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District V Annual Conference 2025
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13 Results Found
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT
Harnessing AI for Everyday Advancement: Tools & Strategies You Can Use Today
Unlock the power of AI in your daily advancement tasks with this hands-on session! Discover free or low-cost tools like ChatGPT that can streamline donor communications, enhance alumni engagement, and simplify data management. Through real-world examples and an interactive activity, you'll learn how to implement AI solutions today, without waiting for large-scale institutional changes. Walk away with practical strategies to make your work more efficient and impactful, all while staying ahead in the evolving world of higher education advancement.
Speakers: Emily Berry, Assistant Vice President for Development, Individual and Annual Giving, Miami University
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingIndustry or Sector Expertise
Experience Level: All Levels
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM CT
The Great Wealth Transfer: Strategic Adaptations for Alumni Associations
The “great wealth transfer” is a monumental phenomenon that is already underway and will continue to impact our work. Over the next two decades, Boomers are expected to transfer approximately $68 trillion in assets to younger generations. This transfer presents a unique opportunity for transformative philanthropy and strategic adaptation within alumni associations. This session will share actionable insights on how alumni associations can leverage this as an opportunity to forge stronger connections with aging constituents while maximizing philanthropic impact.
Speakers: Lindsay Seminara, Associate Manager, Adv. Events and Operations, The Ohio State University Alumni Association
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingIndustry or Sector Expertise
Experience Level: All Levels
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM CT
Leading with the Legacy of Tragedy
Kent State University's legacy of the May 4, 1970 tragedy remains pivotal in its identity. As history recently seemed to repeat itself on American campuses amidst current societal divisions, Kent State has proactively integrated powerful lessons from its past into its brand messaging. This session reveals how the university's half-century journey of embracing its history informs its current marketing strategies. Discover how authenticity and values-driven storytelling can elevate your institution's brand beyond conventional marketing approaches.
Speakers: Stephen Ward, VP, Kent State University
Competencies: LeadershipStrategic Thinking
Experience Level: All Levels
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM CT
An Experiment in Prospecting: How to Increase the Response Rate of Your Outreach
Prospecting often marks the beginning of each relationship we hope to form with a donor. Despite this, fundraisers tend to focus their energy learning more about gift closure conversations than how to reach their donors in the first place. Through the lessons learned during an experiment in prospecting you will learn how you can connect to your intended donor base with ease!
In this session you will gain insights from a study conducted using real prospects. We will talk about how to approach prospecting, what you might expect your results to be and what actually happened in the study. As well as how all of this can inform your work in the future. Additionally, the session will be full of opportunities for you to ask questions and share your experiences in prospecting.
At the end of this session you will be able to identify your target audience, create an outreach plan to increase the responses you receive from your audience and utilize these prospecting tools as an asset that aids the work you do with donors throughout the rest of the gift cycle. Let us help you make the most of the time you spend prospecting so that you can get back to closing more gifts!
In this session you will gain insights from a study conducted using real prospects. We will talk about how to approach prospecting, what you might expect your results to be and what actually happened in the study. As well as how all of this can inform your work in the future. Additionally, the session will be full of opportunities for you to ask questions and share your experiences in prospecting.
At the end of this session you will be able to identify your target audience, create an outreach plan to increase the responses you receive from your audience and utilize these prospecting tools as an asset that aids the work you do with donors throughout the rest of the gift cycle. Let us help you make the most of the time you spend prospecting so that you can get back to closing more gifts!
Speakers: Victor Senn, Major Gift Officer, University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingRelationship Building
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT
Connecting Dots by Collecting Dots: Engagement Data Challenges and Solutions
As the national trend of declining donor counts continues, many institutions are ramping up engagement and acquisition efforts to attract new prospective donors. But increased data collection like this can often lead to differing schools of thought between the engagement professionals who seek to grow the donor pipeline and IT/data partners who aim to protect data integrity. What are the right pieces of data to collect? How can data quality be protected? At what point does data collection hinder a positive customer experience? Is there such a thing as too much data? This session will show how Ohio State Advancement has taken a collaborative approach to working through these questions and more by bringing the two business areas together to develop solutions.
Key topics will include:
• How to align teams, practices, and goals.
• How to determine the right data points to ensure quality data while collecting engagement data to build and strengthen the fundraising pipeline.
• How to select the right data collection tools for varying types of engagement opportunities.
• How to tell the story of how engagement and acquisition data impacts the long-term health of an organization.
Key topics will include:
• How to align teams, practices, and goals.
• How to determine the right data points to ensure quality data while collecting engagement data to build and strengthen the fundraising pipeline.
• How to select the right data collection tools for varying types of engagement opportunities.
• How to tell the story of how engagement and acquisition data impacts the long-term health of an organization.
Speakers: Julie Vargo, CIO of Advancement, The Ohio State University, Samantha Frost, Assistant Vice President, Constituent Experiences, The Ohio State University, Molly Feasel, Advancement Events Manager, The Ohio State University, Angie Theaker, Director, Strategic Project Management, The Ohio State University
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingRelationship Building
Experience Level: All LevelsAll Levels
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM CT
Affinity Groups: Rightsizing Your Investment
Affinity Groups. This tried-and-true engagement strategy has yielded big results at many institutions. But they can run the spectrum in both investment and results. Do you create a mini alumni association, or do you simply try to harness the momentum formed by organic groups? We will look at pro's and con's for each method, when each would be appropriate, the opportunity for a blended approach, and best practices for these powerful programs.
Speakers: Reggie Bustinza, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, Northern Illinois University
Competencies: Relationship BuildingStrategic Thinking
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM CT
Get to Work: Harness Board Energy & Expertise to Answer Opportunities & Challenges
In this session, you'll hear Board members, alumni volunteers, and professional staff share how they've participated in focused, solutions-based workgroups to take a deep dive into specific opportunities or challenges in alumni engagement. From how alumni can support business strategy development to deepening connections with former Board members — you'll learn how to harness the collective energy and experience of volunteers to advance strategic priorities and initiatives. You'll also gain a better understanding of how alumni/volunteers feel about the sort of "roll-up-your-sleeves" work.
Speakers: David Bambrey, President, University of Illinois Alumni Association, Jennifer Bowie, Assoc. Vice President, Alumni Relations & Annual Giving, Ohio University, Damian Clark, Thomas Ewing Society (former members) Liaison, Ohio University Alumni Association, Jack Kang, Incoming Chair, Northwestern Alumni Association, Norma Lauder, Past Chair, University of Illinois Alumni Association , Lindsay Vahl Dean, Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement and Executive Director, Northwestern Alumni Association, Northwestern University
Competencies: LeadershipStrategic Thinking
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM CT
Data-Driven Volunteerism: Transforming Engagement into Philanthropy
How can volunteerism fuel lifelong connections and lead to transformational giving? In this interactive session, we’ll explore data-driven strategies to enhance volunteer engagement and recognition, connecting these efforts to philanthropy. Whether you're running a small program or managing a large alumni network, you’ll discover adaptable tools and tactics to build meaningful volunteer experiences that inspire deeper relationships and drive financial support. You will learn how to leverage data to identify engagement gaps and opportunities, create personalized recognition strategies that resonate with volunteers, and connect volunteerism to the donor pipeline, transforming alumni involvement into impactful giving. Through case studies, discussions, and actionable exercises, you’ll leave equipped to build a volunteer program that not only engages but also fosters a culture of giving. Ready to transform volunteerism into philanthropy? This session is for you.
Speakers: Madison Vaughn, Assistant Director, Volunteerism, Purdue for Life Foundation
Competencies: Business and Financial AcumenStrategic Thinking
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM CT
The Power of Play: Building Blocks for Bold Ideas
What are the building blocks of engaging content creation? They're not what you might expect. This session explores how to create environments that set the stage for bold ideas and big results. We’ll focus on actionable strategies within your control, whether you’re leading a team or creating content yourself. Leave energized and ready to transform your content strategy with practical techniques that maximize your existing resources.
Speakers: Megan Walsh, Digital Marketing Strategist, University of Iowa Center For Advancement, Rebekah Tilley, Asst VP, Communications & Marketing, University of Iowa Center for Advancement
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingEmotional Intelligence
Experience Level: All LevelsLevel 3
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT
Thoughtfully Incorporating Gift Officers into Alumni Engagement Programming
Are you looking to build relationships between seemingly disconnected teams? Join the Northwestern Alumni Association to learn how to bridge the gap between gift officers and engagement professionals through event programming that draws both donors and alumni who have not yet given. We will share information on the development and creation of events that span a variety of topics and formats and how our shared priorities have led to success for both engagement goals and giving targets. Additionally, attendees will learn how to cultivate meaningful and long-lasting relationships with gift officers.
Speakers: Paige Vaughn, Associate Director, Alumni Engagement, Northwestern University
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingRelationship Building
Experience Level: All Levels