In today's dynamic higher education landscape, coordinated communications and marketing efforts are more critical than ever. Aligning communications and marketing professionals across campus, from the colleges and units to the central teams, can significantly uplift university priorities and advance the overall institution. Drawing from their work to establish a council of 21 communications leaders from the colleges and units at Virginia Tech, Zeke Barlow and Jesse Tuel will share a series of practical strategies, ranging from easy (hosting meetings for all communicators) to difficult (changing the university organizational chart), that can be applied in any institutional setting. Participants will leave the presentation with a toolbox of tactics to customize and deploy at their own institutions.

W&L's first year of utilizing a named Annual Fund scholarship for the 5th and 10th reunion gifts broke dollar goals early, inspired collective philanthropy, created authentic connections to incoming students, led with impact and invested in ongoing stewardship. Learn how your school can create similar programs that align institutional priorities with young alumni philanthropic interests, generating authentic, long-term relationships with your next generation of donors.

In today's competitive landscape, engaging donors and alumni effectively is crucial, even when resources are limited. Big budgets do not always equal big impact! In this session, seasoned engagement professionals from Washington and Lee University and UVA's Darden School of Business will unveil their most impactful donor touches and event enhancements that cost nothing and will share lessons learned. This session will highlight ways to leverage existing resources and partnerships and will showcase practical, cost-effective ideas that add value and authenticity to your events. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to elevate their engagement and stewardship programs. The session will be interactive, featuring case studies, practical examples, and opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and discussion. Come prepared with your best event extras to share with the group!

This session will discuss the strengths and opportunities of a college-specific development officer versus a centralized model at Jacksonville State University (JSU). We'll explore how these different approaches impact fundraising effectiveness, donor relationships, and overall advancement strategies at Jax State.

Learn how the Western Kentucky University (WKU) Alumni Association, in collaboration with the WKU Office of the Provost, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, and five academic colleges, created the CASE Circle of Excellence Silver award-winning First-Generation Alumni in Residence program. Discover how this initiative and the broader First-Generation Alumni Advocates program are building a supportive community and enhancing student success for first-generation college students at WKU. With over 35% of all undergraduates being first-generation college students, creating support programs that connects them with first-generation alumni is crucial. These students often come from low-income or minority backgrounds, are less likely to use career-planning services, and have lower participation in extracurricular activities, making alumni mentorship vital for their academic and professional success.

Learn practical strategies for leveraging first-generation alumni experiences to inspire current first-generation students, create meaningful connections, and promote institutional commitment to first-generation success. This session will provide actionable insights for building and sustaining a scalable first-generation alumni network that pays it forward, making a lasting impact on your institution and its community.

"Every person on the planet has sass and smart-sass qualities in them." - Dictionary.com . Do you know and have the skill sets to solicit, acknowledge, and steward the gifts your charity seeks? What are the most important attributes in each category? If you've closed the gift and acknowledged why should you be included in the stewardship?

The "Fun in the Fundamentals of Annual Giving" revaluates traditional annual giving through the lens of ‘Design Thinking’ and focuses on how you can improve the three fundamental goals of annual giving: Donor Acquisition, Donor Retention, and Donor Upgrades. The presentation explores fun and innovative ideas from various institutions, highlights how new tools like Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT can be used to enhance your work, and discusses evolving annual giving strategies from digital marketing to special events, and everything in between.

Higher Education's challenges are numerous and complex. Are you ready to lead? This panel of current and former college and university vice presidents, will stimulate your thinking about how to turn challenges into successes. How will we approach challenges such as declining trust in higher education, continued declines in donor participation and event attendance, national cultural/political divisions, board and legislative intrusion, uses of A.I., recruiting and retaining talent, staff work expectations, and managing multiple constituencies. Bring your questions to ask your C-Suite colleagues who serve on their respective presidents' cabinets.

Tune in for an enlightening session that will transform the way you think about alumni engagement and student success! Discover innovative strategies to connect students and alumni beyond academic disciplines, creating a vibrant community of diverse experiences. Learn how to showcase alumni success stories in a way that celebrates their journey beyond graduation and inspires current students. We’ll guide you through establishing a seamless transition from student to engaged alumnus, nurturing a legacy of involvement and giving back. Plus, gain insights into effective tracking methods to quantify the positive ripple effects of alumni interactions on student growth. Don’t miss this chance to enrich your institution’s culture with the power of alumni voices!

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the landscape of higher education marketing and communications, institutions are focused on how to harness its potential while mitigating risks, and rightfully so. This presentation, however, goes beyond introductory AI concepts to share the University of Mississippi's innovative approach to developing and implementing AI guidelines for campus communicators. We'll discuss our process of creating a comprehensive framework that not only sets boundaries but also encourages safe experimentation through advanced use cases.

Relationship building is the heart of philanthropy. The listening skills a fundraiser needs to be successful at building strong relationships with donors and prospects differs from your usual listening activities in work and life. In this session, you’ll learn the components of active listening and how to develop your listening skills to build solid and lasting relationships. This session will focus on building cultural competencies and practicing emotional intelligence to take your fundraising to the next level.

Will we achieve our fundraising goal this year? Do we have enough asks planned in our pipeline to achieve our goal? Questions like these arise throughout the year in advancement organizations of all shapes and sizes. When they arise in your institution, do you have a reliable method to forecast fundraising results with confidence?

In this session the University of Central Florida Advancement and Partnerships team will share a roadmap for forecasting fundraising totals that has been successfully used to project fundraising attainment within a reliable margin to actual dollars raised. From the analysis methods used to determine discount rates for solicitations to sample reports shared with leadership, this session will provide insights into goal setting techniques, managing fundraiser performance, and monitoring pipeline movement through this method of forecasting fundraising.

Explore the evolution of annual giving strategies from traditional methods such as phonation and mailers, to creative communications and digital engagement in this insightful session. Discover how innovative approaches in online giving, digital communications, social media integration, and texting have transformed the landscape of annual fundraising. Gain a deeper understanding of how these advancements have revitalized and reengaged alumni and donors, paving the way for a more inclusive, effective, dynamic and modern annual giving model.

Join us for 'Navigating the Managerial Odyssey,' where we explore the evolving challenges and triumphs of managing at every career stage. From guiding early career professionals to navigating complex managerial landscapes and influencing strategic decisions as senior leaders, this session offers practical insights and strategies for success. Whether you're a new manager, a seasoned middle manager, or a senior executive, discover actionable advice and leadership wisdom that transcends hierarchical boundaries. Don’t miss this engaging discussion designed to elevate your managerial prowess and inspire effective leadership!

So you joined the road warrior club? Congratulations! But now what? Learn and connect with your fellow new and seasoned road warriors to "hit the ground running". Gain the tools of the trade to be a great fundraiser, travel easier, and advance your career, with a healthy dose of hilarious or jaw dropping stories from the field.

This presentation delves into the motivational psyche of millennial alumni donors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), particularly exploring Florida A&M University (FAMU) graduates' giving behaviors. It unpacks the critical factors that drive this demographic to engage in philanthropy, presenting a multifaceted view of alumni giving that interweaves personal belief systems, institutional connections, transparency in fund utilization, and the financial capability of individuals as they progress in their careers. Through an exploratory qualitative analysis, the study bridges the gap between traditional alumni giving strategies and the evolving philanthropic landscape shaped by millennials. It underscores the significance of tailored communication, acknowledging the generational demand for transparency and the impact of personal growth experienced during the formative college years on later financial giving.

In an era where diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential, the representation of young alumni on national alumni association boards is more critical than ever. This session will delve into the opportunities and inclusive practices that can help amplify young alumni voices, drawing from my personal experience as the youngest board member on my alma mater's national alumni association boards.

Giving Tuesday is the biggest giving day in the world, so getting a foothold can be difficult. Austin Peay reimagined this crowded giving day to make a larger impact through project based fundraising. Come learn how a small shop with limited tools was able to invigorate faculty and staff, and reengage alumni and friends, and fund more than 30 projects across campus.

Unleash the power of Generative AI (GenAI) to revolutionize your work! This session will explore how AI-powered tools can help you work efficiently, personalize outreach, develop data-informed strategies, streamline processes, and drive innovation in your daily work and across advancement. Discover real-world case studies of applications and share your strategies for integrating AI into your daily toolkit, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Everyone wishes to better engage with their alumni and donors, but how do you leverage digital technology to so? The Marketing & Digital Strategy team at Emory Advancement & Alumni Engagement will showcase our approach to marketing and digital engagement and how we've strategically utilized digital technology to create a cohesive and tailored approach to build trusting and lifelong relationships with alumni and donors.

In today’s dynamic service-oriented environments, navigating change effectively is crucial for advancing organizational goals and maintaining competitiveness. This session explores key strategies essential for leadership in guiding advancement services through transformation. We will share our preferred principles of leading change, overcoming resistance, and strategies for success in building great teams and elevating culture. With considerable depth and breadth of experiences at small and large institutions, our lessons learned, and real-world examples provide practical insights for effective leadership in advancement services through a proactive approach to change management and fostering a culture of innovation and resilience.

The higher education landscape is constantly evolving, presenting both challenges and opportunities for fundraisers. From navigating new regulations and technologies to adapting to the shifting priorities of students and donors, leadership must ensure their institution operates at the highest level and utilizes current best practices. A robust suite of highly-tailored policies and procedures can be the key to ensuring your college is equipped to serve your communities and prepare for a bright future. The Broward College Foundation and CCS Fundraising recently partnered on an audit to assess the current state of the foundation’s policies and procedures. This collaboration led to the development of a new, comprehensive suite of policies designed to enhance operations and protect against emerging threats. Join CCS and BCF as they discuss the essential policies your institution needs to support enhanced operations and mitigate risks such as digital currency gift acceptance and naming policies in the age of cancel culture.

Teamwork makes the dream work! Are you new to engaging your young alumni? Need new strategies? Or want to spice up your events? Join Virginia Tech, James Madison University, and the University of Virginia to learn more about harnessing the power of cross university collaboration to make a strong impression on your young alumni!

Over the past year, a cross-departmental working group began the transformation of officer metrics and goalsetting at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Informed by David Lively’s Managing Major Gift Fundraisers: A Contrarian’s Guide (published by CASE), the working group updated officer baseline performance standards that had been in place since 2018, while setting a strategic direction toward an increased emphasis on qualification, major gift proposals, and building portfolios with three-year horizons. These changes were accompanied by new and revised tools, including a new suite of gift officer types, revised officer scorecards, and a new portfolio visualization. Several members of the working group will walk participants through this case study.

Learn about the sustained success of William & Mary's Society of 1918 women's philanthropy initiative. Beginning its 7th year, the Society continues to grow in numbers and impact and is now comprised of over 600 women who are philanthropically committed to W&M. The success of the Society is borne out of existing research and 6 proven principles derived from Kathleen Loehr's Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women's Philanthropy. We will share both our successes and lessons learned along the way. This session is a fit for you whether you are exploring the potential return on investment, currently launching or striving to sustain and grow your women's philanthropy initiative.

Frontline fundraising has long been a holdout in advancement’s data-driven renaissance. This is where the art, rather than the science, of fundraising was paramount. The importance of data as the currency in relationship-based giving programs, however, has never been greater. From well planned and managed cadencies to qualify, cultivate, and close major gifts to collecting and recording data points that will be foundational in predictive modeling, it has never been more important for gift officers—and the programs whose success they power—to be data minded.

This session will invite gift officers to reevaluate their relationship with data and own their opportunity to manage their portfolios and prospects with their role in managing data to maximize insights in mind. It will also focus on how fundraiser managers and advancement services professionals can partner with gift officers to manage a data-forward frontline fundraising program.

This workshop will explore the journey of the Wake Forest University School of Business in significantly enhancing alumni satisfaction from 17% to 56% over six years. Through consistent communication to alumni and effective collaboration across School and University departments, the School of Business implemented strategies that not only improved alumni engagement but also strengthened relationships within the academic community. Participants will gain insights into practical approaches, collaborative frameworks, and communication strategies that can be adapted to their own institutions to foster alumni satisfaction and loyalty.

Learn effective strategies to engage and motivate your college advisory board to actively participate in fundraising efforts. This presentation covers best practices for setting clear expectations, building strong relationships, leveraging members' networks, and providing the tools and support needed for successful fundraising. Whether you’re looking to boost annual giving or secure major gifts, this comprehensive resource will help you harness the full potential of your advisory board to meet and exceed your financial goals.

What does the modern marketing and communications workload look like in a small shop? Is it possible to work beyond the limits of small shop staff? Having a local partner to help engage with the local community is vital to the process. Two years ago, Northwest Mississippi Community College changed its marketing tactics and gained a great partnership within its own community, a local television studio that became a true partner in the college's marketing plan. That plan spans generic enrollment ads, athletic events, weather updates and weekly custom created segments for broadcast and socials.

Have you ever wanted to better understand reels?
What makes a compelling video? How do other higher-ed social media staff think about content creation as it relates to higher-ed?
What tools do I need?
In this session, I hope to equip you with some fundamentals on easy tools and creative content for producing engaging reels.

Discover how Episcopal cultivated a powerful alliance between our institution's advancement office and the Black Alumni Network. This session will explore strategic approaches to foster meaningful connections, enhance alumni engagement, and leverage the unique strengths of Black alumni for mutual growth and success. Attendees will gain insights into collaborative initiatives, effective communication strategies, and innovative programs that drive alumni satisfaction and institutional advancement. Join us to learn how to create a synergistic partnership that empowers Black alumni and propels your institution forward.

While most organizations direct their attention to alumni donors, out of necessity Elon University has more strongly emphasized parent and family fundraising for the past 40 years. Explore Elon's adapted fundraising model and discover engagement strategies to enhance parent and family fundraising in your organization. We'll delve into the efficient cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of parents within a limited timeframe, and discuss engaging campus partners to maximize fundraising success.

This session will offer insight into how an Advancement events team and Athletics fundraisers and event planners can collaborate to make event magic happen! We'll discuss how to divide and conquer, how Athletics donors may require us to slightly stray from the norm of donor events, and how to ensure that your event has just the right level of pep!

1 in 9 people ages 65+ is showing some sign of cognitive impairment, which is also the same age as the average major gift donor in the United States. Encountering an elderly donor in cognitive decline is inevitable as advancement staff, yet few know how to ethically and legally handle this situation when it arises. Is your institution prepared? This session will teach attendees how to spot the signs of cognitive impairment and what best practices their team should implement when faced with an older donor who has cognitive impairment issues.

Participants will learn how to create an audio/video podcast featuring alumni. The session will detail the production, promotion, and benefits of the podcast.

A healthy, highly engaged school culture is perhaps the most powerful strategic advantage for Advancement professionals–and is a source of greater joy in this work. But culture is easier to feel than to measure. The values and beliefs that are expressed as important may not be reflected in what faculty and families actually experience. Culture is less about happy people and more about energized and engaged administrators, educators, and staff who are united in purpose and behavior while being able to effectively solve hard problems together. How do we develop the leadership and habits that most contribute to an authentic and sustainable culture? In this workshop we will explore the 12 Disciplines of Excellent School Leadership, clarifying the perspectives and practices that reliably enable us to love and lead all stakeholders in school leadership more effectively and cultivate a healthy, vibrant organization which directly impacts Advancement at all levels.

A strong alumni program leads with a diverse menu of options – events, volunteer opportunities, digital presence, etc. How can you create multiple opportunities for your alumni while they are scattered around the world? How can you develop opportunities that enhance your digital presence and encourage interaction with alumni? What content will inspire institutional pride and encourage interaction - all while reaching a broader audience? This session will explore answers to these questions while giving specific examples of successful digital engagement initiatives led by the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy. Want to learn more about our recent summer initiative #DogDaysOfSummer where we asked alumni to share their policy stories and photos with us? How did we launch ‘100 Hours of Service for 100 Years of Duke” and reach over 2,000 hours within the first few months? I look forward to sharing these initiatives with you as we take a deep dive into these concepts, data, and takeaways that will inspire your school to enhance your alumni digital experience. What opportunities can you create that: highlight your school priorities, encourage engagement within the alumni network, increase alumni engagement, and lift up the successes of your school? Let’s create!

Catawba College located in Salisbury, NC was the 13th college in the country to reach Carbon Neutrality. This was achieved 7 years ahead of schedule and was done very intentionally. Catawba's development staff, working with the Center for the Environment's staff has raised over $160M in endowed and non-endowed gifts in recent years for geo-thermal systems, solar systems, sustainable building renovations and many other initiatives. We are creating a living laboratory on our campus to teach our students, faculty, staff and our community how we can change our world using our built environment and campus grounds.

Learn from two leaders who have successfully raised funds for sustainability projects. Learn more about the potential impacts for campus and donors and why this is a critical path forward for colleges and universities ongoing sustainability and climate action efforts for both operations and academics.

In today's rapidly evolving world, the advancement services landscape faces unique challenges and opportunities. This session delves into the innovative solutions and strategies that have emerged to streamline gift processing in the context of a 100% remote work environment at the University of Virginia.
Gift processing is a critical function for any educational institution or nonprofit organization, and with the shift to remote work, the demand for efficient, secure, and scalable solutions has never been greater. This session will explore the cutting-edge technology and best practices that empower advancement services professionals to adapt and thrive in this new era.

By collaborating with Licensing to develop unique ODU-branded products like beer, barbecue sauce, ice cream, and the 1930 Collection clothing line, Old Dominion University (ODU) Alumni Relations has successfully engaged new audiences, strengthened alumni connections, and enhanced brand visibility. This session will focus on how ODU Alumni Relations has partnered with Licensing to develop and promote these products, fostering loyalty, increasing pride, and deepening engagement. Join us to learn how to work with Licensing, make the most of these partnerships, and effectively use your marketing and communications team to bring these ideas to life.

Join this to session to learn how to build more strategy into your design and implementations of challenges and matches to move the needle on key metrics.

Collaboration, facilitated by cross-institutional strategic alignment of objectives and credit- and information sharing, is a guiding principle in contemporary university fundraising. But HOW does that work get effectively and holistically done in large, decentralized, and dispersed universities with many competing priorities? This presentation identifies a series of concrete strategies, building on examples from a large College of Arts and Sciences at a public R1 flagship characterized by a high level of strategic alignment between the Dean's Office, front-line fundraisers, and alumni relations. We examine the visioning process we undertook to identify the opportunity for transformational change and then move into the tactics: principles and practices of stakeholder engagement in the Dean's office and among faculty, department heads, and program leaders; design and implementation of a gift officer liaison model; strategica engagement of the Advisory Board; and mobilizing positive accountability and dynamic metrics staff and faculty roles. We draw conclusions about what works from the transformational results we have seen over a nearly two-year period. We also address how to overcome organizational resistance, enhance collaborative culture, and storytell around the endeavor.

Join us for a dynamic session designed to empower university leaders and advancement professionals with the tools needed to launch a successful capital campaign. Learn from presenters as they guide you through evaluating institutional readiness, setting realistic goals, and mastering donor cultivation. This session will demonstrate how to build a compelling case for support, engage key stakeholders, and structure your team for success. With practical strategies, best practices, and firsthand insights, you'll be well-prepared to achieve your campaign objectives and secure a stronger future for your university. Get ready to be inspired and equipped for this exciting fundraising journey!

“In the weeds” is restaurant worker slang for being so busy—hungry customers lined up at the door, every table occupied, orders pouring out of the ticket machine, the kitchen a clamoring chaos of smoke and fire—that you’re lost amid a thicket of competing obligations. This can happen in higher ed, too, whether because of staffing shortages, financial challenges, political environments, or just plain drowning in work at a busy time of year. In this session, your presenter will draw upon his five years of experience as a restaurant line cook to present leadership strategies for surviving the busiest of slams. We’ll discuss the five kinds of leadership you can activate no matter what role you occupy—illustrated by examples from higher ed and from critically acclaimed TV show The Bear—so that the next time you find yourself lost in the weeds you can lead the way out.

Veteran Students and Alumni Need You! Learn how the creation of a Veterans Affinity Group (VAG), a CASE Circle of Excellence award-winning initiative, transformed the lives of veterans within the York Technical College community. Recognizing the growing need for support and community among our veteran population, the VAG was launched through a collaborative campus and community effort and serves alumni, students, and college employees.

The Mission: foster a sense of belonging, provide essential resources, and create opportunities for growth and connection for our veterans. The VAG has become a dynamic hub of empowerment and support, organizing networking events and facilitating access to crucial educational and career resources. Thanks to the positive work of the VAG, the group has launched an affinity group-driven fundraising initiative to establish an endowed scholarship for veterans.

We will delve into the intricate landscape of alumni engagement spanning across generations. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, understanding the diverse needs, preferences, and communication styles across different generations is crucial for fostering meaningful connections and sustaining relationships with alumni. Led by alumni professionals from Generation X and Generation Z, this insightful discussion will provide practical strategies as participants explore how to effectively engage alumni of all ages while leveraging their own technology, storytelling, and personalized approaches. This course equips participants with insights and ideas to help support their efforts to connect with alumni of all ages.

Cultivate a thriving culture of excellence through thoughtful professional development, learn how we have prioritized retaining and growing top talent through staff engagement, trust, feedback, and programming. By focusing on these areas, you can cultivate a culture of excellence where professional development is not just a process but a strategic initiative that drives organizational success and employee satisfaction.

Find out how the team at Florence-Darlington Technical College went from 19 donors to 108 in the first year of a new employee giving campaign. Learn how planning, collaboration, strategies, and a matching gift inspired exponential giving, engagement and teamwork throughout all campuses and departments. What challenges did we have to overcome and how did we succeed? What helped year 2 grow even more? What are the strategies going to be for year 3? Join this session to learn the secrets to the team's success and how leadership stepped in at the college level and the board level.

The University of Miami is proud to share with you an enhanced structure, tools, and resources, that enables us to leverage our volunteer leaders to drive meaningful regional engagement. With more than 200,000 alumni across the country and the world, our staff needs additional support to effectively conduct the engagement that we’re looking to achieve. As such, we are relying on our volunteer leaders in market to enhance our efforts. With volunteering serving as the second highest form of engagement after giving, we are positioning these leaders as our ambassadors across the country.

In the last year, we have added and onboarded over 100 volunteers to our top ten markets alone. With more than 55% of our alumni base living in one of these ’Canes Communities, it is imperative that we have a robust structure for our volunteers that includes the tools and resources to drive their success. From onboarding, codes of conduct, and terms to event registration and social media training, we can equip our volunteers to connect with fellow ’Canes in their local markets.

Join us to learn more about our structure and how the Volunteer Leadership and Regional Engagement teams worked together to strengthen our vast ’Canes network.

Join William & Mary and EverTrue for an innovative session on building a successful startup mindset within advancement. Learn how W&M identified and engaged the “lost 10% on the pyramid” through a cadence-based outreach approach, discovering valuable donors who were previously overlooked. Discover how the W&M team built a high-performing Donor Experience Officer (DXO) program from scratch in just 8 months, partnering with EverTrue to leverage a cadence based approach to philanthropy, achieving record-breaking results. This session will offer valuable insights into leveraging data and technology for sustainable revenue streams in the academic fundraising landscape.

Experience the power of student-driven innovation with TEALstarter, UNCW's dynamic crowdfunding platform! Designed to empower student groups, TEALstarter revolutionizes philanthropy education by equipping students with the skills to fundraise effectively for their passions. Whether it's outfitting the team with new uniforms, supporting travel to conferences, or creating opportunity for future students, TEALstarter fosters a culture of giving that transforms ideas into reality. Join us and discover how TEALstarter is reshaping higher education fundraising, inspiring the next generation of philanthropists at UNCW and beyond!