Unlock the potential of artificial intelligence in fundraising while staying true to your mission and values. This dynamic session will equip nonprofit leaders and fundraisers with the tools to prepare their organizations for AI integration, focusing on ethical considerations, technical readiness, and strategic opportunities. Explore actionable strategies to enhance productivity, mitigate risks, and implement transparent policies that prioritize accountability. Through engaging discussions and expert insights, you’ll leave with a practical framework to innovate responsibly and effectively—ensuring your organization is ready to harness AI’s transformative power.

Most of us have been in a meeting where someone shares an interesting idea or earnest suggestion only to be shot down based on one donor or colleague's feedback: “So-and-so won’t go for that!” And, in recent years, we've all racked our brains for a measured response to frustrated emails and voicemails from university constituents, often about topics and events we simply can't control.

What does it mean to operate from a place of fear in our work—from endless what-ifs and what-abouts— instead of focusing on what could go right, and what we’re doing well? Even as we navigate campus controversies and a range of strong opinions, how can donor relations professionals resist a fear-based mindset (fixating on mistakes, anticipating reactions, squashing innovation) in favor of an approach that empowers our teammates, satisfies and celebrates our donors, and champions our values as an institution?

Emily Brorby and Kelly Monroe, donor relations staff at Stanford University, will share concrete strategies to create a workplace culture of curiosity, trust, idea-sharing, and mutual respect while facing donor relations challenges. We will share case studies of tough donor communications and highlight opportunities to build resilience and openness among your team members. These tools to cultivate an empowered donor relations approach apply to individual contributors, managers, and leaders advocating for change or seeking buy-in with your development colleagues.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in donor stewardship, with its impact deeply rooted in brain science. Simple changes in language can significantly influence how donors respond emotionally and neurologically. By understanding how stories and specific words shape brain activity, stewardship professionals can craft narratives that foster trust, empathy, and satisfaction. When paired with feedback mechanisms, storytelling transforms stewardship into a dynamic, two-way relationship that strengthens long-term donor loyalty.

Transform your donor relations strategy with the power of the Donor Matrix. This session will explore a step-by-step framework to create and implement a tailored donor matrix that aligns with your organization’s goals. Learn how to identify key donor behaviors, map effective communications, and integrate insights across teams to build stronger connections and drive engagement. With practical examples and actionable insights, you’ll leave equipped to enhance donor retention and take your stewardship strategy to the next level. Discover how this innovative tool can unlock the ultimate donor experience!

In the fall of 2024, CASE partnered with FundMiner to launch a Roundtable Series aimed at exploring and developing a common framework for fund management practices, guidelines, and standards. These roundtables included 30+ CASE member institutions, addressing four key areas of fund management practice. This session will present the results from each of the four sessions, showcasing one institution in each discussion area:
• Fund management Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability
• Common Standards in Fund Management
• Impact and Financial Reporting
• Monitoring, Hygiene and Best Practices in Fund Management

As Donor Relations professionals, we strive to make our acknowledgements timely, meaningful, and authentic. Ideally gift officers are an integral part of the process and offer their input to make letters personal and effective. However, other priorities, limited staffing and logistics can get in the way. Over the past year, our team at Stony Brook University has transformed our ACK letters process using effective project management tools, sending over 1400 personalized letters to donors within 1-2 weeks of making their gift with only two dedicated staff positions. By leveraging technology and partnering effectively with gift officers and advancement leadership, you also can transform your acknowledgement letter process.

Discover how UB celebrated its monumental $1 billion fundraising campaign by putting impact and donor experience at the forefront. This presentation delves into the strategy behind the success, showcasing key events, innovative marketing approaches, and impactful communications that brought the campaign to life. Learn how personalized donor stewardship throughout the campaign celebration period enhanced engagement and fostered lasting relationships. Join us for an inside look at the tactics and creativity that not only achieved but celebrated this historic milestone.

Do you find it challenging to get responses from faculty and students for messages of gratitude? You're not alone. One of the biggest hurdles is simply explaining who we are and why we’re reaching out. Join us for an insightful session where we’ll share success stories and effective strategies that have worked to inspire input. Engage in open dialogue with your peers, exchange ideas, and discover new ways to foster meaningful connections and simplify processes with faculty and students. Let’s turn these challenges into opportunities together!

In this interactive session, explore how AI technology can revolutionize donor relations by streamlining processes, enhancing personalization, and uncovering actionable insights. We’ll discuss how AI tools can
assist in identifying and cultivating potential donors through predictive analytics, strengthen relationships with dynamic communication strategies, and improve stewardship by automating and customizing touch points. Participants will learn how AI-driven data analysis can uncover trends to inform strategic decisions and campaign readiness, all while maintaining a human-centered approach through active
listening and engagement. Designed for donor relations and advancement professionals at all levels, this session will equip you with practical strategies to integrate AI into your donor relations program, ensuring it is innovative, efficient, and future-ready.