Nonprofit Partner Retreat at ArborLinks Golf Club

DNF brings nonprofit partners together at ArborLinks for three days of golf, learning, connection, and a closer look at experiential philanthropy  

On August 10–12, 2026, Dormie Network Foundation (DNF) welcomed 10 nonprofit partners to ArborLinks in Nebraska City, Nebraska, for three days of golf, conversation, learning, and relationship-building.

The retreat was built around a simple idea: partnerships grow stronger when people spend meaningful time together. Rather than another virtual meeting, DNF brought several of its nonprofit partners onto a Dormie Network property to experience firsthand what makes the Network—and its approach to experiential fundraising—different. It's one thing for DNF to tell partners what a Dormie Network experience can do for their fundraising. It's another to put them on property, to stay in the cottages, play the course, share meals, and spend unhurried time together.

And perhaps most importantly, it gave everyone something that can be difficult to find in the nonprofit world: time.

Time to think bigger. And time to ask, What if?

After three days at ArborLinks, partners left with a new perspective on Dormie Network, fresh ideas for their own organizations and a deeper understanding of how experiential fundraising can create more meaningful connections between nonprofits and their supporters.

The retreat reinforced something DNF believes deeply: the best partnerships aren't transactional. They're built through shared experiences, trust, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Nonprofit Leadership in Attendance

The retreat brought together the Dormie Network Foundation team and 10 nonprofit partners representing a wide range of organizations, missions, and regions across the country.

• Beth Bush – Senior Director of Partnerships, Arete Scholars

• Mike Mraz – Philanthropist and Dormie Network member

• Micah Brehm – Director of Advancement, Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Greater Omaha

• Julie Jansa – CEO/Executive Director, First Tee - South Dakota

• Courtney Stiles – Executive Director, First Tee Sandhills

• Carl Mistretta – Chief Executive Officer, First Tee - Florida Gold Coast

• Tripp Pendergast – Senior Director, Georgia State Golf Association Foundation & Donor Relations

• Josh Taylor – President, HopeKids

• Drew Hamilton – Central U.S. Director, Links Players

• Ryan Corry – Chief Philanthropy Officer, St. Vincent de Paul

Each organization represented approaches to fundraising, donor engagement, and community impact differently, so the variety of perspectives promoted brainstorming and innovation. Bringing those perspectives together created an environment where partners could exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and discover opportunities that might not emerge in a traditional nonprofit meeting.

The three-day schedule balanced education and strategy with plenty of room for informal conversation and downtime.

Day 1: Arrive and Unwind

Guests arrived at ArborLinks and checked into their cottages, which featured a common room and private master suites. Then everyone gathered for a casual meet-and-greet in the clubhouse and had the option to get out for a tee time or explore the clubhouse and take a guided property tour and nature walk.

That evening, the group formally kicked off the retreat with cocktails and light appetizers in the clubhouse, followed by a welcome from DNF and an overview of the retreat ahead. Dinner, prepared by ArborLinks Executive Chef John Dougherty, provided the first opportunity for extended conversation around the table.

Day 2: Great Golf and Big Ideas

The second day began with breakfast in the clubhouse before the group headed out for golf and networking. With 15 players split across three groups of mixed ability, from former collegiate players to those just picking up the game, the round became a great equalizer, giving everyone a shared experience regardless of skill level. It was a typically hot Nebraska August day, but golf carts stocked with ice-cold coolers and an on-course comfort station with ice cream, frozen slushies, cold beverages and snacks kept the group cool and comfortable on the course.

Back in the clubhouse, guests enjoyed a late lunch. Chef Dougherty's upscale grilled cheese, layered with Certified Piedmontese filet alongside perfectly melted cheese, was a hit with the group.

Brian Schenk speaking to nonprofit partners at ArborLinks

From there, the DNF team led attendees down to the lower level of the clubhouse—a space that immediately impressed, with its fireplace, oversized lounge chairs, and pool table—to hear Brian Schenk, DNF's Chief Philanthropy Officer, deliver a State of the Union.

Schenk walked the group through how DNF got its start, how he got involved, the Foundation's growth to date, and what's ahead. "It's a really good marriage between philanthropy and what we do," he said.

Schenk described himself as a strategic maximizer who tends to look five years down the road and used that lens to share DNF's moonshot goal and its value proposition for the coming year. Nonprofit partners had the chance to listen, ask questions, and discuss what they'd heard with one another.

Ben Parter leading a discussion

Guests then had time to refresh at their cottages before regrouping at the 12-Plex Cottage. The next session put the nonprofit leaders in the driver's seat. Led by Ben Parker, DNF Director of Philanthropy, the brainstorming session drew on the "What if?" framework he utilized during his time at Disney. It pushed attendees to think beyond their organizations' current state and imagine what's possible through new approaches to partnership, fundraising, and donor engagement, building on one another's ideas along the way.

Key takeaways included:

• Know your audience. Donors want targeted content that resonates with them.

• Build trust. A strong relationship means that when any partner makes an ask, the organization has already earned the credibility to make that ask.

• Create intentional connections. At events, pairing people who have something in common can turn a gathering into an opportunity to build a relationship rather than simply another event on the calendar.

Ryan Corry sharing a keynote talk

Afterward, guests refreshed their drinks from the cottage's selection, grabbed a snack (the M&M dispenser proved to be a group favorite) and regrouped for a keynote from Ryan Corry, Chief Philanthropy Officer at St. Vincent de Paul, and a DNF nonprofit partner.

Corry spoke about how St. Vincent de Paul uses experiential fundraising through its partnership with DNF, and shared how he approaches conversations with donors.

A few highlights from his talk:

• Reframing the ask. It’s not soliciting. It’s inviting people to do impactful things and important work.

• Great partnerships make you ask:

  • Why does this feel different?

  • How do I get it?

  • How do I give it to others?

• Small groups, real conversations. Corry prefers meeting with four to eight donors at a time rather than sixteen, often a mix of a few current donors and a couple of prospects, and finds that spending time with donors over shared experiences like a destination golf experience does more for a relationship than a lunch meeting ever could.

• Timing matters when deciding to partner with DNF. View the 6 signs your nonprofit is ready for experiential golf fundraising with DNF.

• Improve conversations and increase dollars donated by including spouses of donors into the conversations.

• Be genuine. Have a real reason to call a donor not just to say “Thank you for your donation.” Ask questions like “What inspired you to give to our organization?”

Read more from Ryan Corry on LinkedIn.

The timing couldn't have been better: just as Corry's talk wrapped up, ArborLinks staff arrived with a family-style surf-and-turf dinner, served on the large island in the cottage, followed by warm Oreo churros for dessert. Staff then cleared everything away, leaving the cottage spotless, as if dinner had never happened.

Chipping on the private putting green just off the back of the cottage patio and enjoying the cottage entertainment activities closed out the evening.

Day 3: From Conversation to Action

On the final day, some guests departed early, while others squeezed in a final round of golf before heading home with boxed lunches and post-round refreshments. Conversations throughout the day focused on what participants had learned, what ideas they wanted to take home, what questions remained, and what they planned to do next.

There’s a Future for Experiential Philanthropy

The ArborLinks retreat offered DNF's nonprofit partners more than a firsthand look at Dormie Network. It demonstrated the philosophy behind DNF’s approach to experiential philanthropy.

The future of fundraising will require nonprofits to think differently about how they cultivate relationships, engage donors, and create opportunities for people to participate in their missions. It will require organizations to move beyond transactions and toward connection.

And sometimes, the best way to figure out what that future looks like is to step away from the usual setting, spend time with people who see the world differently, and ask a simple question: what if?

At ArborLinks, that question started a conversation.

The next step is to turn those conversations into action.

For nonprofits ready to take their fundraising to the next level, Dormie Network Foundation offers support and resources. If you know an organization that could benefit, explore our nonprofit programs and application process.