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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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!

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.

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.

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.