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 we have learned during our experiment in prospecting we will share how you can connect to your intended donor base with ease!

In this session we will walk through a 3 month study we conducted using our prospects. We will talk about how we approached the work we did, what we believed the results of our work would be versus what actually happened, as well as how all of this informs our work today. Additionally, our 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!

Faced with mounting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country and attacks on DEI in higher education, philanthropists at Indiana University unite to uplift queer students, faculty, and staff across the university through a giving circle model that has strengthened existing donor relationships while building a strong pipeline of young, diverse donors. In this session, we will discuss the successes and challenges of creating an identity-based giving circle and share lessons learned along the way. Come prepared to engage in open dialog about the current landscape of LGBTQ+ programs in higher education and how private philanthropy can support the community in uneasy times.

Uncovering hidden gems in your fundraising pipeline through unlikely and powerful partnerships that drive transformative success! Diving into the integration of prospect research and major gift discovery to transform your fundraising efforts into a data-driven success story.

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.

In this session you'll hear from Kristine Lo, Director of Fundraising Performance Analytics at the University of Chicago, how her team revolutionized fundraising management reporting to ensure managers and staff at all levels had the insights they needed to effectively manage up, down and across. The session will include best practices of effective management reporting, how consistency in management reporting can improve results, and suggestions for how you can audit (or start) your own data-delivery program.

Since the pandemic, more fundraisers do their work remotely. What is the impact on our bottom line? Can anyone work from anywhere? What are best practices based on recent research?

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.

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.