November 18th Lunch and Learn
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location: The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
3421 Belmont Ave. Nashville, TN 37215
Presenter: Susannah Shumate, MAOM, CFRE
Cost: $25.00/Members, $15.00/Members W/O Lunch, $35.00/Guests
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time …
A Fundraiser's Guide to Ethical Misadventures
We've all encountered fundraising situations that seemed perfectly reasonable—until they weren't. From overly enthusiastic donors and questionable gift restrictions to well-meaning board members and organizational pressures, ethical dilemmas often begin with the best of intentions.
Join us for a lively, interactive exploration of fundraising's ethical misadventures. Through humorous scenarios, audience participation, and real-world examples, we'll examine how good intentions can lead to questionable decisions—and how to recognize, navigate, and avoid ethical trouble before it starts. We'll laugh a little, think a lot, and leave with practical tools for making better decisions.
Three Learning Objectives
Spot trouble before it starts. Recognize common ethical warning signs in everyday fundraising situations, even when everyone involved has good intentions.
Know when to hit the brakes. Apply the AFP Code of Ethical Standards and a practical decision-making framework to evaluate ethical dilemmas before taking action.
Get out of sticky situations gracefully. Develop strategies for addressing questionable donor requests, organizational pressures, and uncomfortable conversations while protecting relationships and professional integrity.
Susannah Shumate, MAOM, CFRE, is a Director of Philanthropy at Austin Peay State University, where she works primarily with the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, the Eriksson College of Education, and the Woodward Library. She has more than 25 years of experience in socioeconomic sensitivity training, fundraising, marketing and communications, and board relations. She has engineered and implemented small, local campaigns and led large, award-winning initiatives. Susannah has also served as the chief executive of small agencies and on the senior leadership teams of multi-million-dollar organizations.
Having worked with partners in the for-profit, not-for-profit, governmental, and faith-based sectors, Susannah is a recognized connector and relationship builder. She is also a sought-after speaker, writer, and panelist on topics such as socioeconomic sensitivity, strategic marketing, board relations, corporate partnerships, annual giving, major gifts, and relationship building.
