Complex algorithms, AI logic, big data, and the best teams in the world are just a few resources tech giants like Facebook and Google leverage to drive an unprecedented level of attention, focus, and online traffic to their brands. Take a deep dive into the innovative strategies fueled by these resources and learn how we can scale them down to enhance the efficacy, reach, and engagement of our advancement communications regardless of how small your team or department may be.

In 2018, the major gift team at the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation made a commitment to grow personally and professionally with a self-driven professional development program. Accelerated by the pandemic, three unique and on going programs took shape that address professional skills related to fundraising and personal growth related to areas such as leadership and global affairs. In this session, we will walk you through how we developed all three, including "Chair Flying," which borrows terminology from Navy pilots to describe our weekly role-playing sessions amongst frontline fundraising staff.

Thinking about taking the plunge from print to digital? Always wondered if donors were actually reading the reports you mailed them? We’ve been there, done that and can help you problem solve for the future. See how other organizations digitized reporting and how you can, too!

We'll cover:

• What these teams did before they launched
• The implementation process
• The metrics and information they learned from their deployments

Join us as we step into the 21st century and help you gain knowledge about creating your own digitization process.

Donor-centric annual funds are the future, but deconstructing centralized models that have been in place for decades can feel overwhelming . . . but it doesn’t have to be!  Prioritizing the donor experience seems like a no-brainer, but implementing this structure to support donor-centric annual giving requires significant cross functional reorganizing, strategizing and planning. In this session we will cover tangible processes along with  strategies, and tools institutions can use to start moving their annual giving effort to a donor-centric model, regardless of your institution’s current structure.

Vassar College recently launched a Donor Experience Program to deliver high-volume, completely personalized outreach to thousands of donors without a 1-on-1 relationship with the university.  The goal? Retention and reactivation. During a pandemic that made face-to-face visits impossible, Vassar hired two DXOs that are completely focused on delivering phenomenal donor experiences to high-potential prospects. They’re expanding coverage of the giving pyramid, reaching previously untouched donors, and building donor pipeline, while retaining existing donors. Tune in to learn about this ground-breaking program, takeaways from year one, and what’s next for Vassar.

The Rutgers Alumni Workplace Engagement program is a holistic approach that connects companies that employ large numbers of Rutgers Alumni, with the University.  The program is unique in bringing the University to the workplace.  Focusing on Four Pillars of Success the program has succeeded by incorporating internal partners and utilizing their expertise to break through those internal silos.  In this session, we will discuss the best practices implemented and how this TEAM approach has increased engagement and partnerships within those companies and Rutgers Alumni.

Gift planning tends to live within its own silo in an advancement team, often viewed as too complex, specific to older generations, or a lesser priority as institutions focus on “cash now”. However, as the great wealth transfer is underway and proposed estate and capital gains tax changes loom, charitable gift planning will be on the minds of all donors and prospects more than ever, touching upon the ways they engage, give and prioritize our institutions.  Therefore, knowledge of planned giving is relevant for all no matter your title.

With a major campaign on the horizon, Binghamton University was brainstorming opportunities to increase connection and excitement among its alumni, when it discovered a high number of journalists and media professionals among its graduates. In short order, the Binghamton Alumni Media Advisory Group was born, the team that blossomed during the pandemic provided both connections among generations of alumni and insightful support for the University’s media outreach efforts — not to mention some additional national coverage.