Let’s be honest – managing and reporting on donor funds is no small feat and advancement teams cannot do it alone. We rely heavily on our systems, processes, and organization partners to help us create the best donor experiences we possibly can. But if you ask yourself: Are our donor funds being utilized? Are they being used correctly and timely? Should we be worried when we send out our annual donor fund reports? And if you've shared some of these concerns, you're not alone. In recent years, many organizations have grappled with similar questions, finding little guidance on this vital aspect of any advancement operation. Join us in this session as we look at several case studies on how organizations like yours built the case for support to create and grow a fund management program. It's time to bring the discussion on funds management challenges out of closed-door conversations and begin an industry dialogue to identify what tools, resources, and standards need to be in place to successfully manage and steward donor funds. Whether you are new to funds management or seasoned in the field, come prepared to share your experiences and glean insights from others in this collaborative space.

This is our story about a unique partnership between two university centers and how, by celebrating alums over the age of 80 who are optimally aging, we have created an extraordinary avenue of engagement. Through the Eight over Eighty Award Program, we are connecting, and at times, reconnecting extraordinary alums with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. By partnering with the Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence, we have provided both centers the opportunity to collaborate in a myriad of ways over the simple fact that our alum is an octogenarian! Our perspective on what collaboration looks like has expanded. We view our deepening relationships potential as endless. Join us as we share how this unique partnership has led to win-win-win situations for the Center of Advancement, the Csomay Center, and for the nominated alum.

Warren Buffett once said, “You only get one mind and one body...it’s what you do right now, today, that determines how your mind and body will operate 10, 20, and 30 years from now.” This session invites participants to pause and assess their current approach to wellness, both personally and professionally. Co-led by two longtime Advancement professionals, the session will start with a brief awareness exercise to reflect on your available time and an interactive poll on wellness habits. Then, through a guided discussion of the Gallup Engagement Pyramid, we’ll explore practical strategies for:
• Advocating for clear goals, resources, and boundaries to achieve professional success.
• Leveraging your strengths and prioritizing self-care to fulfill individual needs.
• Building meaningful workplace relationships and fostering psychological safety within teams.
• Pursuing opportunities for growth and development in your role. The session will conclude with a wellness planning exercise, empowering you to recharge intentionally and sustain your well-being over time. Join us to take control of your wellness journey and thrive both inside and outside of work.

In an era where donor count is trending down and questions about the value of higher education are trending up, how can communications and marketing professionals keep audiences engaged and ready to give? With the help of some killer sticker incentives and a little ingenuity, Kansas State University Foundation is daring to ask donors what they care about and then creating personalized content strategies that hit the engagement mark.

In today's rapidly changing landscape of alumni relations and advancement, graduate-level academic units face the challenge of effectively engaging alumni through central programming, particularly when it is assumed that graduate-level alumni will not want to engage in centralized programs. This presentation will showcase innovative strategies and best practices for utilizing centralized programming to achieve graduate-level engagement and philanthropic goals.

This session will delve into key areas of advancement to uncover effective strategies and valuable insights. The session will be structured around three core topics: Stewardship, Scholarships, and Annual Giving. Each segment will highlight successful practices and lessons learned from various initiatives, offering a comprehensive overview of what has proven effective at Northeast Community College. By examining examples and discussing strategic approaches, participants will gain actionable knowledge to enhance their own advancement efforts. This session promises to deliver a blend of practical tips and inspirational success stories, aimed at optimizing outcomes and fostering growth in advancement activities.

In a world of ever-evolving multichannel engagement strategies, finding the perfect game plan for donor connection can seem like a daunting task. Many of us, particularly small to mid-level Foundations and Fundraisers with tight budgets, often find expensive one-size-fits-all programs out of reach. We're here to offer an alternative approach and share our resources with other institutes and programs facing the same challenges. Discover how to master the art of donor engagement in-house, make the most of the resources you already have at your disposal, and find ways to create the perfect donor engagement plan for your organization.

Buena Vista University has built and implemented a custom Alumni Engagement model based on CASE best practices and aligns with the CASE Alumni Engagement Survey and Metrics. Overtime this led to the development of a custom Affinity scoring model that combines not only engagement data but also giving as well as other prospect ratings into one quick and easy to interpret score. The two models help to build stronger donor pipelines by identifying prospects who are ready for the next step in the donor journey as well as potential alumni leaders. Come and hear how you can implement this easy system to boost your alumni engagement and fundraising results.

Picture a whirlwind of videos, graphics, emails, text messages, social media posts, and an incredible outpouring of support from our campus and alumni community. But it doesn’t stop with digital efforts—One Day for STATE has become a physical presence on SDSU’s campus. We host a Yellow & Blue Block Party featuring various student groups, Jack (our mascot) travels around town the night before to build excitement, and Jack even visits classrooms to engage and interact with our students. It’s a phenomenon that grows year after year.

Since our inaugural One Day for STATE in 2017, which featured 25 challenges and $80,000 in gifts to unlock, we’ve come a long way. In our 7th year, we’re presenting over 100 challenges, totaling an impressive $1.3 million in gifts just waiting to be unleashed, and we’ve raised nearly $2.5 million from more than 6,200 donors in just 24 hours.

One Day for STATE empowers student groups, colleges, departments, and programs to bridge financial gaps and support the entire campus. It’s more than just a giving day—it’s a chance for our community to come together and celebrate SDSU.