Education Luncheon: Fundraising With and Through Your Board
Your Board Wants to Help –
Show Them How!
Most nonprofits know their board should play a role in fundraising—but what that actually looks like can feel unclear, and sometimes even uncomfortable.
This conversation is about making it simpler and more effective.
We’ll talk about how to engage your board in a way that feels authentic—where members can open doors, share your story, and support fundraising without feeling like they’re being asked to sell. Just as important, we’ll focus on what Executive Directors should be doing to set their boards up for success—creating clarity, building confidence, and making it easy for board members to participate in meaningful ways.
We’ll also hear directly from board members and nonprofit leaders who are doing this well. They’ll share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what it really looks like to partner together to move fundraising forward.
We’ll cover:
- What fundraising really means for board members
- How to get everyone on the same page
- What Executive Directors can do to better support and guide their boards
- Ways board members can help without feeling awkward
- How to make fundraising a shared effort, not a point of tension
At the end of the day, your board already cares about your mission. This session is about helping everyone show up in ways that actually make a difference.
Our Presenters:
Lorraine Gibbons – Executive Director at Cardinal Shehan Center & McGivney Community Center
Lorraine Gibbons is the Executive Director of the Cardinal Shehan Center and McGivney Community Center in Bridgeport, CT, where she has served since 2019, expanding programs that support more than 4,500 children annually. She previously spent nearly 14 years as Director of Development at the Cardinal Shehan Center, building a strong foundation in fundraising and nonprofit leadership.
Lorraine brings a diverse professional background in finance, corporate relations, and banking, along with extensive experience working with and through boards. She currently serves as Board Chair of Amistad Academy and is actively involved with several regional organizations, including the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Barnum Festival.
A recognized community leader, Lorraine holds an MBA from the University of New Haven and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School. She is the recipient of numerous awards honoring her leadership, service, and impact across the Bridgeport community.
Beth Coyne – President and Head of School, Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall and Board Member
Elizabeth (Beth) Coyne has spent more than 30 years in education across both public and private schools and currently serves as Head of School at the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall.
She began her career in advancement as Assistant Director of the Annual Fund at the University of Rhode Island, where she built a strong foundation in fundraising that continues to inform her leadership today.
Beth has extensive experience working with and through boards, having served on multiple board committees and as President of Madison’s Scranton Memorial Library Board, where she helped lead a successful $15 million capital campaign and renovation.
At Lauralton Hall, she champions the critical role of philanthropy in advancing the school’s Mercy mission—educating young women and empowering them to realize their full potential.
Siobhán Walsh – Founder and Principal, Fluency Marketing
Siobhán Walsh’s bio is coming soon.
Register today as events sell out quickly.
Thank you to Our Sponsor:
TBD
Details
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
11:30 AM Registration and Networking
12:00-1:30 PM Lunch and Program
Location: Oakhill Mansion – Located on the grounds of St. Philip Parish, 1 Father Conlon Pl, Norwalk, CT 06851
Luncheon Fee
AFP MEMBERS – $35
FUTURE MEMBERS & GUESTS – $40
