with a staff of over 90 individuals. Over Nathan’s 24-year career in planned giving, he’s been fortunate to speak at over 150 national and regional industry meetings on gift planning marketing, trends and donor research. He’s been published & quoted in numerous trade publications and currently authors the popular Stelter Insights blog. Nathan is the immediate past Board Chair (2023) for the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP), a past board member of the National Capital Gift Planning Council (Washington, DC), current board member for the Giving Institute, current member of CGP’s Leadership Institute, as well as co-chair of CGP’s National Standards for Gift Planning Success (NSGPS) task force. Nathan is a two-time graduate of the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an Executive MBA. |  |
| Rosisella Blakney – Rosisella Blakney, Senior Manager of Scholarship and Grantmaking Services, is passionate about impacting young people through education. In her current role, Rosisella oversees the Community Foundation’s 300+ scholarship funds. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2016, her background in education included working as a Spanish teacher and providing direct services to students while working for LINC and Kauffman Scholars. In addition to her work with scholarship funds, Rosisella manages a team that administers competitive grants for approximately two dozen funders, which provided more than 800 grants totaling over $43 million in 2023. |  |
| Andrea Sellers – Senior Corporate Counsel Andrea Sellers works with individuals, families and their advisors on complex gifts, grants and legacy plans. With decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions and drafting highly technical legal agreements, Andrea is an expert in gifts of private business interests and other non-cash assets. Andrea and our team also carefully document donors’ intentions to ensure they are carried out appropriately by the Community Foundation after they pass. Andrea joined the Foundation in 2021. Prior to that, she was a partner at Stinson. |  |
| Nicole Stuke – Senior Philanthropic Advisor Nicole Stuke works with individuals and families who have charitable funds to support and celebrate their grantmaking. In addition, Nicole works with nonprofits to help them plan for their financial future through agency funds. Nicole has worked in the nonprofit landscape for more than 20 years and is dedicated to helping donors and organizations meet their strategic goals. Before joining the Community Foundation in 2019, Nicole worked for the American Heart Association and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. |  |
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