The communication function across university campuses is generally classified as centralized or decentralized with both having their share of pros and cons. Does the communication function need to be described as one of the other? What if we dissolved these terms in favor of a more collaborative model? The advancement communications team in the Development and Alumni Relations division at Howard University was created less than three years ago as a model to extend and expand the communication function, not replace the university communications role. Learn how the new team was built, overcame challenges and addressed concerns to become a top partner of the university communications office while also fulfilling primary needs of the development division.

Recently completing the inaugural year of the Georgetown University Alumni Association Black Alumni Council, we are excited to share the story of how this inspired group came to be. The group was formed in response to a desire for a more meaningful and tailored approach to the engagement and empowerment of Black alumni. Join us as we share the Black alumni leaders’ vision, the partnership with university and alumni association leaders, and the integrated approach to affinity groups. The Black Alumni Council is the first alumni affinity group of Georgetown University and sets the precedent for all Georgetown University Alumni Association affinity groups moving forward.

Join us for an insightful session as we delve into the transformative journey of The Hopkins Fund and learn directly from the leadership annual gift officer team who successfully developed and launched a midlevel giving circle program in support of our undergraduate annual fund.

Our presentation will offer a roadmap for institutions seeking to embark on a similar path and will emphasize how we championed The Hopkins Fund Leadership Giving Circles as a solicitation strategy framework and catalyst for expanding our undergraduate alumni donor pipeline.

When launching your social media presence, you likely started by outlining a comprehensive strategy. But like any good strategy, you can’t just set it and forget it! Continued engagement and reach require that you regularly review and reevaluate your approach to meet the changing demands of your stakeholders, constituents and platform algorithms. Join this session to learn how the @VillanovaAlumni Social Media Working Group capitalized on the launch of their Instagram account to revisit overall goals for social media, enhance cross-departmental collaboration, create brand-aligned content themes, update workflows, define measurements for success and achieve results. Regardless of your experience level with social media or the size of your team, there are takeaways for everyone!

What are you called to be? For Georgetown’s Advancement Communications team, they were called to be nimble and strategic amid a shifting landscape to launch the university’s new $3b campaign. With a digital-first rolling launch that spanned six months and culminated in an in-person celebration, the Georgetown team will share how they changed the traditional approach to campaigns for a post-pandemic world.

Whether you're steering a large university through a comprehensive brand overhaul or guiding an independent school with limited resources, this session promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to initiate a successful brand transformation journey. Presenters from Temple University and The Philadelphia School, both leading educational institutions in the city of Philadelphia, will join together alongside their creative partners from 160over90 and J2 to deliver an interactive discussion to help audience members explore how their school’s rebrand can be a welcome reset to help them move them move their institutions forward. This is serious business, but we’re going to have fun. In this engaging presentation, we'll explore innovative and cost-effective strategies that can be implemented by schools of all sizes. From creating a compelling brand narrative to leveraging digital platforms for maximum impact, our expert speakers will share real-world examples and success stories that demonstrate the transformative power of strategic branding. We’ll dig into identifying the right timing, understanding the commitment needed from your leadership, how to build inclusion, consensus, and joy in every step of the process. You’ll hear firsthand what it takes to find your school’s authentic identity and then clearly and impactfully articulate it to the world.

Go big or go home! That was how Syracuse University's team approached how they'd bring attention to the annual “Boost the ’Cuse” Day of Giving in 2023. The best way to do it? A full-day LIVE broadcast featuring a big-name host, live hits from across campus and the country, and more than 75 featured SU guests.
In a post-pandemic world, SU saw a need to make folks feel engaged and part of the action. Using a live broadcast, including guests in the studio, in the student center, all over campus, and remotely, SU used the “Boost” broadcast as a way to ensure its Day of Giving didn’t exist in an advancement vacuum, but instead included a celebratory vibe from all over campus and beyond.
In this session, the Syracuse staff responsible for the Boost the ’Cuse Broadcast will walk attendees through the process - from concept to completion - of how this ambitious project came to be. The session will include tips and tricks about tactical planning for a live broadcast, ideas on leveraging existing relationships to help build out an interesting show, ways to use a live broadcast as a vessel to showcase great content from across your institution, and lessons learned to save you time in your own efforts.
Whether you work at a large university or a small independent school, you’ll leave this session with concrete next steps to integrate rich media and an element of live engagement into your institution’s next fundraising drive.