This is your conference, let’s start it out right! Join conference faculty to kick off the program, meet your fellow attendees, and set the stage to make the most of our time together.

Whether you’re new to your institution or you’ve been there for decades finding your voice and learning how to talk about the impact of annual giving on your campus is a must. In this session, each faculty member will talk about how they learned the ethos, culture, and narrative of their institutions and how they leverage that knowledge to produce results. Between fundraising, participation, donor growth - finding, understanding and translating those goals into annual giving work is important to supporting your campus work. Each campus has a uniquely special story to tell -- let’s find yours!

Giving Days have taken the advancement world by storm in recent years. Whether you have one, plan to add one, or continue to be asked about it by leadership, donors, or colleagues, Giving Days are a topic that keeps coming up. In this session, we’ll review the benefits, struggles, planning process, and scalability of giving days, so you can decide if adding this tactic is right for your institution and most importantly, your donors.

Engage in these 10-minute mini-presentations by the Faculty, followed by Q&A. Topics include:

• Copy And Steal Everything: Examples of A+ Peer campaigns
• Primer on Using AI in Annual Giving
• Rise & Pitfalls of Premiums
• Tool & Tactics for Annual Giving Work Planning
• Why the Phone Still Matters

The concept of a data-driven program can feel overwhelming or like you need a background in statistics. Not very many of us bring that to the table, and yet data is the lifeblood of any annual giving program. We use it to report on results, evaluate our success, build our plans, and improve performance. In this session, we’ll talk about how to effectively track your key performance indicators for each channel, segment, and project. Learn how to use data to help manage your decision-making and planning processes. Discover how to report results internally and externally effectively. And, because it’s fun, we’ll get nerdy with some equations (no math degree necessary).

In a busy world of multi-channel communications, direct mail continues to be a tried-and-true vehicle for Annual Giving. When competing for attention, what makes your mail piece stand out and get noticed? We will talk about what makes for a compelling mail piece and how different types of institutions, both big and small, can get big results from direct mail.

In today’s digital landscape, are you equipped to stand out? This session will guide you through integrating digital tools, social media, and impactful use of email into your annual giving strategy. As we navigate a world full of distractions, the key to engaging donors lies in creative digital marketing and thoughtful social campaigns, engaged email and targeted outreach. Discover how to craft messages that resonate, strengthen your digital outreach, and build lasting connections with your supporters. Whether your goal is to increase donor participation or enhance stewardship, you’ll leave with the insights needed to elevate your annual giving program in a digitally driven world.

Welcome to the revolution where digital meets leadership! Whether it's DXO, DGO, or DDO, virtual gift officers are transforming how we connect with donors—and it's time to jump on board. In a world that’s gone digital, your team can’t afford to be left behind. This session will show you how to harness digital-first strategies to engage donors, build lasting relationships, and elevate your fundraising game. Plus, we'll dive into the world of leadership giving, where the top 10% of donors drive 90% of your revenue. Explore how to craft compelling messages, recruit top-tier volunteers, and navigate the nuances of recurring gifts versus multi-year commitments. From digital outreach to leadership pipelines, you’ll leave with the tools to innovate and elevate your donor engagement—no FaceTime filter required!

Get the blood flowing with a series of interactive group activities focused on real-world annual giving conundrums. The faculty has curated scenarios from their campus experiences over decades of active annual giving leadership. Come prepared to meet new people, exchange ideas, and work together to solve annual giving problems.

Engage in these10-minute mini-presentations by the Faculty. Topics include:

• Finding the Perfect Recipe to an Effective Fundraising Event
• How to Make a Career in Annual Giving
• Plannual Giving: Partnership between Planned Giving and Annual Giving
• Partnering With Athletics: The Easy, Effective, and Aspirational ways to Partner with your Athletics Department
• Working with Students and Recent Graduates in Annual Giving