Community Colleges fulfill their anchor institution role by fostering access to postsecondary education, supporting local economies, addressing critical workforce shortages, and contributing to public health infrastructure. In this session, you will learn about how to incorporate into your fundraising strategies your Community College’s knowledge and expertise of your local community to help achieve lasting and transformative change, both for the school, and surrounding area.

Bob Whittaker, Executive Director of the Salt Lake Community College Foundation, alongside SLCC's partners at Gravyty, will share wisdom and practical takeaways from SLCC's 2024 Giving Day, their most successful Giving Day yet, and their plans to build on this success in future campaigns. Enjoy a deep dive into SLCC's innovative use of student ambassadors, video communications, and giving gamification, along with their latest endeavor of rolling out Texting as part of their engagement strategy. SLCC's technology partners at Gravyty will co-host the session and share further insight into how other colleges are riding the next wave of digital fundraising innovation!

Planned gifts ensure the future of your institution, learn how Tyler Junior College Foundation invested into developing an intentional legacy program TODAY that will lead them to their planned giving prospects TOMORROW!

Discover how Community College of Philadelphia transformed their annual alumni awards event into a gala that raised an astounding $900,000. Join us as we unveil the secrets behind this remarkable feat, delving into the strategic selection of honorees, the management of stakeholder expectations throughout the planning of the event, and invaluable insights garnered along the way. Through real-life examples and engaging discussions, you'll learn how to identify events with untapped potential at your own institution and leverage our proven tactics to take your fundraising endeavors to new heights. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the power of events to maximize your philanthropic success!

When women come together, extraordinary things happen. In 2023, the Carl Sandburg College Foundation and College of Nursing teamed up with 100 Extraordinary WomenTM, a unique, national initiative that brings women together to raise $100,000 or more in gifts and 5-year pledges. In less than six months, more than $100,000 was raised for the College’s nursing student success grant program, bringing attention to this program and the need for increased funding support. Many were first-time gifts that were much larger than our typical initial gift. You will learn effective strategies to raise significant funds among women, boost annual giving, and deepen connections with donors to specific programs. We will also highlight concepts for implementing a simple, yet proven way of reaching groups of new donors to cultivate first-time gifts at higher levels than traditional levels. This session is designed to empower a small team to make a major and immediate impact.

Every donor journey starts with a first gift. We will explore essential strategies for building an alumni program that increases alumni participation in annual giving and other fundraising initiatives. Key topics will include: Developing a strategy for alumni engagement that inspires first-time giving and starts while they are on campus; utilizing technology to enhance alumni engagement; personalizing / segmenting annual fund appeals to resonate with potential donors; engaging event ideas that foster community and maintain meaningful connections with alumni; communicating the importance and impact of annual gifts through various channels By implementing these strategies, community colleges can create a thriving alumni network that supports the institution financially and enhances the overall value of the college experience.