Since 2022, the University of Michigan Medical School Communications Community of Practice (CoP) has been successfully navigating the collaboration and support of more than 90 unit-embedded communicators to develop partnerships, ensure access to resources, and embolden a unified voice, brand, and message across the Michigan Medicine landscape. In this presentation, we will use this case study to define a CoP, discuss the challenges of start-up, and walk through the steps toward implementation, success, and lessons learned. Participants will take away practical steps and resources for building a Community of Practice, methodology for connecting your community to the larger centralized communications core, and ideas for scaling communities to all sizes of teams.

Learn how Marian University (Indianapolis) utilized the 10 year anniversary of their College of Osteopathic Medicine to secure a $29M naming gift from a family who had $0 giving history until three years prior.

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.

How can you elevate cherished alumni traditions and allow room for fresh experiences? Learn how Denison University reimagined its reunion experience with enhanced technology, fresh programming, and record-breaking participation. Explore how Macalester College brought its 150th anniversary to life, connecting a global alumni base with fresh twists on existing programming, new ways of storytelling, and ample opportunities to celebrate. Join us to learn about the process from concept creation through execution including planning, communication, events, and more. You’ll walk away with actionable insights and ideas to help you transform your own campus events into unforgettable celebrations.

Blogging is a low-cost channel to reach your target audience, but many institutions hesitate to invest. Concerns around maintaining a consistent publishing schedule, producing quality content, and managing the necessary technology needs tend to slow or even stop progress toward building owned media platforms. This presentation will explore how the marketing and communications team at the Mitch Daniels School of Business at Purdue University overcame these challenges and successfully launched their blog.

In today’s philanthropic landscape, donor expectations are evolving. Traditional institutional giving models—such as scholarships, endowments, and unrestricted contributions—are becoming less effective as donors seek more direct impact and alignment with their personal values. This session will explore the shift from giving to a university to giving through a university, focusing on cause-based fundraising strategies that engage donors in meaningful, mission-driven ways. Attendees will learn how to reframe fundraising appeals to emphasize tangible outcomes, leverage storytelling to build trust, and implement digital engagement strategies tailored to next-generation donors. The session will also provide practical insights on navigating institutional challenges, gaining leadership buy-in, and utilizing technology to enhance donor connections.

Discover how to transform unassigned prospects into engaged donors through strategic relationship management. This session will showcase how to keep potential donors "warm" by ensuring ongoing communication, even without immediate assignment to a relationship manager. Additionally, we'll explore the rapid growth of Illinois Tech’s regional events program, driven by targeted outreach using geographic mapping tools, which has significantly increased alumni participation nationwide.
We'll also touch on how integrating key engagement forms into their platform has streamlined volunteer management and improved data capture, enabling more effective alumni engagement.

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.