This Strategic Dialogue Session creates space for staff and leaders to engage in open, thoughtful conversation about several sensitive and mission‑shaping issues that affiliates navigate in their work. Because these topics require time and reflection, they are divided across two sessions. In this first discussion, participants will explore approaches to sweat equity, charging interest, expressions of faith and prayer, and strengthening board impact. The session is open to all attendees and is especially valuable for those involved in policy, program design, or organizational decision‑making. Attendance at Session #2 is encouraged but not required.
Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity
LaJuan (LJ) Gordon is the Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity, serving Gregg, Harrison, and Upshur counties, headquartered in Longview, TX. She has twenty-five years of experience in the non-profit industry, including executive leadership, consulting... Read More →
Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm CDT Heritage 3
Most Habitat affiliates have a website, a Facebook page, and a $10,000-per-month Google Ad Grant sitting mostly unspent. What they don’t have is a comprehensive digital strategy that connects them.
In this session, Leslie Cole, Director of Account Strategy at Community Boost, spends 20 minutes on the digital playbook that’s working across human services organizations nationally: story-first creative, sequenced campaign moments, recurring giving timed to the first gift, and full use of the free media you already qualify for.
Then Leslie sits down for a 30-minute fireside chat with Domonique Hollins, CMO of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, on what it looked like to build a coordinated program from the ground up: taking a test-and-learn approach to North Texas Giving Day that shaped a stronger Season of Giving, anchoring the year with a 40th anniversary campaign, driving ReStore traffic and awareness of their homeownership program, and reaching full Ad Grant utilization for the first time. Domonique will also share lessons with affiliates just starting their digital marketing journey.
The session closes with 20 minutes of open Q&A. You’ll leave with a practical starting sequence you can run regardless of staff size or budget.
In a philanthropic landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, political tension, and shifting donor expectations, securing major gifts requires clarity, adaptability, and strong relationship‑building. This panel brings together seasoned fundraising leaders for a candid conversation about how donors are thinking right now, what concerns they are expressing, and how those dynamics influence giving behavior. Panelists will explore whether donors are becoming more cautious or more bold, how political climates shape philanthropic conversations, and what it takes to build trust in an environment where needs feel urgent and resources feel constrained.
The discussion will also highlight practical strategies for deepening relationships, opening doors to major donors, and leveraging peer‑to‑peer introductions and board networks. Panelists will share creative approaches to cultivating trust before making the ask, as well as insights on how messaging, tone, and framing have evolved over the past five years.
The session concludes with an audience Q&A and a rapid‑fire lightning round where panelists offer actionable takeaways: what fundraisers should stop doing, what they should start doing, and what consistently works with major donors regardless of the climate. Participants will leave with clear, real‑world guidance they can apply immediately to strengthen their major gift strategies in uncertain times.
This Strategic Dialogue Session invites participants to explore what it means for affiliates to build meaningful, year‑round community presence beyond new construction. Because every community experiences Habitat differently, this conversation creates space to reflect on how affiliates are currently known, where the strongest points of connection already exist, and which unmet needs align with Habitat’s mission outside of homebuilding.
Participants will examine opportunities to expand their mission footprint, strengthen housing stability and neighborhood health through non‑construction work, and build partnerships that increase visibility and trust. The session also considers how to ensure this work is equitable and accessible across diverse communities, and what statewide supports could help affiliates grow their community presence sustainably. Through shared insights and practical discussion, attendees will help shape a clearer vision of what trusted, community‑rooted impact can look like across Texas.
Learn the basics of Canva and discover how to create professional-looking graphics with ease. This beginner-friendly session will cover Canva's key tools, template customization, branding basics, and design tips for social media, flyers, presentations, and more.
