All Sessions
District VIII Annual Conference 2025
Filter By:
Session Type
Topic
Sector
Experience Level
Disciplines
Competencies
8 Results Found
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
Finding (and Keeping) Focus In A Distracting World
We have too many things to do, and there's no end in sight. As fundraisers in higher education, we are all navigating complex issues every day. The daily stream of news, events, and pressure related to resource development in higher education is a lot to manage. Finding and staying in a productive zone can be daunting, and burnout is often nipping at our heels. This will be an interactive session that creates space for sharing best practices for laser focus in a complex and over-scheduled world. *Separate registration required
Speakers: Crystal Froembling, Senior Director of Development, Portland State University Foundation
Competencies: Integrity and ProfessionalismStrategic Thinking
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Relationship Insights: Transforming Research for the Future of Fundraising
Prospect research is quickly evolving due to innovative technologies, new best practices, and advancement in data analytics and AI. Because of these emerging tools and practices there is a distinct shift in the role of the traditional researcher in fundraising that is moving away from the collection and aggregation of information (e.g., reactive profiles) and towards creating proactive relationship management analytics and delivering actionable, data-informed insights that directly impact fundraising decision making.
To keep ahead of these trends, Oregon State University Foundation (OSUF) embarked on a three-year initiative to redefine its research approach, resulting in the newly branded Relationship Insights team at OSUF.
At its core Relationship Insights represents a cultural shift in OSUF’s approach to relationship management and research that focuses on creating a dynamic, proactive, data-informed program prioritizing close partnerships with Development and providing research analysts opportunities to embrace new technology while deemphasizing the more reactive, traditional research.
Join us to learn more about the Relationship Insights team’s journey that led to being recognized with a 2024 Silver CASE Circle of Excellence award in Advancement Services, and along the way learn how your organization can adopt a similar approach and how rethinking research can be beneficial for both your Advancement Services and Fundraising teams.
We will specifically discuss the strategies implemented in this shift, how other organizations can adopt and benefit from this type of approach, the lessons learned, and what the future holds for the Relationship Insights team.
Speakers: Matthew Smith, Senior Director, Relationship Insights, Oregon State University Foundation, Jenna Proctor, Assistant Director, Relationship Insights, Oregon State University Foundation
Competencies: Strategic ThinkingRelationship Building
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
We've Been Overthinking Alumni Engagement Metrics
For years, alumni engagement leaders have been feeling the burn of quantifying the results of our work. Never as easy to quantify as dollars in the door and other frontline fundraiser metrics, we find ourselves trying to justify funding and support for our work without being able to show the ROI as easily as frontline fundraisers. Have we been making it too complicated?
In this session, Ellen Whitlock Baker and Aaron Clarry will outline how we have created an efficient way to measure and report alumni engagement metrics at Seattle University because of the strong partnership we’ve developed between our two shops.
We will show how you can simply collect and report out on some of the CASE AEM data, even if you can’t track it all. We’ll also show examples of key reports to leaders and team members to keep alumni engagement metrics accurate and top of mind.
This session is great for alumni engagement professionals as well as those who work in advancement services roles; it’s with our power combined that we are able to more effectively report on engagement KPIs.
Speakers: Ellen Whitlock Baker, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement, Seattle University, Aaron Clarry, Assistant Vice President, Advancement Services, Seattle University
Competencies: Industry or Sector ExpertiseStrategic Thinking
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST
The Technology of Mentorship and how to Leverage Alumni Engagement
Mentorship is not a numbers game, it is an opportunity to connect your alumni community in a tangible way to the institution and future alumni. By creating an interconnected, fulsome mentorship platform that encourages connection worldwide, you expand the ability of alumni and students to achieve greater success in their careers and personal development, while enhancing the reputation of your institution.
Speakers: Kathleen Ralph, Lead, Alumni Mentorship, University of Calgary, Andrea Christensen, Sr Alumni Career Development Specialist, University of Calgary
Competencies: Relationship BuildingStrategic Thinking
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST
Working The Mid-Level: A Donor Pipeline & Fundraiser Career Path Conversation
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!
Speakers: Jenny Minniti- Shippey, Associate Director of Development, University of Oregon, Rubi Harney, Associate Director of Development, University of Oregon, Shelby Danzer, Associate Director of Development, University of Oregon, Margaret Savoian, Senior Associate Director of Development, University of Oregon
Competencies: Relationship BuildingIndustry or Sector Expertise
Experience Level: Level 2
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST
Becoming an Innovation Hub: Data Strategies & Overcoming Cultural Resistance
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.
Speakers: Alex Campomanes, Executive Director, Advancement, The University of Manitoba
Competencies: Business and Financial AcumenLeadership
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
Career Development: Innovative Programs that Enhance Engagement AND Alumni
With career pivots and side hustles becoming the norm, the alumni community’s appetite for ongoing career support is stronger than ever. The University of Calgary has successfully implemented a comprehensive suite of alumni career development initiatives designed to support professional growth and cultivate lifelong relationships. This session explains our multi-faceted approach, highlighting key career development offerings that have significantly increased alumni engagement and improved the lives of thousands of our alumni. These offerings are highly replicable and can be initiated by other institutions to improve engagement, all while providing life-changing support that positively impacts their alumni and greater community.
The success of our innovative alumni programming is evidenced by increased participation rates, positive feedback, and the strengthened sense of community among our alumni. By sharing our strategies and outcomes, we aim to inspire other institutions to adopt similar approaches, ultimately enhancing alumni engagement and their lifelong career development.
Speakers: Andrea Christensen, Sr Alumni Career Development Specialist, University of Calgary, Kathleen Ralph, Lead, Alumni Mentorship, University of Calgary
Competencies: Relationship BuildingIndustry or Sector Expertise
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM PST
Get Unstuck and Make Big Changes
Are you feeling the need for a big change but have no idea how to get started? Maybe it’s that you’re burned out of your current role, wanting more (or less!) responsibility, needing to take charge of your work/life balance.
The massive disruption in our way of life brought by the pandemic has shaken loose many folks' desire to make big changes - in life, in careers, or both. The way we work changed forever, and with everything that came with the pandemic many now see with clarity that we want to do things differently…but have no idea how to start.
In this session, Ellen Whitlock Baker will lead you through methods to start to explore big changes, whether they be in your work or life. Using the “Immunity to Change” model, we’ll walk through how to assess your current state, identify what you want to change, and explore what’s holding you back. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to begin to make those changes you’ve been thinking about...and the first steps to take to get started.
Speakers: Ellen Whitlock Baker, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement, Seattle University
Competencies: LeadershipEmotional Intelligence