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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.