We’ve heard about the enrollment cliff and its likely impact on higher education. For her dissertation, Dr. Carrie Phillips researched how marketing strategies might help mitigate this cliff. This session shares findings from visiting with chief marketing officers about how they’re preparing. The session will begin with a high-level overview of the enrollment cliff followed by a deep dive into how marketing strategies might lessen the impact. You’ll hear about the challenges participants face, strategies they’re exploring and best practices to consider. As you’re looking to navigate change at your institution, this session is a great place to start.

Advancement and Development services are approaching a new horizon when working with internal employees and external partners. Through discovery work, Dallas College Advancement and Development has created a new model for leveraging funding using network systems to support students and provide partners with a roadmap for success. This session will explore the new model, its benefits, and how it can be used to create a more efficient and effective way to manage sponsored program projects.

This session will provide findings from survey results, provide tools to navigate conversations with dissenting opinions, and harness the power of honoring traditions and values of the past while forging a relevant and progressive future. Attendees will learn how to engage alumni and donors in a way that empowers them to join in the vision, and identify when to detach from donors who do not uphold the institution’s current mission and vision.

In the digital age, universities must consider how a thoughtful approach to social media content strategy can leave a lasting impact across all audiences and help to achieve your goals. In a unique session, co-hosted by the Texas State University Marketing Team and University President Kelly Damphousse, attendees will delve into the transformative role that social media plays in advancing a university's stature, amplifying key messages and goals while fostering a sense of community and engagement. President Damphousse and the TXST marketing team have individually found a sweet spot between social media content and community engagement while creating space for cross collaboration on content related to the university’s broader academic, fundraising, and community goals. Together, President Damphousse and TXST marketing have fostered digital communities that have driven unprecedented levels of engagement between the students, faculty/staff, alumni and community – all on social media. Learn valuable insights on how leadership can approach social media and build engaged communities online while implementing practical strategies for cross collaboration between leadership and your university’s accounts to harness the full potential of social media for your institution's growth, community engagement, and strategic advancement.

In this session, we will discuss the importance of CASE Insights on Alumni Engagement survey as well as techniques and best practices in gathering key data points in the four modes of Philanthropic, Volunteer, Experiential, and Communications engagement. Whether a small shop or large decentralized institution, we will explore how to successfully execute and utilize this key strategic initiative. Co-presenters Jenny Cooke-Smith and Chuck Arnold will present the latest findings from recent Alumni Engagement surveying activity as well as a deep dive into how to successfully (and efficiently!) complete the Alumni Engagement survey for your institution. Learn how measuring engagement really does drive your organizational outcomes and how your institution can take part in this important benchmarking project.

This session focuses on how to develop a playbook centered on integral principles of fundraising that are too often an afterthought for organizations: stewardship, marketing, and communications. Few organizations have a built-in donor base and even those who do, must stand out when cultivating gifts. Whether a small department or a large university, this session will provide practical examples and tactics for unique and meaningful stewardship that inspires donors during acquisition, cultivation and recognition events. The session will hone messaging and marketing that focuses on your organization’s mission, purpose and impact that resonates with any audience including the business community.

Behavior-based donor engagement and recognition is the way of the future. With limited staff, resources, and endless priorities and goals to meet, we must implement programs that scale in customization and is designed to affect retention, loyalty, and future fundraising. By developing a program based on donor behaviors, in lieu of arbitrary giving amounts, we can ensure we are communicating gratitude and impact to donors at all levels of giving. Beyond first-time donors, there are a slew of critical donor populations that also want and deserve great giving experiences! One size does not fit all, and as we look to tailor communications, events, and recognition based on DX best practices, we must prioritize and plan appropriately and efficiently – it requires both strategy and creativity! Loyal, lapsed, trifecta, monthly, renewed, and more—let's explore priority donor behaviors that drive the entire donor pipeline.

Launching a Giving Day is no small feat. Contrary to what the name implies this type of high energy campaign encompasses much more than a single day of philanthropy. This session will outline everything from recommended timelines and strategic messaging to key successes and areas of improvement from UNT's very first on campus day of giving. Join us as we walk through the key components of starting a giving day from initial idea to fruition.

In the Spring of 2023, the UTSA Alumni Association had an identity crisis. It was striving to engage Roadrunner Alumni, but its brand was bland. From inconsistent design application to fickle messaging, they lacked a true marketing strategy. It was time for a REBRAND.

In working with partner and brand agency, Parallel, find out how the UTSA Alumni Association made its brand come alive, implemented it throughout its programming, and garnered alumni buy-in while capturing the unique spirit of UTSA. Plus, get the inside scoop the process start to finish, the things that worked, those that didn't, and what you should consider before taking the "rebrand" plunge.

Challenged by Covid, leadership changes, and a changing university climate, the University of Louisiana Alumni Association clubs and chapters fell dormant, association financial support waned, and the staff was burned out and tired. This is the story of the Ragin' Cajun spirit rising better than ever before. Come hear the story behind the story - from strategic planning, staff realignment, new focus on clubs and chapters, and a reenergized, engaged board - you'll hear it all!