In late 2019, the Office of University Communications at Louisiana Tech University began preparation to launch a podcast tied to 1894: The Alumni Magazine. The podcast first focused on educating the University community on research, but it has grown into a way to create and grow relationships with external stakeholders. Using metrics like download numbers and engagement on social media, we have grown the podcast into a communication tool to advance our University's strategic focus on incorporating research, innovation, and partnership into the Louisiana Tech brand, as well as sharing stories of the Tech Family with the larger world.

Deans and other academicians often confess to knowing little about “development” when they are appointed to leadership roles. Our new book, “Fundraising Principles for Faculty and Academic Leaders” is written for academicians, by academicians who are also longtime development practitioners.

As scholars, this audience requires data and evidence, not just advice based on observation and experience. The book’s case studies and donor scenarios are grounded in the growing body of research on philanthropy and motives for giving and volunteering. This gives advancement professionals a credible resource to explain why there’s so much more to “development” than just making the ask.

 A successful mid-level giving program can lead to greater donor retention and more major giving prospects. Similar to how our hearts provide us with nutrients and oxygen, a program of this nature can provide benefits to both annual giving and major giving teams. In this presentation, Katelyn Lofquist and Grier Bennett will share how their team at UAMS successfully implemented a mid-level giving program with the EverTrue Donor Experience team to open doors to new relationships with both alumni and grateful patients. They will highlight how their team reached 1,000 donors within 6 months along with recommendations for program implementation.

Discover how to use data and feedback from alumni and non-alumni friends/donors to identify what motivates stakeholders and to find opportunities for action. Participants will not only learn about what alumni think, but will also see how to translate attitudinal findings into action. Learn how The University of New Mexico is strengthening their advancement team by creating relationships with campus partners, gathering alumni data, and translating alumni and non-alumni friend/donor feedback into tactical and strategic planning. Knowledge about stakeholder wants and desires can act as a lever to build campus-wide coalitions that are focused on alumni and non-alumni friend/donor engagement.

 Your giving day just broke another record. And...it's time to do it again. So, what’s next? How do you amplify engagement and excitement for something we’re all doing every year? Join us for this discussion of how to “level up” your giving day with social engagement, new giving methods, multi-tiered challenges, competitions, and elite level volunteers to keep excitement high. Hear how Oklahoma State took their $1M Give Orange day to the next level. Then, take a look at data on over $400M in results to see key benchmarks, metrics, and new tactics you craft your next record-breaking strategy.

Do you have the gumption to say NO to donors? We think that by allowing the donor to restrict their funds, we are donor centered. In reality, allowing a donor to over-restrict their criteria backfires. It causes administrative issues, impacts the awarding experience, and sets unrealistic expectations with donors. We end up with unspent money, unhappy donors, and broken trust. How do we get ahead of this behavior and allow the donor to feel satisfied with their involvement while holding firm to our and legal boundaries? We will explore how to solve this problem for the long term.

Raising your organization's largest gifts often hinges on a successful principal gifts program. In this session, we will unpack the definition of a principal gift and explain how to build a program that catapults fundraising production. We will explain how principal gifts differ from major gifts and talk about the role that relationship builders play in creating joyful experiences for your organization's most important prospects. In the end, you will understand how to build a principal gifts program and why that is important for your organization.

The mind is a trickster. It leads us wherever it pleases—while we remain mostly unaware of its true motivations. But thanks to advances in psychology, fundraisers can better make the brain’s habits work for them. In this entertaining, interactive, example-filled workshop, we’ll explore our minds’ most surprising tendencies, biases, and shortcuts. Then we’ll dive into how to employ the brain’s habits to boost our donor base and fundraising numbers. You’ll leave with a new understanding of the subtle, predictable, and (often) irrational ways donors think. And you'll have concrete ways to apply these great "brain hacks" to your organization.

Historically Black & Colleges and Universities have produced many professionals in various careers especially Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEMS). It is imperative that graduates of these institutions support through scholastic efforts to ensure the future is as professional prominent for prospective college students.

In late 2018, TAMUC began prioritizing the scholarship process. Philanthropy & Engagement, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Financial Services, Foundation Board, faculty, and administrators have been on a journey to understand, maximize, and improve our complex scholarship process. We suffered from funds not being awarded, rogue committees, donor frustration, and silos. We don’t have all the answers yet, but we have learned a lot about how to simplify, streamline, collaborate, and work more efficiently as an institution to improve the process for all involved. We’ll share our experience and offer some tips and best practices related to the donor perspective.