AFP Houston May 2026 Education Session 

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
11:30 a.m. - Noon: Networking
Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Program

Location:
United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive
Houston, TX 77007

Title: Don’t Blame the Donors—It Was Us All Along. Fixing Our Favorite Direct Response Bad Habits

Description: Let’s be honest: When a “best practice” doesn’t feel right, it’s usually because it isn’t. This session calls out six common direct response habits that quietly drain revenue, suppress results, and leave money on the table. These habits survive not because they work, but because they feel safe to leadership, boards, and committees who don’t live in the data. You’ll get the data, tools, and practical scripts you need to challenge those “safe” decisions and push back. We’ll break down what these habits can cost, discuss how to calculate the impact at your own institution, and help you build a case for doing it differently. Built for professionals navigating pressure from above, entrenched norms, or the dreaded “we’ve always done it this way” committee, this session gives you permission and proof to challenge assumptions. Bring your questions, your frustrations, and your toughest pushback scenarios.

Register Here

Speaker: Gail Siegel

Gail Siegel brings 30 years of fundraising experience to her clients, which include UCLA Health, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, among others. She joined C.I. Partners in 2021, where she supports organizations in a variety of verticals.

Previously, Gail led direct response efforts at the top-ranked Texas Children’s Hospital, driving changes that resulted in a 10-year high in direct mail channel revenue, an improved donor profile, and increased channel integration. She also guided programs focused on high-end direct mail giving and stewardship, grateful patient education and outreach, and membership.

Earlier in her career, Gail held key roles for donor development programs at Houston Methodist, UT Health in Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and the American Cancer Society’s Houston office. She has in-depth expertise in prospect research and management, major gift proposals and collateral, and stewardship reports and communications.