Take your annual giving day to the next level by enhancing the ways you follow up with your generous donors. Show them their impact and build those relationships with meaningful stewardship. In this session, you’ll receive examples for creating a comprehensive stewardship plan, audit your giving day thank yous, streamline your stewardship process, report back on your giving day success and gain templates you can adapt for your institution. This session will also highlight fun events to build connections with donors as well as your giving day partners.

Explore how technology can enhance donor experiences with bespoke, scalable stewardship through new communication developments at Oregon State University. Faced with rising expectations for personalized touchpoints and a notable 20% increase in major gift donors over the past five years, the Oregon State University Foundation’s Stewardship team partnered with Fundmetric, an AI-driven fundraising platform. Together, they have begun pioneering unique communications custom-fitted to donors’ interests. Despite having only one team member dedicated to this effort, OSU Stewardship now harnesses this approach to amplify outreach and create tailored experiences for thousands of donors. Join us to explore how your team can craft communications and weave in data to deliver personalized luxury at scale.

Come join UVic’s Leadership Giving Team to learn how, with minimal resources and a team of three, they secured a 50% response rate to their invitation to meet, and over 20% positive responses, including major gifts and new student awards. With a comprehensive campaign on the horizon, all hands are on deck to help identify new prospects to support UVic’s ambitious goals. Through a multi-channel, personalized qualification strategy, the newly established Leadership Giving team (raising gifts in the 1k-25k/year range) launched a personalized invitation to meet -- and in the process, developed a scalable qualification model on a shoestring budget. Learn about their DIY approach and leave with ideas, and a solid plan to uncover prospects in your own database.

Join four fundraisers from the University of Oregon for an exciting conversation about working the mid-level! Topics covered will include donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; moving donors along the pipeline from annual giving to major gifts; and navigating career growth as a frontline fundraiser. Bring your questions and be ready for some real talk!

Learn how advancement services at the University of Manitoba became the catalyst for a data-driven transformation and a hub of innovation. This journey began with a bold statement: "to become a data-driven organization." By implementing direct changes, advancement services evolved from a small service unit into a dynamic solutions provider. This transformation rapidly expanded to adjacent business units and, within just four years, reached central departments and faculties. Discover the best practices and strategies that fueled this rapid evolution, and learn how to apply these principles to foster innovation and data-driven decision-making in your own organization. Join us for an inspiring session filled with actionable insights and proven success stories.

What is it about “the little engine that could” that allowed it to successfully pull the train over the mountain when larger engines refused to even try? Why is it that California pistachio farmers so often become millionaires when the trees take years to mature and bear fruit? What can we learn from the little engine that exclaimed “I think I can…I think I can” as it huffed and puffed to the mountain top? Can universities and colleges embarking on a major comprehensive campaign learn from these examples? Yes, when one considers the common characteristics or ingredients in a successful campaign: patience, persistence, and a healthy culture of philanthropy. It is almost universal that comprehensive campaigns, especially multi-year, first time efforts, are a mixture of challenges and opportunities. But with patience, persistence and a keen understanding of your culture of philanthropy, the challenges can be met, and the opportunities can bear fruit. Join us for an in-depth look at these issues and obstacles and get tips on how patience and persistence can lead to success: • How do you go about setting meaningful priorities and goals? How do you respond to shifting priorities? • Explore strategies when changes in leadership occur. • Join our discussion on successful techniques to grow or enhance your prospect pool. • It takes money to raise money. Explore with colleagues the multiple methods for aquiring resources that will put you on a path to a successful campaign. • What do you do when when campaign fatigue sets in? • Identifying and growing your culture of philanthropy is essential to campaign success. Explore with us the four key pillars of a robust culture and how you can improve them as your campaign unfolds.

Here’s the edited version of your copy, incorporating the idea that these lessons apply beyond traditional creative roles: As creatives, we often aspire to secure a seat at “the table”—seeking recognition, influence, and the opportunity to shape key decisions. But here's the truth: we already have a table of our own, brimming with unique insights, diverse experiences, and the ability to make a real impact. The challenge lies in recognizing and leveraging it. This session is designed for in-house creative professionals looking to grow their careers, expand creative opportunities, and develop leadership skills. However, the lessons shared go beyond traditional creative roles. No matter where you work or what your role is, creativity isn’t confined to a title or department—it’s a mindset. Together, we’ll explore how to identify and unlock opportunities for authentic connections and influence within your organization, empowering you to make an impact without waiting for an invitation.

Discover how Portland State University, an urban campus with a non-traditional student body, has created a vibrant and successful Day of Giving campaign with nearly 100 participating funds. This session will reveal the unique strategies used to garner widespread support and brand recognition among campus partners, alumni, faculty/staff, and students. Attendees will learn how to leverage challenges, foster effective partner communication and training, boost student involvement, and execute a comprehensive communications strategy. Join us to gain actionable insights and proven methods to elevate your institution’s Day of Giving.