Welcome to the Ardmore Nonprofit Days of Learning! This effort is made possible through the generous support of the McCrory Foundation, the Noble Foundation, and the Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation. This event is proudly hosted by the Murray State College Event Center, and facilitated by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.

From Grants to Donors: What Fundraising Strategies Actually Work?, is the first installment of the series and this full-day training is designed to support nonprofit organizations serving Ardmore and the surrounding area as they strengthen their fundraising and grant-writing efforts in practical, achievable ways. The focus will be on helping local nonprofits think more strategically about revenue development, build confidence in pursuing funding opportunities, and better align fundraising and grants work with their mission and capacity. Participants will engage in shared learning and reflection grounded in the realities facing nonprofits in southern Oklahoma. The training emphasizes practical insights and applicable tools that organizations can adapt to their size, resources, and community context.

Developed specifically for Ardmore and surrounding area nonprofits, this series consists of two full-day, in-person training sessions, each with a distinct focus. This session is appropriate for nonprofit staff, executive leaders, and board members from Ardmore-area organizations who are involved in fundraising, grant writing, or revenue planning.

By the end of Day 1, participants will be able to:

• Identify and evaluate diverse funding sources, including individual donors, corporate sponsors, grants, and events
• Develop a strategic fundraising plan with clear goals, timelines, and measurable outcomes
• Apply effective donor cultivation and stewardship strategies to build long-term relationships
• Navigate federal, state, and private grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities
• Write clear, compelling grant proposals that demonstrate impact and capacity
• Recognize and avoid common grant writing pitfalls using proven best practices
• Strengthen proposals and fundraising communications through peer review and feedback

Date:  Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Time: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Location: Murray State College Event Center, 108 E. Main St., Ardmore, 73401

Cost: Free of Charge

Details: Light snacks and lunch will be served. 

Meet your Facilitators

AMY CURRAN

Chief Development Officer

Amy most recently spent seven years as the executive director of Generation Citizen (GC) South Region, a nonprofit building an education movement that equips and inspires young people to transform our democracy. She has spent over 25 years addressing community issues specifically around empowering youth and providing opportunities through education. She began her career with Project Transformation, a community-oriented summer day camp focused on improving literacy among elementary-aged children from Oklahoma’s low-income urban neighborhoods.

Amy is a founding leader for the Oklahoma Civic Learning Coalition, working to improve access to civic engagement and opportunities and learning from pre-k to continuing adult education across the state. She holds a B.A. in Letters from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters in Religious Education from Oklahoma City University. She serves as the Vice-Chair for the OKCPS Bond Community Oversight Committee, is a founding member of VEST Her, a private network of women working together to expedite the pipeline of women in positions of power and is a member of Leadership Oklahoma City class 38. She enjoys adventures with her husband and two sons, knitting, cooking dinner with friends, and rowing on the Oklahoma River. 

ABBEY WALKER

Abbey Walker brings a genuine love for people and a knack for building strong communities to her work at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, she made her way to Oklahoma in 2012 and has proudly called it home ever since. With a background that spans education, ministry, and nonprofit operations, Abbey has spent her career helping mission-driven organizations flourish from the inside out. She’s led dynamic teams, fine-tuned systems, supported strategic planning efforts, and built the kind of relationships that make great work possible. She holds a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from William Jewell College.

Before joining OKCNP, Abbey spent over a decade in pastoral leadership, guiding churches in their educational programs, community outreach, and day-to-day operations. She’s worked closely with boards and committees, nurtured collaborative relationships across sectors, and kept an eye on the details that help organizations run smoothly. For the last 18 months, Abbey pivoted and brought her love of language and learning into the classroom as a 4th grade English Language Arts teacher, where she honed her ability to manage chaos, encourage curiosity, and make learning joyful—all while giving students the confidence and space to grow.

Abbey is entering her third season as a soprano with Canterbury Voices this fall and spent five years serving her community as a member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City. Outside of work, Abbey and her husband, Corey, are raising two enthusiastic little boys. The Walker family loves a good meal—especially when it means trying the newest hot spots or returning to their favorite well-worn haunts. Their boys love learning to cook, too, and the whole crew enjoys hosting and feeding friends and family any chance they get. On weekends, you’ll often find them traveling, cheering on their favorite sports teams, or singing and dancing to their favorite tunes.