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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 even has just the right level of pep!

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.

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.