CASE collects institutional-level data on philanthropy from around the world. Institutions which submit CASE surveys have access to this data, which they can leverage to identify and benchmark against similar institutions. In this session, we demonstrate how to use R to access SQL databases, create visualizations, and conduct regression analysis on philanthropy data. Upon completion, participants will be able to use data for storytelling and strategic thinking.

What are the latest trends in philanthropy and what does this mean for colleges and universities? What attitudes do donors to higher education bring to their philanthropy? How is your institution approaching the continued decline in mass giving? How are transformative gifts defined and secured? This session will draw on data from surveys conducted by Bank of America, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and engage participants in a discussion about the donors who have had a transformative impact on their institutions. Participants will learn about 1) recent trends in giving and alumni engagement to higher education among U.S. households, 2) how affluent households approach their philanthropy to higher education and other causes, and 3) how transformative gifts are defined and secured.

Personalization matters, and in today's world of AI-driven technology, truly personalizing the donor experience is possible for any size organization. Join this session to see how new technology can help you change your outreach from "send everything to everyone" to producing a truly tailored experience for each donor. Hear key metrics from millions of communications about the power of personalization and how it can more than triple open rates. And hear how St. John's University transformed engagement with new technology that allows for personalization at scale. It's time to do donor engagement smarter, and if you're ready to ignite the passion of individual supporters using new tactics, this session is for you.

Sometimes, we’re asked questions that feel like they’re in a different language. At times, we really are speaking two different languages and translation is a challenge. But all languages have some things in common and with a little work, you can often find creative solutions to communicate with one another. Have you been asked to articulate and support your request for expanded staffing? What about being asked to predict cash receipts for University budgets during times of economic uncertainty? The finance office or Dean wants to see one thing, but your fundraising database isn’t exactly aligned. This session will present several ways existing data can be used to help development leadership clarify the need for additional staff resources, articulate the impact gift officers have on total fundraising results, and demonstrate ways in which past and projected staffing and cash receipts can predict cash flow in a language both sides understand. No shouting, pointing, or 'cave speak' required.

Most Prospect Management models rely on the gift cycle to categorize prospects. But is this the most accurate way to describe a prospect's philanthropic engagement with the institution? Does a prospect being cultivated for their first major gift really fall in the same category as a seasoned donor being cultivated for their 10th? The Prospect Development Team at Temple University decided to reframe the way they code and report on prospects based on simple measurements on the donors' records. This enabled the team to engage with the fundraisers they partner with to uncover new opportunities and allowed fundraisers to approach their portfolios in a more strategic way.

Professional schools, nestled within the ecosystem of a larger university, face unique challenges in engaging their alumni base and fundraising for their priorities. Building a robust reporting infrastructure has become a strategic imperative for these institutions, given the intricate dynamics at play. In this presentation, we will delve into the journey of establishing a comprehensive reporting system for Yale Law School , seamlessly integrating giving data, prospect ratings, and gift officer metrics. What sets this initiative apart is its commitment to creating an intuitive reporting portal that empowers not only technical experts but also non-technical staff. We will explore the complexities encountered, the solutions implemented, and the transformative impact achieved, recognizing the distinct challenges and opportunities that arise when aligning the goals of a unit with those of a broader academic institution. Join us as we unveil a blueprint for data-driven decision-making that enables professional schools, as integral units within a larger university, to foster alumni relationships and drive philanthropic success with confidence and in harmony with the broader mission of the institution.

We created dashboards allowing a pro-active approach to successfully collecting pledges. By becoming aware of the high risk pledges, Fundraising professionals were are able to focus on the high risk donors, to properly steward and sustain their affinity to the university. Thus, mitigating the risk and increasing the chance that the donor will fulfill their pledge.

Asking and answering whether a donor clicked on a link is just the beginning. To fully leverage the potential of digital impact reporting, Boston University built a reporting strategy based upon the tools and business practices that answer far more textured and powerful questions: What content captured their attention? How long did they review the content? Did they access the report? Did the report spur action or result in new gifts? How do we drive higher engagement (individually and in aggregate)? In this session, you will learn how BU ensured a successful launch using analytics to continuously hone and adapt its reporting strategy, collaboratively built new, data-driven capabilities, the lessons learned along the way, and how they plan to continue to optimize their approach."

Learn how MIT is taking a strategic and tactical approach to data management in preparation for future technology transformation. Leading from critical needs of the organization, MIT is developing a data classification strategy to inform data migrations, reinforce data standards, and leverage established project management principles to strengthen its data management practices as they respond to the changing needs of their constituents and transform their business.

As personalized and curated experiences continue to take over digital and commercial spaces, donor engagement teams must continually innovate to keep up. All-in-one solutions can provide small teams with scalable platforms and comprehensive tools that drive results, but they often come with limitations in product development that don’t meet the needs of individual clients. Over the last year, Georgia State University’s Donor Engagement and Communications team has used data analysis, strategic engagement and personalized outreach to develop an internal donor experience program focused on long-term results: the acquisition and retention of mid-level donors with the aim of carrying them through the “murky middle” and establishing them as our next generation of major donors.