Pipeline development is a major challenge facing our profession. Donor bases are declining, retention rates are sliding, younger alumni are less inclined to engage with their alma maters, and the principal gifts concentration is only increasing. The University of Nebraska Foundation has developed multiple data-driven, innovative strategies to “double down” on its pipeline development work. Combined, these programs have already resulted in 14,000 prospects contacted, 3,000 personal meetings, 300 qualified major gift prospects, $10 million in new gifts, and 82% retention of leadership annual donors. Explore the strategic intent, data, and processes leveraged to build a new, innovative approach to comprehensive pipeline development.

Recent trends in U.S. giving indicate a consistent decline in donor retention rates over the past decade. This trend threatens the sustainability of crucial programs and initiatives. To combat this, organizations must harness the power of data-informed strategies to better understand donor behaviors, identify gaps, and optimize outreach efforts.
This presentation will explore innovative ways to leverage data analytics to reverse declining donor trends. Key areas of focus will include donor segmentation, predictive modeling, personalized communication strategies, and the significance of donor lifecycle analysis. By integrating these approaches, we aim to cultivate more meaningful relationships with donors, enhance retention rates, and foster long-term support.

Do you know if your donor pipeline is healthy?
Are you seeing diminishing numbers of alumni donors but aren't sure why?
In this session, we will review the outcomes of the 2025 RNL National Alumni Survey with alumni survey responses from more than 20 institutions. These insights will help you go beyond the numbers to understand the perspective of more than 20,000 alumni and what's important to them in their philanthropic expression. This type of data is critical in contextualizing what we are seeing in the diminishing donor counts many institutions are facing.

In this engaging session, learn how to foster collaboration between advancement services and fundraisers for effective data management. Explore strategies to empower relationship managers with accurate data and skills, enabling them to navigate data independently and drive fundraising success. Join us to discover practical examples and valuable insights on building a seamless, data-informed fundraising process. Walk away with actionable tips to enhance efficiency, cultivate a data-empowered culture, and foster a successful partnership between advancement services and fundraisers