Noon–1:15 PM ET

Philanthropy as a Lever for Change: Big Bets to Solve Big Problems

In April, Lever for Change and the MacArthur Foundation announced the recipient of the second 100&Change competition, granting $100 million to Community Solutions to accelerate their plans to end homelessness in 75 U.S. communities over the next five years. Beyond 100&Change, Lever for Change has developed and managed several other competitions, including the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award, which recently awarded a total of $24.25 million to improve the lives of refugees around the world, the Lone Star Prize, which will soon award $10 million in funding from Lyda Hill Philanthropies to improve the quality of life of Texans, and the 2030 Climate Challenge that will announce the awardee of its $10 million prizes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions this summer. Join us for a discussion about Lever for Change, with a focus on how universities can engage in competitions.

Cecilia Conrad, Chief Executive Officer and Kristen Molyneaux, Vice President, Social Impact, Lever for Change

Moderator: Kristin Anderson, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, Emory University

1:45–2:30

Adapt-Migrate-Perish: Models for CFR Success

Advancement teams have varying corporate and foundation relations models. This session will focus on how CFR leaders can achieve success in these different models. The foundation of this session is based on the CASE-NACRO paper Adapt, Migrate or Perish; Exploring A New Value Proposition for CFR by Michelle Wamsley and Ryan Sauder. Ms. Wamsley will discuss key themes from the paper, specifically the topic of “Leading From the Middle”. Ms. Wamsley will be joined by 5 CFR leaders from varying institution types and regions. They will discuss their experiences with different models and how they have achieved success in each model type. This panel discussion will be followed by breakout sessions, led by the panelists, to further discuss practical advice on increasing capacity to build fundraising success, cultivating collaboration across campuses and with donors, and how to empower yourself and others to successfully meet the goals of your organization.

Jonelle Bradshaw de Hernandez, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, the University of Texas at Austin; George Kosar, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Partnerships, Georgetown University; Hossein Pourmand, Senior Executive Director, Corporate and Foundations Relations, University of Southern California; Callie Walker, Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; and Michelle Wamsley, Assistant Vice President, Academic Advancement & Strategic Priorities, University of Richmond

Moderator: Kathy Lynch, University Director, Corporate Strategy & Engagement, Yale University

2:30–3:15

Adapt-Migrate-Perish: Breakouts

Following the panel, attendees will have a chance to deep dive with their colleagues on issues relevant to their shop size and type. Five breakouts will be offered for small group discussions with the panelists.

3:45–5:00

Learnings from COVID:  Team Science and Healthcare Inequalities

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we live, work, and study.  COVID has also left an indelible mark on science and healthcare.  Our distinguished panel will discuss how unprecedented collaboration between industry, academia, nonprofits, and government led to the fastest pandemic response in our history.  The panel will explore in-depth the important and interrelated issues of social and healthcare inequity and how all sectors must work together to ensure that our most underrepresented citizens are included.  The panel will share examples across academia and industry of current projects to build bridges with community partners spanning drug development, medication utilization, and healthcare adherence. The panel will also highlight areas where progress is still needed. Attendees will be invited to consider during the Q&A how corporate and foundation relations professionals can play a pivotal role to bring resources to these evergreen issues.

RAMA Richardae Araojo, Associate Commissioner for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, Office of the Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Tesheia Harris (Johnson), Director Yale Center For Clinical Investigation; Chief Operating Officer, YCCI; and Jim Mayne, Vice President for Science at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

Moderator: Kathy Lynch, University Director, Corporate Strategy & Engagement, Yale University

5:00–5:30

Optional Informal Networking

Join us for informal networking with your fellow conference attendees. We will keep the momentum going from the previous session "Learning from COVID: Team Science and Healthcare Inequalities." Small group discussion leaders will facilitate conversation between attendees on topics and questions arising from the session. So grab a beverage of your choice, turn on your camera, and join us!

Noon–1:15 PM ET

Learning Engineering: Advancing the Science and Practice of Education

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and students everywhere were forced, quite suddenly, to rely on technology for education in an unprecedented way. Many educators are now rethinking some of the basic tenets of education, even as students are returning to classrooms and campuses after a year of remote learning. Meanwhile, researchers have started working at the intersection of learning science and computer science to advance educational outcomes through rapid experimentation and iteration. These experiments, coming on the heels of a global pandemic and with funding from forward-looking philanthropists, have the potential to lead to massive improvements in education. How can universities partner with other educational institutions to advance this work and to leverage it in the service of our own students?

Kumar Garg is managing director and head of partnerships for Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative that finds exceptional people and helps them do more for others. Ben Motz is a faculty research scientist in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and runs the eLearning Research and Practice Lab at Indiana University. Kumar and Ben will discuss the current and future state of the field of learning to engineer and will discuss what universities can do to advance this work, including the role of government agencies, private foundations, and corporations in providing funding.

Kumar Garg, Managing Director and Head of Partnerships, Schmidt Futures and Ben Motz, Research Scientist, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University

1:45–3:15 

Innovation and Corporate Relations: A Case Study

In the current competitive funding climate, innovation is key to seeing improved success for both funders and universities.  This first of this two-part session will introduce the example of Halo, a marketplace and network that moves science forward by connecting scientists directly with companies for research collaborations and funding opportunities. For five years, Halo ran their Grants4Ag program through their own portal, providing 20+ grants to agtech researchers around the world. Grants4Ag serves as one of the company's primary vehicles for identifying research partners for larger-scale, long-term collaborations. Last year, Bayer partnered with Halo and went from receiving 80 proposals from 17 countries to receiving more than 600 proposals from 39 countries. Bayer ultimately funded 24 projects and connected with hundreds of scientists outside its already expansive international network. Using Halo’s networking tools, Bayer's team can also track the progress of the scientists who submitted proposals and pull from an even deeper talent pool for future Bayer projects.  Both Bayer and some of their grant recipients will discuss the innovative process behind the program and its impacts.  After hearing about the program, attendees will participate in part two of the session, which will be interactive breakouts.

Jeffrey Myers, Director of Corporate Relations, Michigan State University; Phil Taylor, Open Innovation Lead, Bayer Crop Science; and Jessica Watts, Executive Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, University of North Texas

Moderator: Kevin Leland, Chief Executive Officer, Halo

4:00–5:00

What Corporations Want:  Words Really Matter

Individuals operating in the worlds of academia and industry/biopharma often speak the same language, however, the words can have very different meanings. This is, in part, because the two sectors have differing needs and definitions for what they call success. Terms such as timelines, resourcing, and even biomarkers are interpreted differently–potentially leading to miscommunications and missed opportunities. What if we worked to resolve these discrepancies? This could vastly accelerate the movement of ideas from concept to approved drug/device. 

In this session, Cherié Butts, Medical Director and Head of Clinical Assessments – Digital & Quantitative Medicine at Biogen, and David Putnam, Associate Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, will share how they understand some basic but also most misunderstood words and how this affects outcomes with research contracts and funding of sponsored projects. Learn how to develop a business case that captures industry/biopharma interests. 

Cherié Butts, Medical Director and Head of Clinical Assessments – Digital & Quantitative Medicine, Biogen, and David Putnam, Associate Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, College of Engineering, Cornell University

Moderator: Roxanne Ford, Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of California, Irvine

Noon–1:15 PM ET

Building Diversity through a Three-Way Partnerships

How can industry, K-12 schools, and universities come together to support diversity in STEM all the way from Kindergarten to the workplace? With the financial and employee support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation, two different partnerships between a university and K-12 schools have been able to accomplish just that between California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and DaVinci Science and University of Maryland Baltimore County and Baltimore City Schools. With over 12 years of combined experiences, these two partnerships have blended interactions at all educational and professional levels with student organizations, faculty and industry mentorship, and scholarships to encourage and prepare a diverse student population to pursue and thrive in STEM careers. Hear from representatives from both partnerships and Northrop Grumman about what’s worked, lessons learned, and how you can build a similar partnership at your institution.

Carleen Beste, Director, Corporate Citizenship; Manager, Northrop Grumman Foundation, Northrop Grumman Corporation; Elise Erb, Associate Director of Development, California Polytechnic State University; Najib Jammal, Principal, Lakeland Elementary Middle School; Stephanie Fitzsimmons, Manager K-12 STEM Education Programs, Northrop Grumman; Greg Simmons Vice President for Institutional Advancement, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and Steve Wallis, Principal, Da Vinci Schools

1:45–2:30

Ask the Experts: COVID Edition

While a great deal has changed in our world as the result of COVID-19, there is still the promise that we may see some signs of a return to “normal” again this fall. Many universities have announced that at least students will be back on campus. If vaccination rates continue in the right direction, it is possible that it may soon be possible for more of us to return to our offices if we haven’t already done so. And, at the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all into new ways of working that have worked well, and some of which we would like to continue to leverage in the future. In this session, you will have the opportunity to ask the experts questions of your own and you will also have the chance to share some of your own COVID stories.

The conference planning committee will have a lively discussion about CFR life after COVID-19. Each panelist will share observations about how her team pivoted in response to challenges presented by COVID-19.

Kristin Anderson, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, Emory University; Jonelle Bradshaw De Hernandez, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, University of Texas at Austin; and Kathleen Lynch, University Director, Corporate Strategy & Engagement, Yale University

Moderator: Jennifer Lawrence, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, Indiana University

2:40–3:15

Ask the Experts: COVID Edition Roundtables

Following the panel, attendees will be able to visit different topic-focused breakout rooms. In the last 14 months, everyone has had learning experiences, so please come and share yours. Topics will include:

• Changes in offices and working patterns
• Meeting and managing a new team
• How Yale engaged corporations using technology
• Engaging faculty with webinars and Zoom meetings
• Developing online faculty development resources

3:45–5:00

Pathways to Opportunity: Philanthropic Approaches to Racial and Social Equity

The Aspen Institute estimates that there are currently 4.6 million opportunity youth—young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market—in the United States. This means that one in nine young people in the United States is disconnected from school or work during this critical time of becoming an adult. President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper in February 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential. An initiative of the Obama Foundation, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance exists to scale and sustain this mission, building safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color where they feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity. Since 2017, Michael Smith has led the Obama Foundation’s efforts to scale the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative and aligned programs to expand opportunities for underserved youth.

Rob Henry is vice president of education at CASE where he is responsible for creating an overall global strategy for achieving CASE's vision and mission related to talent management and for guiding conference programming, diversity/inclusion initiatives, research, and the CASE Library. In July 2021, Rob and his colleagues will announce the launch of the Opportunity and Inclusion Center (OIC), which emerged out of a two-year planning process funded by the Kresge Foundation and guided by a volunteer task force. The center will focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and increasing the diversity pipeline for advancement professionals. Brian Flahaven is vice president of strategic partnerships for CASE and also oversees CASE’s public college and university foundation programs.

Please join us for our closing keynote session, in which Brian Flahaven will moderate a very important conversation between Michael Smith and Rob Henry about philanthropic approaches to racial and social equity.

Rob Henry, Vice President of Education, CASE and Michael Smith, Director, Youth Opportunity Programs; Executive Director, MBK Alliance, Obama Foundation

Moderator: Brian Flahaven, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, CASE