Designed for professionals who are planning and/or executing their first comprehensive campaign, this workshop will be broken down into three subjects: fundamentals, building a case for support and key performance indicators to track. The topics covered in this session are applicable no matter the size of campaign or the type of institution. The session will start with an overview of the core fundamental components that need to be evaluated, developed and/or strengthened to set the framework for a successful, comprehensive campaign. From early-stage priority and goal setting to ensuring the right internal structures and processes are in place, to feasibility assessments – there are multiple steps to consider before launching a campaign effort of any size. In this session, we’ll discuss how to determine which metrics to elevate into publicly announced top line, institution-wide campaign goals. We will also dig into sub-metrics to consider across the whole institution, as well as at the school/unit level. Key considerations are how to measure and present the data, as well as audiences, internal and external. Whether you are planning for a mini-campaign to support one initiative, or a billion-dollar comprehensive university-wide campaign, the steps to set goals, align priorities, refine your communications, and focus on the outcome remain the same. Together we will walk through the steps of creating by-in for the campaign priorities, eliciting feedback from all stakeholders, designing the case for support and communicating the need in order to create momentum and fundraising success. We will walk through a specific campaign priority and presidential initiative; the process for aligning this into the overall campaign plan; to soliciting support utilizing collateral; all while showing the impact this priority has for our organization.

This advanced workshop is for campaign leaders and teams. The workshop will cover leveraging dual campaigns, resourcing your campaign, and reviving a stalled campaign. Does the average alum see themselves in a multimillion/billion-dollar campaign? Likely, not! But, now more than ever, alumni are turning to their alma maters to provide connection, lifelong learning, and much more. Learn how to leverage an alumni engagement goal to maximize the donor pipeline and cultivate them for leadership and major gifts for this campaign and your next. We will explore the power of having an alumni engagement goal can make on the success of a campaign. Understanding how helping alumni see themselves in a campaign, and strengthening their relationship with your university can grow your pipeline and positively impact this campaign and the next. Resourcing a campaign will explore the most common way current campaigns are funded, and a review of a few unique ways you can explore to finance a multi-year fundraising campaign. In addition, this session will cover the five core components that you need to review to have a successful campaign (fundraisers, engagement efforts, support services, stewardship, campus support). This workshop will provide strategies to breathe new life into a capital campaign that has hit a roadblock. We'll explore common issues that slow campaign progress and stall the momentum that is critical for keeping existing donors connected and compelling the interest of prospects who haven't made a major gift commitment yet. Our discussion will focus on the dynamic and proactive approaches needed to reinvigorate the campaign and keep stakeholders, both donors, staff and volunteers engaged and motivated to further the achievement of campaign goals. Participants will leave with clear strategies that leverage actual examples and provide actionable steps to reignite prospect/donor interest and set the campaign back on a path to success.

Join conference leadership to meet the faculty and learn how to get the most out of your time at the workshop; highlighting conference programming and ways to begin your campaign blueprint.

Higher education continues to face a convergence of issues and perceptions that can directly impact our ability to raise ambitious private philanthropy in support of our institutions, especially through the traditional campaign construct. This discussion will look at the present-day challenges your institution might encounter in successfully building out and executing a comprehensive effort from political dynamics on campus and across our donor bases to present day public debates on the value around higher education, to changing demographics and donor preferences that are emerging across next generation graduates, to limited resources in many institutions to take on build out the teams and tools needed to execute a campaign.

More than just a fun name and design, your campaign brand tells the story of where you are today, and where you aspire to be with the philanthropic support of your alumni and donors by the end of the campaign. This session will provide an overview of the basics and outcomes of campaign branding, but will focus on how to get it right, avoid pitfalls, and how to align your campaign brand for launch across campus and for your launch event.

Many of CASE's constituents are always moving into campaigns. This session would assist with recruiting and retaining staff in this environment. Something that is critical to campaign success.

Moviegoers dressed in pink make box office history for Barbie. The Van Gogh Experience sells out city after city. “Swifties” exchange friendship bracelets at the Eras Tour. What does this say about attendee expectations and how does that apply to higher education fundraising? Gone are the days where we talk, and attendees listen. Our guests want to be immersed in the content and have the chance to be more participatory in their experiences. Fundraising campaigns in higher education have evolved in structure, duration, and branding—and campaign experiences must follow suit. Shared experiences have always been an accelerant for engagement and a catalyst for philanthropic activity, which is why they have solidified their place as important must-have markers for campaign milestones, like launches and conclusions. In this session, you’ll see data-driven proof points and anecdotal evidence to help you build strategies for multidimensional engagement using immersion and interaction with your campaign audiences. Through case studies of campaign launch events, roadshows, and conclusion events of all scopes and scales, you’ll take away tangible tips and tools to implement at your institution. Through hands-on activities you’ll put some of those tools to work and unlock the power of events in increasing your return on engagement.

So, your university wants to launch a campaign and the president and board have asked you to formulate a possible goal and assess feasibility. Now what? Learn how your institution can examine past performance, current pipeline, and future growth rates by school/college/unit to set goals AND leave with a nifty, customizable campaign calculator tool. We’ll also share insights on how the University of Denver is translating academic priorities to compelling philanthropic goals. And finally, we will review case studies in campus stakeholder negotiations that lead to comprehensive campaign ownership, including how to use data to encourage leadership to raise sights in goal setting. This interactive session will equip you to approach campaign goal setting with confidence!