CASE Academy
Unique Course in Leadership for Advancement Professionals
The CASE Academy—a course sequence hosted over a seven-month time period—provides advancement professionals with the opportunity to engage with and learn from each other and from industry leaders. CASE Academy Faculty are among the most seasoned, successful, and respected advancement leaders in the world. Based on the CASE Competencies Model©, itself the product of an intensive volunteer-led process to define essential skills and attributes for advancement professionals, the seven-segment course combines both strategic guidance and practical advice to prepare participants to serve as leaders throughout their career in the profession.
Learning Objectives
- Review core components of emotional intelligence to improve relationship management skills
- Explore strategic thinking to develop innovative problem solving
- Discuss principles of leadership, integrity and professionalism to operate as an effective and ethical leader
- Hone business, financial and industry expertise to implement data-based decision making and data interpretation and presentation
- Develop cultural competence through listening and analyzing bias
- Create cultures of belonging with access and inclusion for all
- Apply techniques of consensus building, collaboration and teamwork to effectively engage staff, volunteers, stakeholders, and donors
- Explore the capabilities, experiences and qualities that distinguish leaders to support the transition from industry expert to leadership
Who Should Participate
The curriculum has been created for advancement leaders, who have a minimum of five years’ experience in an advancement role or are transitioning from a mid- or senior-level role in another profession.
Testimonials from Past Participants
“The CASE leadership program has not only provided me excellent knowledge and a foundation for continued growth as a leader, but a better understanding of my own personal leadership style and strengths. I highly recommend this program to all leaders who want to continue to learn and improve.”
“CASE Academy provided a sacred space during a very difficult year to think strategically, optimistically, and thoughtfully about our profession and how we can most positively impact our institutions, colleagues, and our own personal growth.”
"Focusing on CASE Competencies Model in the midst of a seismic shift in the way we do our work forced us as a group of leaders to focus on the foundation of our work. Access to industry leaders combined with cohorts of impressive professionals provided a fulfilling experience that has stretched my knowledge and capacity. I cannot count the number of times I have referred back to this experience as it relates to what I am asked to accomplish as a leader at my institution."
Program Structure
This blended learning course will feature a mix of asynchronous activities and seven live monthly sessions. Each month will focus on expanding your leadership skills in one or more of the CASE Competencies:
- Month 1 (October)
Welcome and Strategic Thinking
Led by: Gord Arbeau, Associate Vice-President Advancement and External Relations, Brock University and Karen Osborne, Senior Strategist, The Osborne Group - Month 2 (November)
Emotional Intelligence—the environment for education, current and emerging issues, emotional intelligence
Led by: Sue Cunningham, President and CEO, CASE and Rachel Ciporen, coach and educator, Teachers College Columbia University - Month 3 (December)
Leadership—entrepreneurism, innovation, talent management, executive presence, continuous learning; and
Integrity and Professionalism—ethical conduct, building and maintaining trust, personal accountability, effective communicator
Led by: Chris Cox, Vice-Principal Philanthropy and Advancement, The University of Edinburgh, Alex Furman, Vice-President (Advancement), Australian National University - Month 4 (January)
Business and Financial Acumen—data-based decision making, financial fluency, data interpretation and presentation; and
Industry/Sector Expertise—knowledge and skills requisite to specific domains of advancement
Led by Barbara Miles, Former Vice-President Advancement, the Australian National University and the University of British Columbia and Jenny Cooke Smith, Senior Director of CASE Insights Solutions - Month 5 (February)
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging—creating cultures of belonging with access and inclusion for all
Led by: Jan Abernathy, Chief Communications Officer, The Browning School and Jessica Elmore, Ph.D., Senior Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Training, CASE - Month 6 (March)
Global and Cultural Competence—listening and learning, cultural intelligence, understanding bias
Led by: Lee Fertig, Head of School, Nueva School and Nathalie Fontana, Associate Director Principal Gifts (Europe), University of Oxford - Month 7 (April)
Relationship Building—consensus building, collaboration and teamwork, effectively engaging volunteers and stakeholders, stewardship
Leadership beyond Advancement—exploration of capabilities, experiences, and qualities that distinguish leaders, making the transition from industry/sector expert to leadership
Led by: Amy Bronson, Associate Vice President of Advancement Resources and Strategic Talent Management, Boston University and Marc Barnes, Senior Vice President and Principal Gifts Officer, UNCF
Each monthly session will comprise:
- Asynchronous (on-demand) pre-work activity
- Asynchronous plenary presentation
- Live Q&A with the plenary presenter (30 minutes)
- Activity based breakout out discussion facilitated by Faculty member (30 minutes)
- Cohort discussion (1 hour)
