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@nextafterhq

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We help non-profit organizations turn the web into a living laboratory to understand what motivates their donors to give!

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A cold email got me on a stage in Dallas speaking to 600+ people.

A few months ago, I reached out to the @nextafterhq team with an idea. We got on a call, I told them about my journey building Cancer Kids First, pitched why I thought a young person’s perspective belonged in conversations about nonprofit development and fundraising, and somehow… they said yes.

On September 24th, I became the only young person to speak at the summit. I talked about how CKF grew by giving young people real ownership—and how nonprofits and companies can do the same through internships, ambassador programs, leadership opportunities, and simply trusting young people with more responsibility.

But my biggest takeaway was actually for other young people: Invite yourself into rooms you think you’re too young, too inexperienced, or too unqualified to be in.

I had zero connections to this summit. No one nominated me. No one invited me. I literally just found an email address and asked.

Worst case? They could’ve ignored me. Best case? An all-expenses-paid trip to Dallas and the opportunity to share something I care about with 600+ people.

NYC → Dallas → finally back to Harvard after missing an entire week of class 😭 Incredibly drained, but also grateful and privileged for these opportunities that have shown me sometimes the most random start can come from just asking.

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We recently sent Evan Strain, our Marketing Manager, to a fundraising conference in Texas …

And all he did was:

👉🏻Attend the NIO Summit

👉🏼Ride a mechanical bull at Billy Bob’s

👉🏾Compete in Fundraising Jeopardy

👉🏼Connect with some very smart fundraising people

👉🏻Eat the required amount of Texas brisket

And brought home THIS ONE IDEA we think every nonprofit should be thinking about:

What if your next donor isn’t a new donor?

We spend a lot of energy trying to find new people who will care about our mission.

New audiences. New leads. New donors.

And yes, finding new donors matters.

But one of Evan’s biggest takeaways from the Nonprofit Innovation & Optimization Summit was a reminder that there may be beautiful opportunity much closer to home:

The people who already chose to give.

Are we caring for them well?
Are we continuing the relationship after the donation?
Are we reaching out to donors who haven’t given in a while, not simply to ask again, but to reconnect them with the work they once cared enough about to support?

Because fundraising isn’t only about acquisition. You know what we say here at Kaci:

Fundraising is about relationship.

And sometimes growth starts not by finding more people, but by taking better care of the people already with us.

Thanks to the NextAfter Institute for a great few days of learning, conversations and a little Texas-sized fun.

And Evan? We hope you’re already studying for next year’s Fundraising Jeopardy.

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Absolutely amazing time at NextAfter’s NIO Summit 2026 last week.

Thanks again to Jeff Giddens, Paul Clowe, Benjamin Smithee, and the rest of the @nextafterhq crew 🎉

Great to catch up with old friends and colleagues… and meet some new ones too 😁

If I missed you in Fort Worth, shoot me a DM and we can connect 📲 @jmkvictory

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Remember the classic Blue Öyster Cult jam “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” ??

The one guy behind the glass who’s convinced it’s still missing something. Not the guitar. Not the vocals. But....the COWBELL!!! 🔔🔔🔔

That’s the energy the we are bringing to NextAfter’s NIO Summit 2026’s SNL-themed week. JMK Victory and Dominion Strategy Group teaming up with American Data and Lighthouse Results in full studio-session gear.

Because... “the only prescription is more cowbell.” 🔔🔔🔔

We’ll be in Fort Worth Sept 22–24, if you’re headed to NIO too, let’s find time — direct mail, ministry fundraising, or the data behind it all.

Comment “COWBELL” or send me a DM and I’ll get you on the calendar.

See you in the studio.

#NIOSummit #NIO2026 #MoreCowbell #DirectResponse #NonprofitFundraising SNL

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how to shoot portraits.

talk. laugh. be a little ridiculous. hand them your metas. make the person on the other side forget about the camera for a minute.

that’s usually when you get the photograph.

of course dial in your set up and process but the person in the chair is not thinking about your camera specs!

@leicacamerausa @raybanmeta

cc: @eddieadesodun

#leica #portraits #portraitphotography

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Hello 41! What a year of adventures, new beginnings, travels, family fun days, and God continuing to show up and amaze me. Thanks for all of the kind messages and notes. I’m grateful to be able to do life surrounded by a crazy awesome community of loved ones. @nicolesmithee you forever amaze me and I love you more each day. Here’s to the best year yet. Who’s comin’ with me?

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everyone always asks about the gear, but honestly that’s the easy part.

the real job is helping someone relax in front of the camera. if you can make people feel comfortable, you’ll get a better portrait every single time. gear gets you in the door. connection is what keeps clients coming back.

#portraitphotography

💡💡💡constant or strobes? yes. 😂

three-point lighting is where i start almost every portrait. from there it’s just adapting to the client and the look we’re after. i also love keeping all my lights in the same ecosystem so i can control everything from an app without running back and forth. it’s been @aputure.lighting @amarancreators and @sidus.link for me.

#amaranlighting #gaffing

alright, here’s the gear everyone came for.

i usually shoot portraits at 85mm or longer because i love the way it renders faces. today i’m using the @leicacamerausa @leica_camera sl2-s with the 🐐 90-280.

but perhaps the most critical piece of gear on this job are actually the @espressodisplays monitors. tethering to @lightroom lets clients see their portraits in real time, make little adjustments, and leave knowing they already love the final image. and the fact that it’s touchscreen? well, game changer.

#leica #espressodisplays

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Jessica Best is back, slam-dunking more knowledge and delivering another reminder about one of the biggest missed opportunities in nonprofit marketing: email automation.

Even the most thoughtful, story-driven nonprofits are leaving opportunity on the table.

The tools exist. The data exists. The question is, are you putting email automation to good use?

More great conversations from NIO Summit 2025, and we’re building on them at NIO 2026 in Fort Worth this September. Will you join us?

https://www.niosummit.com/

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Planning for 2026? We've rounded up the top #nonprofit conferences to attend this year, designed to help leaders gain actionable insights, strengthen networks, and drive greater impact. Read more at the link in our bio 👆

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There’s a moment in every mission where information isn’t enough. Logic hits a ceiling. Data stops moving hearts. Strategy alone can’t carry the weight.

That’s where story steps in.

A few weeks back in Kansas City at the NIO Summit, I didn’t talk about storytelling as a skill. I talked about it as a catalyst. The bridge between vision and belief. Between a cause and a movement. Between “we should” and “we must.”

I walked through a framework and gave everyone a tool to build their own story, because when you give people words, they can speak. When you give them narrative, they can lead.

The future will belong to those who can rally others toward a better world, not with noise, but with meaning.

Side note: Swipe to the last slide if you want to see me dancing with Marty McFly and Doc. Impact is serious work. Joy fuels it.

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We're having the best time at the #NIOSummit! Thank you @nextafterhq for hosting. We're proud to be a Silver Sponsor!

Are you at the #NIOSummit? Swing by Booth B16 to build the best connections! 🤝 ✨

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@nextafterhq asked. We delivered. ⚡️

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