Faithful Data: Building Donor Trust Through Better Governance
Elyse Wallnutt

Your donors give because they trust you — with their resources, their hopes, and often anecdotes much more personal. This session will help you answer whether your data practices honor that trust as faithfully as your fundraising does. Drawing on the stewardship principles that define faith-based work, this webinar will help you reframe data governance not as a compliance exercise, but as an operational expression of your values: knowing what donor information you hold, who has access to it, and what it's being used for. You'll leave with concrete, accessible steps to align your data practices with the relationships you've worked so hard to build.

You'll Come Away With:

• A clear framework for auditing what donor data your organization collects, who touches it, and how it’s used — without needing a legal or technical team to get started
• Language to make the case internally for better governance practices, framed around donor relationships and mission integrity
• Three practical actions you can take this quarter to begin closing the gap between your stated values and your data operations
• A plain-language model for communicating your data commitments to donors — as a trust-building tool, not a legal disclaimer

Remember that webinars are FREE to ALL ACF members, and we just need you to RSVP. Webinars are $75 for nonmembers. Not a member? Attend your first webinar free to experience ACF! Register now.

Elyse Wallnutt is the Founder and Principal of Agility Lab Consulting, where she helps nonprofits, universities, and their foundations build sustainable donor pipelines that meet evolving privacy expectations and maintain donor trust.

With 18+ years of experience leading revenue and advocacy teams at local and national nonprofits, Elyse partners with fundraising, marketing, legal, and IT teams to align fundraising strategy, digital engagement, and data infrastructure.

Her clients include the American Cancer Society, International Rescue Committee, Earthjustice, Tufts University, Oregon State University Foundation, and other mission-driven organizations seeking to responsibly expand their donor audiences while protecting institutional credibility and long-term revenue.