BLMG At major nonprofit Conferences

Steven Gaffney’s EDS 2025 keynote focuses on a practical system for resolving conflict by improving honest communication. He explains that the biggest breakdowns in teams and relationships usually come from what people do not say, not what they do say, and he teaches attendees to separate facts they can “notice” from assumptions they “imagine.” Through interactive exercises and real workplace examples, he shows how silence creates negative narratives, why confirmation bias fuels misunderstandings, and how checking in early, asking better questions, and over-communicating can build trust, reduce drama, and strengthen leadership decisions.

Ron Carr’s EDN 2025 keynote introduces the “Velocity Mindset,” which he defines as speed with the right direction, not just constant motion. Using his personal story of overcoming a speech impediment and turning setbacks into momentum, he challenges leaders to become outcome-driven instead of task-driven, identify the “gaps” holding them back, and use the conference to close those gaps. He then applies the model to fundraising and leadership, teaching that no one wants to be sold to, but everyone can be influenced when you lead with empathy and better questions. Through live role-play, he shows how to lower resistance, build trust, and raise engagement by shifting from small talk and pitches to questions that uncover what people truly want. He also explains how perceived value increases when you clarify both the cost of change and the cost of staying the same, and why stronger conversations create the emotional buy-in that ultimately drives decisions.

Shep Hyken’s EDN 2024 keynote focuses on creating exceptional donor, parent, and staff experiences by mastering the small, consistent moments that build trust and loyalty. He teaches that “amazing” is not about going over the top, but about being **slightly better than average, every time**, through eye contact, a smile, responsiveness, appreciation, and follow-through. Using vivid stories and practical frameworks, he shows how everyday interactions become “moments of magic,” how leaders at every level shape culture through attitude rather than title, and why consistency, empathy, and asking the extra question turn ordinary experiences into relationships people want to return to again and again.