Advancement is more reliant on data-driven decision making than ever before, and our need for understanding the data we collect is only increasing. However, our ideas and needs often move faster than our resources. In this hands-on workshop, we will explore how to leverage R, an open-source technology that can provide flexible analysis and accelerate how we understand our constituents. Through this session and its toolkit, you will learn:
Introduction to R and RStudio Importing data from excel spreadsheets and SQL databases Descriptive and inferential analysis for advancement Incorporating machine learning techniques Communicating your findings through visualization
This workshop is ideal for anyone interested in enhancing their analytic and visualization skills. By the end of the session, you will be equipped to uncover insights from your own data, benchmark progress against other institutions’ data, and transform data into actionable insights.

Speaker to be announced soon

For over a decade, the MIT Alumni Association used a three-category model to track alumni engagement. Visually depicted with a Venn Diagram, the circles of Philanthropic, Face-to-face, and Virtual were used to count several engagement activities performed by our alumni. We measured overlaps in the engagement categories, labeled the intersection of the three circles as the Mindshare, and reported on the overall engagement rate. Over the years, what was included in our Venn Diagram evolved as we gained the ability to store additional engagement activities in our database.
Eventually, a number of factors including, but not limited to, the conclusion of our most recent capital campaign, CASE’s launch of the Alumni Engagement Metrics, growing confusion around what activities were counted and where, and a desire to empower more staff to see their work in the engagement metrics, demonstrated a need to introduce a new way to track alumni engagement. After several proposed models, Alumni Association leadership adopted a system that closely mirrors CASE’s four-category AEM.
This session will take attendees through the process of launching an engagement measurement model. All steps will be covered, from getting buy-in from leadership to updating visuals and reports to training staff on the changes. If you are thinking about installing an engagement metrics model at your institution, or are looking to update an already existing model, come to this session to learn about our process, how we’re using the model, and what our plans are for its future.

Actionable data is more than just insightful data. It is timely, insightful data. If you provide insightful data the day after it is needed, it changes from actionable to at best out of date, and at worst useless. When you are part of a small data shop, your form of currency is often not ability but time. We are always asked if we can do something when the real question is, “Do we have time to do something?”

In Vassar’s Advancement Services area, we have 4 people providing data and reporting needs for over 70 individuals across multiple areas. There are myriad requests that seemingly come in all at once, all the time. What is a small shop to do? Well, what Vassar’s Advancement Systems and Reporting team did was to address the request, and then ask ourselves: Who else might make this request? How would they request it? Can we service that request right now as well?

This started our journey on generalizing requests and being proactive to them as opposed to reactive. We started automating this analysis through the use of Stored Procedures, Functions, Custom Fields, and Dashboards to create safe environments for self service. Then our team could focus on more complex actions.

Say hello to our little friends! Like Tony Montana, we experienced a rapid rise and fall of our dreams (in our case, dashboard development). Unlike Tony, we lived to tell the tale of how we used that experience to move on to an even better environment. We'll focus on our initial use of Google Looker Studio, which is hardly the BI Tool of your dreams, but the price is right (FREE!) and it's proven to be surprisingly versatile for a variety of dashboard needs. In the aftermath of us taking our Looker Studio dashboards behind the barn, we've penned this final love letter to a frustrating yet functional (and FREE!) product in the hopes that a less financially fortunate organization can benefit from our experience. We will give a glimpse of the dashboards we've created for proposal pipelines, portfolio reviews, initiative reports, principal giving profiles, fundraising progress, career center data, integration with Slate CRM, etc. in the hopes that those of you with no shortage of sweat equity can push Looker Studio to the limit. We will also give a glimpse into how the lessons learned from our experience made it easy for us to adapt to Power BI.

This presentation will describe the combined efforts of the Prospect Development and the Advancement Systems teams at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota to adopt a more data-driven and automated approach to prospect pipeline development for major gifts fundraising. It will describe our previous approach to pipeline development work, our motivation for a more efficient and transparent approach, and lessons learned in the process of implementing these new processes and systems. Topics covered include the methods used to systematize prospect pipeline elements such as prospect capacity, quality, and interest areas; dashboards created to visualize, filter, and display the pipeline and constituency; ways that these new systems are being used to prepare and deliver new prospects; and dashboards employed to track pipeline movement.

In today's competitive fundraising landscape, tools like AI, hyper-targeted segmentation, and multi-channel outreach are powerful but insufficient on their own. To build meaningful, lasting relationships with donors, we must craft an Exceptional Donor Experience that is strategic, intentional, collaborative, and consistently exhibits the powerful partnership of data and creativity. This presentation will focus on using data and the art of donor development to craft strategic and intentional engagement that recognizes donor behavior. These elements, when combined, create an orchestrated journey that fosters loyalty and trust. Enhanced technology and tools will be explored as essential enablers of real-time, personalized communication. Collaboration across university departments—such as advancement services, donor relations, marketing, and the alumni association—will be emphasized as critical to delivering a seamless and cohesive donor experience – especially when bandwidth and resources are in short supply. By being intentional, integrating efforts and sharing resources, institutions can ensure a unified, impactful approach that drives donor retention and growth.

Join us for an engaging session, "From Silos to Synergy: The Reporting Hub Revolution!" as we explore the transformative power of a multidisciplinary and cross-collaborative reporting hub tailored for fundraising and alumni relations. Discover how integrating internal departments with external stakeholders can enhance data sharing, drive strategic decision-making, and elevate fundraising outcomes.

In this session, we'll cover:

Innovative strategies for breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across teams.
Real-world case studies showcasing successful reporting hubs in action.
Best practices for leveraging data to strengthen alumni engagement and drive fundraising initiatives.
Tools and technologies that facilitate seamless communication and reporting.
Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your reporting processes and unlock the full potential of your fundraising efforts! Together, we can create a vibrant community that thrives on collaboration and shared success.

Wealth capacity is an essential financial indicator that many gift officers use to assess a potential donor's ability to contribute. However, like many aspects of fundraising today, it's essential to find the right balance between "art and science" to engage potential donors in a way that encourages generosity while respecting their capacity to give.

Join this session for an interactive discussion and presentation on the different data-driven approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of gift officers' asks in relation to a prospect's capacity.

How can we use metrics in a strategic and accessible way to help us reach our goals and communicate effectively with senior leadership and trustees? How can we use visual storytelling to collaborate as a team, understand our performance and take action? This session aims to arm you with simple, yet powerful tools you can use to facilitate conversation with trustees and senior leadership and bolster your fundraising.