Find the Best Acquisition Data Strategy at 2026 List Bazaar and Acquisition Summit

By Margaret Romig

 

I think we can all agree that donor acquisition feels pretty complicated right now. So many factors are at play that make prospecting a challenge: the economy, world events, tight organization budgets, and rising costs. Add in the blizzards this past January and you’ve literally got the perfect storm!

That’s why I’m so excited to co-chair 2026 List Bazaar & Acquisition Summit.

This one-day event is entirely focused on one thing: helping fundraisers, agencies, and data professionals get smarter, faster and more strategic at acquiring donors, especially in tough times like these.

This is the space dedicated specifically to acquisition. That kind of specialization matters, especially when you’re trying to solve very real, very immediate challenges in growing your file.

The agenda reflects that urgency. The opening keynote challenges traditional fundraising norms and pushes us to rethink how we approach donor acquisition altogether. Later sessions dig into the nuts and bolts, like how to work more effectively with list brokers, how emerging digital channels are reshaping strategy, and how merge logic can materially impact performance.

And then there’s data privacy. With regulations evolving quickly, the closing keynote tackles what future legislation could mean for how we collect, use, and protect donor data moving forward. If you’re doing any kind of acquisition work, that’s not optional knowledge anymore—it’s essential.

But beyond the sessions, what really draws me in is the people. This event brings together list brokers, nonprofit fundraisers, agency strategists, and data specialists. This mix of experts has a shared goal: finding and engaging the next generation of donors.

There’s also something refreshing about the format. It’s not just presentations, it’s interactive, with live Q&As and real conversations. And the discussions continue long after the day is done, thanks to the connections we make.

At its core, List Bazaar has always blended deep list expertise with evolving strategy. With more than 40 years of history behind it, it’s rooted in proven practices — but it’s clearly not stuck in the past. The inclusion of digital channels, cross-channel tactics, and new creative approaches shows just how much this field is evolving and our expertise is growing.

Finding new donors isn’t getting easier, but getting smarter about how we do it? That’s exactly what this day is built for.

Join us on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the List Bazaar and Acquisition Summit for a candid, strategic conversation on how lists are recommended, tested, evaluated, and managed.  Click here to register.

 

Margaret Romig is an Account Director at Lautman Maska Neill and Company, a full-service fundraising consulting agency. She has 24 years of multichannel fundraising experience, managing successful acquisition, active, lapsed and upgrade strategies, and also brings list brokerage and management expertise to her clients. She is thrilled to co-chair DMAW List Bazaar since 2024!