For most people, change is uncomfortable. In higher education, it sometimes seems as though we are distinctly structured to maintain the status quo. But change is inevitable -- whether it is caused by a global pandemic, the retirement of a president, budget cuts, or new leadership in your shop. Learn more about how to lead through change in a way that harnesses the superpowers of your team to create the best possible outcomes.

At its inception, the Purdue for Life Foundation in its efforts towards a full advancement model has implemented process improvements to support the development activity of our units including comprehensive quarterly business reviews (QBR) of major gift work, broad-based campaigns (annual giving), and stewardship. Applicable to institutions of all sizes, this session will detail the addition of QBRs across the organization and outcomes for fundraisers. The Purdue for Life Foundation is an integrated advancement organization launched with the merger of the University Development Office and the Purdue Alumni Association.

Donors and alumni see our institutions as one entity, not individual departments, which means our communication strategies need to be unified. Learn how St. Norbert College audited their decentralized communication efforts, aligned departmental objectives, and created department marketing plans that provide needed & impactful communication. Attendees will then partake in a workshop on how to develop their own influencer map and audience personas, a key tool to supplement their own marketing plans.

Like many large, decentralized shops, Illinois historically used matrixes or manager discretion when setting goals for fundraisers, resulting in a spectrum of performance standards. Acknowledging the importance of portfolio health to a fundraiser's success, Illinois launched the Stoplight System, a pipeline-based approach to setting goals. It combines a discounting algorithm (science) with fundraiser knowledge about each ask (art) to arrive at aspirational, yet achievable goals. Hear from the analyst and frontline about the FY20 implementation that resulted in larger goals, increased closures (amongst COVID) and next steps taken to enhance performance.

Some in the industry say that the era of phone bank fundraising is in the past. While phone-a-thons have changed from earlier models, we find that phone contact with donors still has value for us, our donors, and for our institution. This session will discuss how we are communicating with phone-loyal donors, how we are approaching phone calls now and, in the future, the importance of multi-channel tools and how we use software tools to put these concepts into practice.

Picture this: Donor communication as personal as a living room conversation. Pieces whose stories resonate, convey a genuine thank you, congratulate milestones, and ultimately increase giving. Join Stormie Kirby Harless from the Ball State University Foundation and Jonathan Van Oss of Pledgemine as they show you how you can treat your donors as “Segments of One.”

In this session, we will discuss how best to build the capacity to secure transformational gifts at your institution using a framework that looks at the various elements: The relationship with the donor, academic leader(s), the vision, the business model, and extraordinary stewardship. The Grainger College of Engineering shall serve as a case study in how these elements work together in extraordinary ways.