In an era where the digital realm continues to evolve, staying connected with alumni requires more than just traditional approaches. Dive into this dynamic session to uncover the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the latest technology innovations in deepening and enriching alumni relations.

How does your organization decide what prospects are in major gift portfolio and with what major gift officers? We will discuss criteria used at Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences for major gift assignment including ratings, region and class year, among others. When should major gift officers be disqualifying prospects? How can your organization set up a process to get leads for strong prospects from colleagues and volunteers into major gift officer portfolio in a timely manner? How do we use an upcoming reunion milestone to evaluate major gift officer coverage? In this interactive session, we will share some of Harvard’s processes and strategies for organizing portfolios for frontline fundraisers and encourage those in the audience to contribute their ideas.

Building a culture of philanthropy involves engaging stakeholders in the stories of our students and alumni. A successful major gift strategy is aligning a donor's interest with our shared mission. This session will share three case studies of fundraising success in New Hampshire that collectively have enhanced the culture of giving across our colleges statewide. The primary objective is to engage attendees in an active conversation, an exchange of ideas about how we collectively define success in today's fundraising climate.

You have a shiny new brand standards guide and kudos from the exec suite on a brand well built. So why does your smart watch keep telling you to breathe? Because it’s time for the hard work to begin. In this session, you’ll hear how Providence College leveraged participation during their brand strategy discovery phase to develop a 12-month implementation plan — from campus signage to Canva templates. Whether your brand is new or needs renewed socialization, participants in this session will come away with the framework for a brand roll-out action plan, including how to establish milestones along the way.

The traditional campaign case for support is a comprehensive document that takes significant time and resources to produce. In contrast, the mini case for support is a flexible tool that engages just the right people at your institution, highlights fundraising priorities, provides positioning language for front line fundraisers, and comes together relatively quickly. In this session, discover the "anatomy" of a mini case for support and how to conduct the interviews; which people at your institution will benefit; and how this process can jump-start or re-energize progress toward your fundraising objectives. You'll also have a chance to begin drafting your own mini case in real time.

To fully flex your fundraising muscle you need buy-in from both the annual giving and advancement services sides of the house. How do you achieve the alignment necessary to drive meaningful results? The devil is in the data.
GiveCampus analyzed aggregate data from 4,532 campaigns and 4,973 giving forms to identify what’s moving the proverbial needle in fundraising and what’s not. Find out from fellow higher ed fundraiser Jessica Gagnon at Boston College how she's leveraging that data to drive decisions at key stages of the philanthropic lifecycle, and how she got everybody—including advancement services—to back her team's biggest bets.

Discover the future of alumni engagement in this dynamic session that unveils the power of hybrid events to supercharge your alumni relations strategy. In an era where traditional approaches are evolving, join us as we delve into innovative techniques that blend the best of virtual and in-person experiences.

Learn how to create meaningful connections with alumni, no matter where they are in the world. We'll share real-world case studies, practical tips, and interactive ideas that will breathe new life into your engagement efforts. From virtual reunions to immersive online networking, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to adapt, thrive, and future-proof your alumni engagement initiatives.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve, build stronger alumni relationships, and ensure your institution's enduring success. Join us for an enlightening journey into the future of alumni engagement through hybrid events!

The past three years have been exceptionally challenging for the philanthropic sector. Market conditions have fluctuated drastically, and social conditions change every day. On March 13, 2020, at the very start of real social and economic uncertainty, the University of Southern Maine (USM) voted in their first Zoom meeting ever to proceed with a $46 million comprehensive campaign. In June 2023, USM closed their campaign over goal ($50 million raised) and two years ahead of schedule. In this session, we will explore how this public regional comprehensive university kept focused and resilient amidst turbulent market conditions, an unpredictable philanthropic environment, presidential and Cabinet-level transitions, and a challenging capital approval process. We will pose several scenarios to the audience for group discussion and hear from USM how they tackled these challenges and turned them into opportunities.

Let’s face it, not every advancement team is built the same. But that doesn’t mean they can’t raise the same (and even better).

While being a member of a smaller team certainly poses challenges, it forces its members to embrace critical thinking, innovative ideas, and modern technology. In this session, you’ll learn about how Central Catholic High School, with an eight person team, did just that and exceeded their goals thanks to multi-channel communications, a unique approach to alumni volunteers, automated donor comment collection, and more repeatable low-touch strategies. When you leave this session, you’ll be ready to smash your goals by embracing efficient and modern marketing techniques and technologies.

Are you ready to save time and engage more?