Are you looking to diversify your contributed revenue by building relationships with corporations? Are you responsible for developing and stewarding those partnerships and interested in learning new strategies from experts and peers? Or are you new to corporate giving and want to better understand how it works?

Join us for the Corporate Relationship Building Convening on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 10:00–11:30 am, when Joy Stephens of the Corporate Giving Network will present an overview of corporate giving, best practices for engagement, and the corporate donor cycle.

Then join us two weeks later on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 10:00-11:00 am, for a special follow-up panel discussion with Joy; Sarah Michael, Director of Institutional Giving at the Seattle Art Museum; Sarah Bednar, Institutional Partnerships Director at Seattle Rep; and Randy Choy, Vice President of Philanthropy Programs at Columbia Bank. The panel will respond to both prepared and audience questions, sharing insights on challenges, successes, and emerging issues—including potential tax changes that may impact corporate–nonprofit partnerships.

In Case You Missed It

Watch the recording of our April 8 session.

Joy Stephens

Joy is the founder and CEO of Corporate Giving Network.

ArtsFund is pleased to host a special follow-up panel discussion with Joy; Sarah Michael, Director of Institutional Giving at the Seattle Art Museum; Sarah Bednar, Institutional Partnerships Director at Seattle Rep; and Randy Choy, Vice President of Philanthropy Programs at Columbia Bank. The panel will respond to both prepared and audience questions, sharing insights on challenges, successes, and emerging issues—including potential tax changes that may impact corporate–nonprofit partnerships. Please note that attendance at the Corporate Relationship Building workshop is not required to join this unstructured conversation, but having at least watched the recording of the session in advance of the office hours will help ensure we can make the best use of that time. 

REGISTER

When?

▪ Panel discussion: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (ASL interpretation will be provided during this session to ensure accessibility for all participants)

Sarah Bednar

Sarah Bednar is a strategic Development, Marketing and Corporate Partnerships professional with a background in business development and corporate relations in both for-profit and non-profit roles. She has experience growing new businesses, revenue, product and service lines in the business & technology consulting, wholesale, retail, and food & beverage industries. Her clients have included Fortune 500, financial, technology, healthcare, retail, arts, and higher-education organizations.

Sarah has an established track record of growing revenue through creating collaborative partnerships, great client experiences, and providing quality account stewardship. In her career she has been recognized for her leadership, cross-team collaboration, and cultivating long-term relationships. Since 2013 Sarah has leveraged her love of the arts and focused on corporate and institutional fundraising in the non-profit arts sector.

Sarah is currently the Institutional Partnerships Director at Seattle Rep and was previously the Corporate Giving Manager at The 5th Avenue Theatre. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and is a former Advisory Council and Associates Program Board Member at ArtsFund. Along with her love of theater, travel, food, and the outdoors, Sarah is also a Seattle Sounders fan.

Sarah Michael

As Director of Institutional Giving at the Seattle Art Museum, Sarah Michael is responsible for the organization’s corporate, foundation, and government giving programs, averaging about $4M in annual revenue. Her diverse portfolio includes building strategic relationships and partnerships with new funders and evolving long-term relationships to align with emerging needs and business priorities. During her nearly decade-long tenure with SAM, Sarah has secured lead gifts ranging from six-figures to $1M+, including from Delta Air Lines, Bank of America, the Ina Goodwin and Atsuhiko Tateuchi Foundation, and Mellon Foundation, among others.

She has held previous roles with Seattle Opera, Alzheimer’s Association, and John F. Kennedy Center for the performing arts. Sarah volunteers with the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, playing in the orchestra and serving as their board president, and is on the board of Inspire Washington and the Northwestern University Club of Seattle. She holds an MBA with a focus in arts management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Music in violin performance and arts administration from Northwestern University.

Randy Choy

Randy Choy is the Vice President of Philanthropy Programs at Columbia Bank, one of the premier and largest regional banks in the country. At Columbia, Randy is a key member of the Community Impact Team and manages all philanthropic investments, grantmaking, and associate sponsorship programming throughout the bank’s eight-state footprint. He also manages the Columbia Bank Community Impact Fund, the bank’s separate corporate foundation. The Impact Fund’s Priority Focus Areas are Financial Mobility, Housing Stability, and Community Resilience.

Randy brings over 25 years of deep expertise and senior leadership in strategic philanthropy and grantmaking, project and program management, community engagement and partnerships, and is committed to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Prior to Columbia, Randy was the Program Officer for Education/Special Funds at Oregon Community Foundation and managed one of the largest, most comprehensive scholarship programs in the nation. In addition, Randy was a senior administrator in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of Oregon, where he supported the academic success and career aspirations of underrepresented students.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Randy is passionate about community service and is engaged with and supports several leading community organizations and nonprofits, including serving on the board of the University of Oregon Alumni Association.

ASL Interpretation

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There is space on the registration form to indicate any accessibility features needed to participate. You can also email Advocacy & Programs Manager Jordan Lusink (jordan.lusink@artsfund.org) for additional needs.

ArtsFund supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable, and creative Washington. Over its grantmaking history, ArtsFund has supported more than 650 arts organizations with more than $115 million in grants and championed leadership and advocacy for the cultural sector through programs such as Board Leadership Training, the Cultural Partners Network, and Building for the Arts capital funding. Join us and learn more at www.artsfund.org.