Do you find yourself looking at the same prospect names and wondering why they haven't made a gift or haven't been engaged in recent years? Capacity and affinity may exist with these prospects but a relationship that would lead to a major gift is lacking. "The Philanthropist Left Behind" addresses the critical importance of donor experience and shares examples of recent gifts that fostered a culture of philanthropy and launched transformational programs at an independent private school. The session will also highlight successful research, passion/project alignment, selecting the appropriate relationship manager, and stewardship.

In this interactive event, two teams of experienced fundraisers will tackle a surprise fundraising challenge, live, in a cooking-show inspired competition! They'll accept your feedback as they "cook," and you'll determine their fate over three rounds of surprises. See it unfold live as the teams respond and share their perspectives on today's biggest advancement challenges. You’ll decide what happens each round and who will be crowned the Throwdown! champions. Be ready to offer your take on key topics, including organizing campaigns, balancing revenue and participation, and engaging an inclusive donor base. It's a CASE session like nothing you've seen before!

Session Description: At Owl Nation, we help new hires acclimate quickly to support Kennesaw State University’s (KSU) fundraising goals. The University Advancement onboarding process equips new fundraising hires and other Advancement employees with a 30-day checklist to help navigate the first month of employment (and beyond). Our efforts are focused on acclimating new hires to the KSU mission statement, brand, values, and our division's organizational structure, culture and goals. Through successful onboarding, new hires acclimate quickly so they can focus on metrics, moves management, donor research, and donors enhancing the office’s capacity to meet its fundraising goals.

Despite the many benefits diverse voices and backgrounds bring to fundraising teams, universities often struggle finding talent that reflects the communities they serve. While leaders believe it’s critical to encourage diverse, young voices to become advancement professionals, they do not always know the best ways to recruit, retain, or evaluate employees whose lived experiences are different from their own. This session offers a blueprint to cultivate homegrown fundraising talent through fellows’ programs and apprenticeships and provides first-hand advice from young fundraisers on what works and what doesn’t to help them want to join and stay on your advancement team.

The Ask should be a creative experience and journey. We, as fundraisers, are representatives, advocates, researchers, storytellers, guides and connectors who navigate and help shape, mold a sandbox of options for a donor. Preparation and practice as a listener and creative partner, with your organization's priorities in mind, will allow you to a provide be a compass for a conversation about support. This also helps with an approachable and enjoyable solicitation experience. Participants will review the elements of an ask and explore an approach to acknowledge and build as a portion of fundraising through discussions and exercises.

From the pandemic to the murder of George Floyd, many relationship managers are faced with challenges as they find themselves in the midst of ultra-sensitive conversations with prospects and donors. This session is designed to unpack advancement experiences, understand the concept of power and privilege and its influence, and the importance of courageous conversation skills.

Since 2016, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has grown its custom impact report program from stewarding 8 major donors (4 couples) to now 48 major donors (23 couples and 2 individuals), as well as implemented a tiered annual report that provides a unique experience to the additional 110+ Torchbearer Society members who have each contributed $1 million+ in lifetime giving. This has enabled UT to have a significant stewardship impact on major donors with an eye on the limits of staff capacity. The cross functionality our team possesses has brought the custom impact book and annual report strategy to a new level.

We all know Deans are critical to fundraising success across our campus landscape. Whether you are working with a dean new to fundraising, starting with experience, or simply want to pause and revisit a long-standing partnership with your dean, this may be for you. Presenter and author, Brent Pieper, will share a book he recently wrote and was published by CASE. A Dean's Handbook for Philanthropy is steeped in the collective perspectives, stories and wisdom of over 26 higher education leaders who Brent has worked with including university presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, athletic directors, foundation leaders, and yes--major gifts directors.