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2020 Online Program

View the Schedule

All seminars are listed in Eastern Time (ET). Use this time zone converter to determine the time in your location.

Registration rate includes all four broadcast dates and recordings of each seminar. Registration is required to access to the livestream broadcasted seminars and recordings. In order to receive access to the livestream broadcast, registration must be complete by 11:59 PM ET the day prior to broadcast. Same-day access will NOT be processed. See details on registration page.

All seminar recordings will be made available after the last broadcast date. Registered participants will receive a separate email providing details of when and how to access the recordings before the end of July.

In order to earn CPE credits, full participation during the entire livestream broadcast and completion of the seminar evaluation is required. Check the CPE requirements page for full details.

View the 2020 Conference Program

1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
Stewarding Foundations through the COVID-19 Crisis  
During this time of unprecedented challenges, the financial health of college and university foundations is a critical concern.  Boards, investment committees, foundation leadership, and their advisors must work together to assess and plan for both the short- and long-term implications of this crisis.  In this session, Commonfund experts and foundation leaders will discuss the challenges institutions are facing, share techniques they can employ to rethink their portfolios and policies. and offer strategies they can employ to succeed in the future.    

Presenters: Lisa Gibert, Chief Executive Officer, Clark College Foundation; Guy Patton, President and CEO, University of Oklahoma Foundation; Cathleen Rittereiser, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute; and Steven Snyder, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management

3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Capital Campaigns vs Capital Sprints: How the Giving Funnel Approach Pays Off 
Are we sacrificing the future of our institutions to get a few wins today? As capital campaign goals become larger (the median target is now $1 billion) and the campaign march itself becomes longer (8 years and rising), higher ed advancement and foundation leaders risk alienating the next generation of major donors. 

Kansas State University Foundation has taken an outside-in view of fundraising by breaking up huge capital efforts in favor of smaller, short-term, high impact fundraising sprints. The goal is to connect groups of engaged alumni and families with gift opportunities that sync up with KSU priorities. The result: an approach that activates the giving funnel and demonstrates immediate impact for every donor. 
 
The result? Capital sprints that generate more gifts, bring in and retain more donors, and provide more support and flexibility now and in the future.  

Presenters: Brent Grinna, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, EverTrue; and John Morris, Senior Vice President of Development, Kansas State University  Foundation

3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Economic Market Outlook 
What is the outlook for the U.S. and global economy? What makes this economic crisis different from past downturns? Will the economy experience a “V-shaped” or more prolonged recovery? Vanguard economist Josh Hirt will provide a market outlook and share thoughts on how economic trends could affect higher education and college and university foundations.   

Presenter: Josh Hirt, Economist, Vanguard  

1:00 - 2:00 PM ET 

Federal Tax Update for Foundations and Advancement Offices  

From the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the CARES Act, learn about the latest tax developments in Washington, DC with a particular focus on issues affecting college and university foundations and advancement offices. This online seminar will cover topics such as charitable giving incentives, tax credits, unrelated business income, endowment tax, and fringe benefits. Updated guidance and information on the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program will also be discussed.  

 Presenters: Brian Flahaven, Senior Director for Advocacy, CASE; and Karen Gries, Principal, Exempt Tax Services, CliftonLarsenAllen LLP