All of us have moments at work where we have to have a difficult conversation. These are the moments when the stakes are high, opinions clash, emotions run deep or power dynamics come into play. While some may shy away from these dialogues to avoid conflict, mastering them can lead to significant benefits for individuals and boost organisational productivity. Join us in this engaging plenary session, where Tess will dive into the art of handling these conversations with skill and authenticity. She'll explore the topic with the audience, offering valuable advice on how to navigate these critical interactions effectively.

Major gifts rely on the successful identification of transformational wealth. However, this is no easy task! There are complex roles, assets, business structures and financial terms to navigate and value. Are we sure we are prioritising the right prospects, the truer sources of transformational wealth? Are we factoring all their assets effectively? Are we aligning our asks at the right time and in the right way? Join Jonathan Jeffery, Co-Founder of Pyro.Solutions & PyroTalks CIC, as he explores true sources of transformational wealth, outlining high potential roles and sectors, their assets, liquidity moments and ask planning, along with practical tips on identifying prospects that might be right before eyes.

Parental leave can pose challenges to the management and development of donor relationships for major gift fundraising teams. Prospect research teams are well positioned to provide support during these periods. We will look at how the University of Bristol Supporter Development Team worked closely with the University's Major Gift Fundraising Team to ensure continuity and effective prospect management across six instances of parental leave over four years. We will also look at how we utilised the opportunities and dealt with the challenges created by the provision of an additional fundraiser on a nine-month parental leave cover.

One thing we all have in common is how easy it is to make a mistake. So, rather than shy away from it, we'll be celebrating our failures and reflecting on how much we can learn from them. In this panel discussion senior professionals in the Advancement services sector will reflect how they've navigated a mistake or something that simply didn't work out as they expected in their professional (and sometimes personal) lives. As part of the wider CASE webinar series, this ‘Trials and Errors’ discussion will be chaired by Hannah Fox, Director of Alumni & Careers at Regent’s University London and Marie-Rose Delauzun, Head of Alumni Engagement at The Sutton Trust. They’ll be speaking to Kate Lawton (University of Oxford), Rob Spencer (University of Leeds) and Timon Fermin (Herriot Watt). Expect candid discussion on decisions they regret or unavoidable errors - and plenty of reassurance that you're not alone!

Same goal, different methods! In this session, discover how University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter built and enhanced their fundraiser pool management reports using two distinct interactive data visualization tools: Power BI and Tableau. You will gain insight into the metrics used to assess performance and monitor progress, the key data points used to provide a comprehensive overview of the pool, and how this information informs and shapes pool review discussions. This session is accessible to everyone, whether you’re part of a large team or working solo, and regardless of whether you have access to similar software.

In 2023, the Cambridge Development Research and Due Diligence Team were given an ambitious target which, if met, could double the size of the prospect pool in just one year. Meeting this challenge would take creativity, experience, initiative and a little bit of luck. The project would involve a radical ramp-up of prospect identification, exploring new (to the University) jurisdictions and demographics, with all the attendant due diligence considerations. It would also involve a cultural shift; a new way of thinking, talking about and tracking research activity and the value we add. Join Development Research and Due Diligence Manager Natalie Burles to hear more about how Cambridge looked outside of its traditional donor pools and processes to tackle a global prospecting challenge, and the lessons learned along the way; on everything from prospecting, to due diligence, to data, and beyond.

Join us for this interactive session where we’ll hear from experts Dr Marta Herrero (University of York) and Jonathan May (Hubbub). Marta is leading an academic research project focusing on developing our understanding of how fundraisers, philanthropists, and the nonprofit sector view the introduction and adoption of AI technologies for the purpose of fundraising and of incentivising philanthropy. Marta will give us an insight into her research findings ahead of the launch of the new Centre for Digital Innovation in Philanthropy and Fundraising. Jonathan is the founder of Hubbub Fundraising and an advisory board member for the new Centre. He will share his expertise in how AI is already supporting advancement activity, the opportunity it provides and some of the pitfalls we should avoid. We’ll seek feedback from the audience to share experiences of how we are using AI to enable the success of our advancement objectives, and we’ll leave you with practical tips on how you can use AI to support your role.

Geopolitics is becoming increasingly complex, and universities’ international partnerships and funding sources are under greater scrutiny than ever. Advancement Operations teams must adapt their due diligence processes to keep pace with evolving regulatory expectations, reputational risks, and technological advancements. Join Jack O'Toole, Head of Operations at Newcastle University, and Beca Daniel from Xapien as they explore: • How Advancement teams are navigating a rapidly shifting risk landscape. • The role of technology in streamlining dynamic due diligence while maintaining oversight. • Best practices for balancing risk with donor engagement. With due diligence no longer just a box-ticking exercise, this session will provide actionable insights into how institutions can proactively manage risk while supporting fundraising success and international engagement.

In this interactive session, we’ll explore the best tips, tricks, hacks and tools to boost efficiency and support our colleagues in our alumni and fundraising teams. From streamlined processes to innovative technologies, we’ll cover proven strategies to that have made our lives easier while still providing an efficient and effective service to our colleagues we work with in our institutions. We’ll also open the floor for you to share your own ideas and hacks – because collaboration and learning from one another is one of the key outcomes. Bring your top tools, tricks, and techniques, and leave with fresh ideas to enhance your workflows and support your organisation’s success! We hope you enjoy, participate and learn something from what hope will be an excellent closing to another brilliant conference, maybe you’ll even be inspired to come and share more in a session next year.