CASE

Advancement Services

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

Blazing a Trail: Engaging Alumni, Empowering Students, and Elevating Community

The University of Oregon is committed to developing innovative programs that promote inclusivity, leveraging partnerships with community stakeholders, engaging alumni and major gift prospects, and supporting student career readiness. The team responsible for engaging new prospects in the state of Oregon developed a way to meet these needs through an innovative event built off mutually beneficial outcomes and relationships with community leaders. In 2023, the Oregon Engagement Team created a new event that brought together efforts of the UO's Lylle Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, the Black Business Association of Oregon, the UO Alumni Association Black Alumni Network, and the Portland Trail Blazers to engage students, build community, identify and cultivate major gift prospects, address workforce development for our region, and connect students with business leaders. The event was such a success, planning began for a similar event in 2024 that evolved into a networking experience for BIPOC Alumni Network Board leaders, University of Oregon Portland students, and notable Oregon BIPOC business chambers and associations. These strategic engagement events have accelerated the UO’s ability to support students from underrepresented communities, build partnerships with key members of the community, and strengthen relationships with alumni.

Speakers: Kelly Elliott, Senior Director of Regional Engagement, Oregon, University of Oregon, Michael Reza, Associate Vice President, Portland Development and Alumni Engagement, University of Oregon, Mimi Endo, Program Manager, Alumni Engagement, University of Oregon

Competencies: Strategic Thinking Global and Cultural Competence

Experience Level: All Levels

Topics: Diversity & Inclusion Major gifts Special Events

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

Building An Advancement Team: All You Need Is A Little Bit Of Magic

In August 2022, CSUSB invested in its advancement team by creating a position dedicated to professional and leadership development. Since then, we have hired 20 new team members, promoted 5 of our staff, created an Advancement Academy, developed a professional development program, and administered an engagement survey. We have created magic with the help of our friends in strategic communication, academic affairs, and human resources, and we agree with Walt – it’s kinda fun to do the impossible! Help us spread the magic as we share our recruitment and engagement strategies, our mistakes, and our successes over the last year.

Speakers: Tania Pantoja, Director, Professional and Leadership Development, California State University, San Bernardino, Robert Tenczar, Associate Vice President, California State University, San Bernardino

Competencies: Leadership Strategic Thinking

Experience Level: All Levels

Topics: Branding Diversity & Inclusion Talent Management

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

Contemporary Philanthropy: LGBTQ+ Allyship Affiliations and Donor Motivations

This emerging and contemporary higher education philanthropy session is based on Dr. Peter Robertson’s doctoral dissertation consisting of an AERA award-winning qualitative research case study that explored the motivations by allies of the LGBTQ+ community for giving toward LGBTQ+ university causes. Findings revealed heterosexual and cisgender LGBTQ+ allyship affiliations, as well as their motivations for financially supporting LGBTQ+ campus programs and student initiatives. Both topics have not been academically explored, and the findings generated important recommendations for higher education advancement leaders. Today, higher education institutions must strive to connect and engage with its alumnx and all constituents in authentic, honest, and sincere ways, which can increase the likelihood and propensity of private support from this previously overlooked demographic: heterosexual and cisgender LGBTQ+ allies.

Speakers: Peter Robertson, Director of Alumni Connections, California State University, Fresno

Competencies: Relationship Building Global and Cultural Competence

Experience Level: Level 4 All Levels

Topics: Annual Giving Diversity & Inclusion Planned giving

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

How to Make the First 90 Days Count

Starting a new position is intimidating for us all, at any stage of our careers. A solid plan for your first 90 days in a new role makes all the difference in the world. In this session, presenter Ellen Whitlock Baker will walk participants through a tangible plan for how to approach the first three months of a new job with confidence. Topics covered will be who to meet with, what questions to ask, how to write and present your 90-day plan, and how to assess your first 90 days.

This session is appropriate for Advancement team members at any level, as well as for HR/People and Culture team members responsible for onboarding new team members.

Speakers: Ellen Whitlock Baker, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement, Seattle University

Competencies: Leadership Relationship Building

Experience Level: Level 3 Level 2

Topics: Talent Management

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

Leverage a Milestone Anniversary to Reinforce Your Brand Story

Don’t let a milestone anniversary slip by with a simple slice of cake or balloon emoji on Instagram. Take the time to plan out a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy that is intentional and multi-faceted to really leverage the momentum of the big occasion. Share your company’s origin story and lean into all the triumphs and achievements throughout the years. Tap into nostalgia. Nostalgia strengths people’s emotional connection with your company and deepens their loyalty and brand affinity. Your audience will be delighted with special edition product releases and/or retro branding. Infuse all these elements into social media, advertising, PR efforts, design, web content and more. Historical dates and photos can be throwback posts on social media. Create a special commemorative logo that can visually brand the anniversary. Highlight the founders of the past while also celebrating current employees in videos and blog content. Now is the best time to control the narrative, tell your brand’s story by highlighting the past and outlining the vibrant future yet to come.

Speakers: Nikki Koontz, Assistant Vice President of Marketing Communication, Southern Utah University

Competencies: Strategic Thinking Relationship Building

Experience Level: Level 4 Level 3

Topics: Branding Social Media

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

Multiply your annual giving program's donations through collaboration

A successful annual giving program thrives in a collaborative environment. Departmental silos limit donor participation and dollars raised on an annual basis. Scripps College changed the paradigm of philanthropy at Scripps by creating an interdepartmental committee, The Scripps Fund Committee. Learn how stakeholders were chosen, the role committee members play in the annual giving process, and simple ways to maximize your annual fund’s effectiveness and reduce your cost to raise a dollar.

Speakers: Karina Chappell, Director of Leadership Annual Giving and The Scripps Fund, Scripps College, Enrique Gonzalez-Salgado, Associate Vice President for Philanthropy, Scripps College

Competencies: Relationship Building Industry or Sector Expertise

Experience Level: All Levels

Topics: Annual Giving

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PT

The Road to VP: What it Really Takes to Advance in Advancement

For most of us, the road to fundraising was accidental. We arrive from completely different careers and wildly unique backgrounds. The path to leadership is just as diverse and, honestly, a little mysterious. Join this panel of Vice Presidents to pull back the curtain on what the top job really takes. If you’re a new leader, get advice on how to think big, focus on your biggest value, and inspire a culture-shift not a culture shock. If you’re an aspiring leader, learn what skills, experiences, and opportunities to seek out that will prepare you for your next step.

Speakers: Jenna Goodman, CEO & CoFounder, Generous Change, Kim O'Neill, VP for University Advancement/ President & CEO of the Foundation for WWU & Alumn, The Foundation for WWU & Alumni, Eric Spicer, Vice President, Unit Development, ASU Foundation, Matt White, Vice President of Advancement, Utah State University, Dexter Bailey, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations, California Institute of Technology

Competencies: Strategic Thinking Leadership

Experience Level: Level 6 All Levels

Topics: Diversity & Inclusion Major gifts

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Building an Influencer Community One Donor At A Time

Have you ever wanted to engage donors more fully in an authentic and meaningful way with faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors? The Utah Valley University (UVU) Strategic Engagement team’s initiative, the EverGREEN Ambassador Program, was conceived in line with the university’s inaugural comprehensive fundraising campaign. The EverGREEN Ambassador Program was launched to strategically engage with key donors after the formal public campaign launch. As part of the fundraising campaign, the EverGREEN Ambassadors Program invited UVU’s supporters to serve as extensions of the Institutional Advancement Strategic Engagement team. In this session we will explore ways to identify principal-level donors for an integrated influencer marketing campaign. Learn how you can establish and scale an influencer marketing program for your donors and alumni with meaningful and engaging content.

Speakers: Lauren James, Strategic Engagement Coordinator and Lead, Utah Valley University, Jenna Bunkall, Director of IA Communications, Utah Valley University

Competencies: Relationship Building Strategic Thinking

Experience Level: Level 3 Level 4

Topics: Social Media

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Lights, Camera, AI: Elevating University Engagement through Innovative Technology

Step into the future and discover how the latest AI-powered advancements can elevate the impact of all your communications, from marketing videos to social media and email campaigns. “Lights, Camera, AI” is packed with practical advice from Stanford senior creative producer Steve Fyffe and University of Oregon senior director of strategic engagement Michelle Joyce that will save you time, money and countless hours of experimentation. It’s designed for anyone who wants to take advantage of AI to work faster and smarter.

Steve will guide attendees through the process of creating captivating and inclusive videos with global reach through AI-powered brainstorming, voiceovers and translation. Michelle will show you how to train your own, customized GPT models, integrate plug-ins, conduct in-depth research and streamline your email management.

Don't miss this opportunity to harness the power of AI and take your university’s storytelling, marketing and communications to new heights.

Speakers: Steve Fyffe, Senior Creative Producer, Stanford University, Michelle Joyce-Fyffe, Senior Director of Strategic Engagement, University of Oregon

Competencies: Industry or Sector Expertise Strategic Thinking

Experience Level: All Levels

Topics: Branding Social Media

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Mentorship: The Ultimate Alumni Engagement Strategy

Offering mentorship opportunities for your alumni is the ultimate alumni engagement strategy. Mentorship allows your alumni to connect to students and other alumni, share their insights and resources, make a tangible impact, and develop a deeper bond with their alma mater and community. The value of mentorship is priceless for your organization, students, and alumni, and implementing a success mentorship program is a win-win. The Alumni Career Engagement team at UCLA offers a variety of mentorship opportunities, and this program will share small, mid, and large-scale mentorship programs examples. Attendees will take away program ideas that suit their institutions, staff size, and budgets best.

Speakers: Gloria Ko, Senior Director, Alumni Career Engagement, University of California, Los Angeles, Haley Krakoski, Director, Alumni Career Engagement, University of California, Los Angeles

Competencies: Relationship Building Industry or Sector Expertise

Experience Level: Level 3 All Levels

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Optimizing Administrative Professionals to Enhance Frontline Fundraising Success

Today’s fundraisers are expected to raise more money than ever for their institutions, yet many frontline staff spends less than half their time cultivating and soliciting prospects. At Caltech, we want our gift officers to focus on the work they are hired to do – raising philanthropic funds for the Institution. During the pandemic, we studied how our development assistants were supporting the gift officers and decided to reorganize the team as an administrative cohort that was built for optimizing fundraising success. Today, our development assistants are critical partners for the success of our fundraisers. Join us for this session and see through the lens of the fundraiser, the manager, and the development assistant. Learn how we transformed the dynamics between fundraisers and development assistants, and how investing resources in this critical support area will boost the ROI of your institution’s fundraising program.

Speakers: Mark Longo, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Development Administrative Management, California Institute of Technology, Wendy Chin, Development Associate, California Institute of Technology, Nicole Weaver-Goller, Senior Director of Development, Regional Major Gifts and Student Affairs, California Institute of Technology

Competencies: Leadership Strategic Thinking

Experience Level: Level 4 Level 5

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Scholarships that Stand the Test of Time - the Sequel!

Scholarships That Stand the Test of Time - The Sequel!
Navigating the complexities of donor intent and scholarship criteria is critical to long-term successful administration of scholarships – and easier said than done. Oregon State University Foundation’s Scholarship Task Force, working with colleagues across the Foundation and University over the course of three years, developed and implemented guidelines for working with donors to inspire scholarship gifts that stand the test of time. The Task Force is shifting the culture of scholarship fundraising from one that was almost entirely focused on honoring donor preferences to one that balances donor intent and university/student needs. This session will illustrate the benefits of consistent guidelines for donor conversations, partnering with campus leaders, and use of specific and strategic language in gift agreements. We will share the challenges we faced along the way and the professional satisfaction gained through this work. This session will enhance what we shared at CASE VIII '23, including new lessons learned and strategies employed. Our goal is to help CASE institutions maximize the impact of scholarship fundraising on student success through integrity and transparency with donors.

Speakers: Jennifer Milburn, Senior Director, Gift Planning, Oregon State University Foundation, Kristin Watkins, Vice President, Donor Engagement, and Chief Marketing Officer, Oregon State University Foundation, Mike Moran, Senior Director of Development II, Scholarships and University Initiatives, Oregon State University Foundation, Pam Powell, Director, Stewardship, Oregon State University Foundation

Competencies: Integrity and Professionalism Strategic Thinking

Experience Level: All Levels

Topics: Diversity & Inclusion Major gifts Planned giving

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT

The Ghost in You: Taking the Fear Out of Writing for Campus Leaders

Ghostwriting, or writing for someone else, can be a frightful journey. In this session, learn top tips for taking a message (e.g. speech or letter) you’re writing for a dean, board chair, or other campus leader from request to delivery. How do you start? Where can you find information and inspiration? How do you capture someone else’s voice — even when you rarely interact with them? What processes can help create structure and momentum in successfully completing the project? We will also meet a few demons that can stand in our way — Imposter syndrome? Eek! Mean responses? No! — and share ways to slay them. To cap off the session, we will brainstorm ideas for messaging a few different scenarios.

Speakers: Amy Cranch, Principal Editor, Executive Communications, University of California, Berkeley

Competencies: Industry or Sector Expertise Strategic Thinking

Experience Level: Level 4 Level 3

Topics: Annual Giving Branding Diversity & Inclusion Major gifts