Mission Accepted: Conveying Your Nonprofit’s Mission to New Supporters

Rusty is the Co-founder of AnswerStage -- a Boston-based provider of automated video collection and production services. AnswerStage is the most recent in a series of successful technology businesses that Rusty has helped start and grow including Delphi Internet, Prospero Technologies, and KnowledgeVision. Rusty's passion is helping companies and organizations engage with their constituents and leverage the cost-efficiencies of user-generated content. With the rapid growth of video for marketing and education, AnswerStage works with clients to automatically collect, brand, and produce videos to promote events, serve as testimonials and showcase expertise.

Lori is the Founder and CEO of Ignited Fundraising. The sweet spot of her work is to help organizations put a face on their impact by sharing powerful mission moment stories. Lori delights in helping nonprofit staff & board members create fundraising solutions that exceed their fundraising goals. Public speaking & training remain a passion she eagerly embraces as more organizations are seeking to bring clear, bold messaging, team-building skills, and culture change to strengthen their foundation.

Brianne Gerzevske is the Account Director at Meyer Partners. With over a decade of fundraising, donor relations and nonprofit management experience in the faith-based sector, Bri now works as a consultant at Meyer Partners to help organizations find success, joy and fun in their direct response programs. Bri is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and currently sits on the board for the St. Louis Chapter. She graduated with her MA in Nonprofit Management from Webster University in 2017 with high honors, and is a member of Delta Mu Delta (International Honor Society of Business). She has been a Certified Fundraising Executive since 2018. When she is not working or learning all the things, Bri is painting, blogging and hosting the "Lutheran Ladies Lounge" podcast on KFUO Radio.

In addition to being a Pirate for Good, Nick is the co-founder of GoodUnited. Raising $1b+ for nonprofits, GoodUnited is the first conversational messaging solution that powers two-way communication between nonprofits and supporters in the supporter's preferred channels, social networks. Nick was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar for his work with GoodUnited. Nick started GoodUnited after co-founding Stop Soldier Suicide, a 501c3, in 2011 and growing it to be one of the largest and leading veteran service organizations in the country. Nick was named UNC Chapel Hill's Distinguished Young Alumnis for his work with Stop Soldier Suicide. Nick started Stop Soldier Suicide after his experience deploying 27 months to Afghanistan as an Airborne-Ranger qualified Army Captain where was awarded among others two bronze stars and the Army commendation medal for valor.