Since 2022, Arizona State University’s Alumni Engagement team has collected nearly 15,000 alumni stories, generating a powerful new personal connection to ASU. This initiative has become a pillar of our alumni engagement strategy, with more story collection planned in the future. But with such a great response, we had a "champagne problem" of too much data and too few resources to process it by hand. In this session, we’ll share how our Data Analytics & Insights team leveraged AI to transform this raw qualitative data into actionable insights, leading to new strategies that are transforming how we engage with our alumni.

In the age of data abundance, organizations have unprecedented access to insights that can significantly enhance their fundraising strategies. This presentation explores how leveraging historical performance data, coupled with compelling storytelling techniques, can transform forecasting processes and decision-making in fundraising. By analyzing past performance metrics, we can derive actionable insights that inform more accurate and strategic forecasts. The session will also highlight methods for effectively communicating data to stakeholders, ensuring clarity and context around financial projections. This approach aims to bridge the gap between raw data and strategic action, empowering organizations to achieve their fundraising goals with greater precision and confidence.