Erie Gives Debrief: First Timers & Small Shops

Erie Gives can feel very different when you’re a first-time participant—or when your “fundraising department” is one person wearing five other hats.

This debrief is a casual, facilitated conversation designed specifically for first-time Erie Gives participants and smaller or newer nonprofit organizations. We’ll talk candidly about what worked, what felt overwhelming, what you wish you had known beforehand, and what you might do differently next year.

Rather than comparing your results to the biggest campaigns on the leaderboard, we’ll focus on what success can look like for your organization. Erie Gives is an opportunity to raise money, but it can also help you find new donors, engage your board, tell your story, reconnect with supporters, and build fundraising habits that last beyond one day. That matters in a giving event that now connects thousands of donors with hundreds of Erie-area nonprofits.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of their results, a few realistic priorities for next year, and most importantly, the reassurance that you don’t need a huge staff, massive donor list, or elaborate campaign to build on what you started.

About Adam:

Adam C. Bratton is a nonprofit executive with nearly 30 years of leadership experience strengthening professional practice, building fundraising programs, and advancing mission effectiveness across diverse organizations. As Executive Director of The Nonprofit Partnership, he has expanded sector-wide capacity-building resources, delivering education, consulting, and support services to thousands of nonprofit professionals.

He is the creator of the Nonprofit Capacity Assessment Tool, helping organizations benchmark their capabilities and make data-informed decisions for growth. Through leadership and fundraising training programs grounded in ethical practice and practical skill development, Adam’s work centers on equipping nonprofit leaders to drive meaningful, lasting community impact.

About Nicole:

As Director of Consulting Services, Nicole helps nonprofit organizations strengthen their capacity, navigate change, and achieve their goals. Her career spans emergency services, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, community engagement, and strategic partnership development, providing a unique perspective on organizational growth and leadership.

Known throughout the community as a trusted connector and collaborator, Nicole has worked closely with nonprofit leaders, boards, donors, and stakeholders to build strong relationships and advance mission-driven work. She brings expertise in strategic planning, governance, fundraising, communications, grant writing, and organizational development, helping nonprofits turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into action.