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(Opening) Telling Your Story: Thinking about Funding Perspectives
Thursday May 29, 2025 10:55am - 12:00pm CDT
Nicollet Ballroom
Video Stream


Since the announcement of federal funding eliminations for the NEA, NEH, and IMLS in early 2025, the funding landscape for arts and cultural heritage has been shifting dramatically. This session brings together leaders from conservation, philanthropy, and fundraising to discuss how to adapt to this new reality, effectively communicate the impact of preservation work to donors, and use storytelling as a powerful tool for advocacy and funding.

Panelists will share stories, experiences, and practical strategies for matching donor’s interests to your mission and goals, collaborating with development teams, and framing conservation work as essential, not optional. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on how to elevate their stories to attract donor support in the face of funding cuts and uncertainty.
Speakers
avatar for Danielle Amato-Milligan

Danielle Amato-Milligan

President, Foundation for Advancement in Conservation
Danielle Amato-Milligan is a non-profit advisor and philanthropic strategist/solutions expert with over twenty five years of experience in nonprofit management, strategic organizational development and change management, and fundraising.  She has worked with a cross-section of prominent... Read More →
avatar for Jim Coddington

Jim Coddington

Board Member, Joan Mitchell Foundation
James L. Coddington served as The Agnes Gund Chief Conservator at The Museum of Modern Art from 2002 to 2016. Mr. Coddington joined the Museum as Associate Conservator in 1987, rising to become Senior Conservator, and then Chief Conservator in 1996.In 2013, Mr. Coddington completed... Read More →
avatar for Suzanne Davis

Suzanne Davis

Curator and Head of Conservation, University of Michigan, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Suzanne Davis is a senior associate curator and head of the Conservation Department at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She oversees preservation of the museum’s 100,000+ artifacts and historic building and directs conservation programs... Read More →
avatar for Susan A. Mathisen

Susan A. Mathisen

President, SAM Fundraising Solutions
For over forty years, Susan has worked as an art conservator in both the United States and Europe and as a fundraiser for museums, universities and other historical agencies. Her fundraising background includes extensive experience writing proposals and administering grants and gifts... Read More →
avatar for Debra Hess Norris

Debra Hess Norris

Professor of Photograph Conservation, Unidel- Henry Francis DuPont Chair of Fine Arts, Winterthur/University of Delaware, Department of Art Conservation
Debra Hess Norris, Chair, Department of Art Conservation and Professor of Photograph Conservation at the University of Delaware. She has authored more than 45 articles/ book chapters on the care of photographic materials and taught/secured support for 165+ preservation workshops and... Read More →
Thursday May 29, 2025 10:55am - 12:00pm CDT
Nicollet Ballroom Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
  General Session, Opening General Session

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