• Business as (Not) Usual: Fundraising Success During Leadership Transitions
• A United Front: Integrating Your Fundraising Strategy Across the Institution
• Measuring Engagement: Using Data to Drive Meaningful Change
• Using Measurement to Work Smarter, Not Harder
• Courageous Conversation in Safe Spaces
• Demystifying Data: Leveraging Your Data to Achieve Your Goals
• How Podcasts Can Create a Win-Win for Your Organization
• Advancement Council: Entrepreneurial Think Tank for Big Gift Strategy
• When Your President is Also a King
• Why Have a Giving Day When You Can Have a Giving Week?
• Shifting Landscapes and Earthquakes: Leading Through Change
• Goodbye/Hello: How to Make Presidential Transitions About U
• Not for Women Only: Leaning On: Mentoring to Advance Women's Leadership
• CASE Benefits
• Challenges and Opportunities: Independent Schools
• Challenges and Opportunities: Community Colleges
• Networking: Alumni Relations
• Networking: Development
• Networking; Communications
• Networking: Donor Relations
• Networking: Advancement Services

Digital alumni engagement tools are changing faster than most schools can keep up. But chatbots, once the sole province of tech and customer service websites, are on the verge of disrupting the alumni engagement paradigm with an "always on" approach that recent alumni have come to expect. Hear my story of success, failure, and learning how to love a chatbot in NJIT's alumni program.

Villanova University’s strategic plan outlines a priority in supporting vocational success of alumni. In order to bolster engagement for alumni professionals across the world, Alumni Relations partnered with the Career Center to create a month of programming dedicated to professional development for all career levels. "Nova Network November" offered 30+ events ranging from regional networking gatherings to webinars led by campus experts on topics tied back to the university’s priorities. Review our step-by-step approach to gain university support and leverage regional clubs and campus leadership alike.

Most alumni relations professionals would agree that their event planner toolbox can sometimes feel a little empty. Join an event planner (turned alumni relations colleague) as she shares reliable tools of the events industry, ones that will create purposeful events to increase alumni engagement. Explore practical scenarios for how to plan for events, how to stretch your budget, and how to learn from her successes and failures. You'll leave this session armed with more tools than a superhero's utility belt.

As university fundraisers, we work with highly diverse donor populations that are both multicultural and global, and philanthropy may be interpreted in varying ways. Donor values are driven by life experiences that shape their individual and unique perspective. To understand the impact of those experiences and how they impact giving and engagement, we need to examine our own assumptions, inherent biases, and apply best practices in order to uncover donor motivation. Discuss strategies to discover donor perspectives illustrated with actual donor situations.

We all face the problem of a shrinking and aging donor file, and our bosses are telling us to do something about it by reaching out to younger donors. But what should our expectations from these donors be? Learn about a 2018 study to determine the giving habits of the various different generational groups (i.e. Millennials, Gen Xers, Baby Boomers, etc.) and what we should be expecting from our own donors. Find out how Swarthmore College (and other institutions) are attracting young alumni through effective and proven direct marketing strategies.

Transitioning to a new president, provost, or dean poses unique challenges – yet change can be positive. With change comes opportunity to revisit institutional goals and priorities, to reinforce positive outcomes from outgoing leadership, and to refresh your institution’s mission and vision. How can we leverage leadership changes to further fundraising goals? How do we navigate the challenges that arise when the transition happens in the middle of a campaign? Explore strategies and best practices for maximizing leadership transitions to establish a sustainable future for our institutions.

The compressed timing of parent major gifts requires a nuanced approach that balances clarity of purpose and personal engagement. This session provides a blueprint for opening the door with parents, for test capacity and inclination, and for guiding parent giving toward a major gift conversation.

As part of a comprehensive fundraising strategy, events and direct response campaigns can combine to form a meaningful tool that increases both engagement and revenue. Events and campaigns can intersect to propel engagement forward – resulting in increased participation, unrealized revenue, and a pipeline for major gifts. In this session, the event leader and campaign leader will describe the strategy, implementation process, and tactics they developed to successfully create a scalable project flow that positions fundraisers for success, and is easily replicable and scalable for fundraising teams of any size.

You've got great stories to tell. Now you have to decide which outlets are best to get the most eyeballs on them. This session serves as a practical how-to guide for getting the most out of your great stories. During this workshop you'll be working toward creating a checklist that will simplify your team's ability to maximize sharing your good news.

Finding talent, keeping talent and nurturing talent – all things we think about, but how in heavens do we achieve results? Why is diversity in our profession such a challenge? And in a flourishing economy, why are so many of us still struggling to find the right people for our critical roles? The ‘summer slowdown’ no longer exists in advancement, the demands are higher, and managing it all requires more of you than ever before. Come learn how to get some of it right, what experiments to consider, and the pitfalls to avoid.

The NYU LGBTQ+ Alumni Network has made tremendous strides in providing programming for a more diverse audience over the course of just one year. Historically, this group had difficulty reaching the full LGBTQ+ alumni community, attributable to an excess of happy hours and other alcohol-centered events. Learn how the LGBTQ+ Alumni Network transformed from a majority cis-gay-male- identified group into a network that engages all LGBTQ+ identities. The NYU LGBTQ+ Alumni Network was a recipient of a 2019 CASE Circle of Excellence Award for their success in redesigning their programming.

How do you explain how things are done when onboarding a new team member? That’s your culture. Some of us are process-oriented, goal-oriented, or people-oriented, but we all need to work together to deliver exceptional service. This honest retrospective of how the UofG started making a substantial organization change--designed to drive us to sustainable $50M annually--covers key learnings from our own experience. Learn how you can be a change champion on your team, no matter your role.

This session is meant to help high fliers position thieir program and role as a top priority for your institution. Learn how to align effectively with the institutional strategic plan and how to understand and have the ability to think strategically. Find out how to earn a seat at the table with other key leaders in your advancement division and how to be accountable and attain your annual goals. Finally, discover how to achieve a highly-rated program with highly impactful results.

Every institution's philanthropic pyramid begins with a solid foundation. Learn how and when the most successful shops build their philanthropic pipelines. Starting with campus philanthropy and young alumni engagement, discuss strategies to build a culture of giving across every donor cycle stage. Discover how to maximize fundraising productivity and ensure sustainability across the giving pyramid. 

Word of mouth is the most powerful influencer, whether you’re choosing a new pair of shoes, an independent school, or a college. In 2020, social media IS word of mouth. Someone likes something posted or tweeted by a school and all their connections see it and tacitly accept it as an endorsement. Find out how committing to a simple, easy social media strategy can allow a school to dictate word of mouth to thousands of potential students.

Take an in-depth look at using podcasts for engaging with alumni, for recruiting new students, and for connecting the university to alumni, parents, family, friends, and the community. Learn how to create your own podcast and discover the benefits it can have on your institution.

Learn how the donor relations and annual fund teams at Drexel University collaborated to engage donors and increase retention resulting in a retention rate of 62% in fiscal year 2019. Explore the methods we used to engage donors that can be scalable to any size institution, and all on a limited budget.

Texting has made its way into higher ed’s communications channels: it’s quick, simple, and breaks through the noise of a full email inbox. See how Cornell implemented a multi-month texting campaign that brought together digital offers, engagement opportunities, and solicitations. This session covers the strategic partnerships that had to happen to get the project off the ground, campaign content, results, and how to make the case for your own usage.

Finding ways to bring together students and young alumni in a manner that is satisfying and fulfilling to both can be a challenge; come hear about the strides and mistakes Johns Hopkins University has made in their 10 years of hosting the Seniors and Young Alumni Leadership Symposium and some of the events that have spun off from it in that time. Bring ideas on alumni-student programs from your institution to share.

Tired of “batch and blast” emails? Want to avoid unsubscribes and being marked SPAM? Learn more about how NYU transitioned to an alumni-centric opt-in email strategy that empowers alumni to control the messaging they receive and the clubs they hear from. This session covers the opt-in strategy highlights, as well as execution of the preference center and opt-in communications campaign.

The end of the campaign is in sight, and your team is closing in on its goals. Now what? The campaign close is a great opportunity to communicate about the impact donors have made on your institution and to paint a picture of the brighter future that lies ahead. Dscuss and share examples of the tools and tactics you’ll need to communicate success and maintain momentum: crisp messaging, smart collateral disseminated across channels, and a comprehensive plan to organize and maximize your strategy.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion continue to be priorities for many higher education institutions, but how does this translate to advancement? Beyond hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, where and how should we be focusing our efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion? Explore practical ways to build a DE&I strategy for leveraging the benefits of a diverse workforce and engaging with diverse prospects, donors, and alumni.

As advancement professionals, we need alumni volunteers to serve not only as ambassadors for the institution but to serve as role models for their peers. When volunteer leaders are engaged, educated, and stewarded in relevant ways, they can have a major impact and amplify the work of the professional staff to support the institution's strategic priorities. Learn how the Temple University Young Alumni Association shifted its board culture and education strategy to secure 100 percent participation and increase peer-to-peer fundraising efforts to engage young alumni during Temple’s day of giving.

Review nine characteristics of Millennials and post-Millennials that drive much of their behavior. Identify actionable tactics to increase this population’s philanthropic engagement.

In the midst of a campaign, staff transition, and a new database, the US Naval Academy Foundation went out to change the way we used metrics in major gifts fundraising. This presentation covers the transition to a metrics-based major gifts staff that focuses on helping gift officers achieve better results through valuable metrics that go beyond dollars raised. Discuss what metrics we developed, learn how we built a tracking system, and find out how we are implementing change within the major gifts team.

Review best event strategies to make your events hit it out of the park! We’ll cover each stage of event planning from conception (spring training) to follow-up strategies (the walk off home run). This session is great for new event professionals or seasoned planners looking for ways to engage and steward donors and potential donors. 

Are you looking to reimagine your donor proposals? Is your proposal creation process ready for a reboot with the most important content experts engaged in the process? Do your proposals evoke an emotional reaction that compels donors to commit? These questions and more were answered for the University at Buffalo with a deep assessment and reinvention of its proposal creation process, which produced winning proposals donors love. Come learn how UB has taken donor proposals to a new level of communication.

NYU implemented a strategic shift toward an interest-based approach to prospect assignment and development staff realignment. THE SHIFT allows fundraisers to engage with a greater number of prospects while better aligning donor’s interests with university’s priorities. THE SHIFT required approval from university and development leadership and the collaboration of colleagues in fundraising, prospect development, IT and gift administration teams. The case for making THE SHIFT is strong as many institutions consider how to implement policies and guidelines that are donor-centric and effective in reaching more prospects in impactful ways.

Review the essential aspects of successful solicitations—using videos from today’s media. Learn six non-negotiables: 1) know your prospects; 2) acknowledge, appreciate, and move beyond objections; 3) make the most compelling case; 4) distinguish your solicitation; 5) explain that you cannot succeed without the prospective donor; and 6) share names of other key philanthropic investors. Strategies for these steps can be seen in key, emotional moments from popular movies and television shows; coaching with a twist! Sharing these examples and walking through best practices—and where they're lacking—in each clip.

Connecting with alumni online is essential to any 21st Century engagement strategy. Explore how to cost effectively engage alumni with a variety of online programs including webinars, livestreams, virtual book clubs, podcasts, and more. Alumni relations professionals will learn a simple framework to determine where to make investments in virtual programs based on their goals, along with specific ideas for programs based on experience from more than 150 universities and independent schools. We’ll share several free tools that can increase the reach and quality of online engagement programs.

Montgomery College holds Facebook Live FAQ sessions to engage with target audiences, including international students, underserved populations, and prospective students. An FAQ session to reach Amharic speakers reached nearly 10,000 people organically with more than 2,500 engagements and 2,000 clicks to our website for more information. Sessions focus on a topic and have a specific goal in mind, such as driving enrollment or increasing scholarship applications. Facebook Live provides an opportunity to engage with highly targeted audiences on a limited budget, with a high ROI. Find out how it can work for you.

All leaders emphasize the importance of a “team,” but truly great leaders exemplify it. Explore the qualities of effective leadership by focusing on specific aspects of constructing a team, instilling a sense of character, and maximizing institutional performance.Discuss positioning individual team members for personal growth and career achievement. By providing strong guidance and leadership today, managers can drive fundraising success and help shape future leaders for tomorrow.

There is little argument that diverse communities are more enriching and equitable – and more diverse institutions provide a stronger educational experience. Hear from a small group of diverse professionals who have sought out and succeeded in these organizations and advancement leaders who have helped build a culture of inclusivity. This session provides an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences, share best practices, and learn valuable tactics that have successfully attracted and supported diverse candidates.

Women are the fastest growing sector in philanthropic decision-making and have specific philanthropic and financial priorities which planned giving can help them achieve. Three experienced frontline fundraisers share planned giving examples, marketing strategies for effective planned giving, how the planned giving officer can identify prospects and schedule visits, as well as recent data on how women make decisions to create an integrated planned giving strategy. Learn about planned giving options for alumnae and other female donors including the IRA Charitable Rollover, bequests, and life income gifts.

Learn how to partner with key prospects and donors to identify and showcase organizational priorities, regionally and internationally. Based on experiences highlighting medical research programs, best in class college access programs, athletics, and organizational leadership, discuss how any college or university can partner with their donors to share the impactful programs with targeted audiences and how to transform those experiences in major gifts.

Staff in advancement services often feel far removed from the line functions of advancement. However, in our administration of matching gifts, we play a pivotal role in bringing dollars in the door. Explore the evolution of matching gift administration, the functions involved throughout advancement services, and best practices for helping to maximize matching gift support by strategic use of available systems.

Find out how much was raised in FY2019 at U.S. institutions of higher education. What type of donors contributed? How did different types of institutions fare? Are we seeing shifts in patterns due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act?

This session provides insight on the process of creating an alumni engagement strategic plan, and the next phase of implementing that plan. Johns Hopkins University recently developed a five-year strategic plan for alumni relations across all divisions. We will share background on putting together our committee, developing a series of drafts, incorporating survey results, getting the plan approved by leadership, and breaking the priorities, goals, and recommendations down into realistic phases.