Woodmark Summit 2026

Connect with Attain Partners during The 28th Woodmark Summit, taking place May 12 – 14 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Karl Otto
Executive in Residence

Andrew Whittaker
Director, Strategic Accounts

Lunch and Learn

A Balancing Act: Team vs. Tools
Wednesday, May 13 | 11:45a – 12:30p PT

Have we become over-reliant on the idea that technology can solve every challenge? This session explores the balance between people and technology in fundraising—how to determine when the solution is a tool, when it’s a team practice, and when it’s a thoughtful blend of both. What we may think is the best solution doesn’t mean it’s the right solution–we’ll discuss how to account for adoption, resources, and implementation.

This session will explore scenarios when a “people fix” (role clarity, training, process tweaks) is the smarter move than a technology investment—and where a “tech fix” (automation, integrations, data hygiene) truly unlocks capacity. We’ll walk through clear decision criteria for weighing problem fit, readiness, cost, risk, and change impact—so you can choose with confidence and purpose.

Takeaways

• A clear “Team or Tool?” decision framework (problem fit, urgency, capacity, risk, ROI).
• A shared language and guiding questions to align stakeholders on trade-offs, feasibility, and timing.
• An approach for sequencing people and tech changes to maximize adoption and results.

Speaker

Karl Otto
Executive in Residence, Attain Partners