Pre-Conference Workshop: Advanced Deans
Understanding Your Highest-Level Donors
In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore best practice in the cultivation and stewardship of principal gift donors and learn how to identify, prioritize and understand the philanthropic motivation for these potential donors. Participants will be asked to come prepared with a list of prospective principal donors and be ready to discuss the successes and challenges they face with each. You’ll leave this workshop with a set of strategies as well as a better understanding of what conditions need to be in place to move your highest-level donors from prospective to engaged.
While not required, it is strongly recommended that academic leaders attend this workshop in partnership with their development colleague.
Speakers
Shaun B. Keister
Shaun B. Keister, a veteran fundraiser with experience in higher education, arts, and conservation philanthropy, became UC Davis' first vice chancellor for development and alumni relations in 2011.
He functions as the campus's chief fundraising officer and also serves as president of the UC Davis Foundation. He led UC Davis in successfully completing its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, "The Campaign for UC Davis," raising more than $1.1 billion from nearly 110,000 donors. Under his leadership, UC Davis became one of the top two percent of fundraising programs in the United States according to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Keister has served in a series of high-level development posts at Florida State, Iowa State, and Penn State universities. In his previous positions he has played a key role in the launch of three major campaigns.
He is a nationally-renowned fundraising expert having been quoted in local and national media outlets including "CNN Money," The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Currents magazine, The Sacramento Bee, and Fox 40 News. Additionally, he has nearly 20 years as an independent fundraising consultant serving clients including the San Francisco Opera, Steppenwolf Theatre, World Wildlife Fund, and the Nature Conservancy, and more than 60 public and private universities.
Keister has served as a CASE member and volunteer, speaking at more than 20 international conferences. He is the 2005 recipient of the CASE Crystal Apple Award for excellence in teaching.
He has a bachelor's degree in political science from Pennsylvania State University and master's and doctoral degrees in sociology from Iowa State University of Science and Technology.
Cassie Warman
Cassie Warman, a leader in educational advancement for more than 30 years, serves as vice president of university advancement at Pacific University in Oregon. Warman served as vice president for college advancement and executive director of the Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Foundation from 2009–2012 where she led the college's advancement efforts including fundraising, alumni relations, communications, and marketing as well as external and government relations.
She previously served as the vice president for university relations at Portland State University where she secured the largest private gift in PSU history, orchestrated the university's first comprehensive fundraising campaign that raised $114 million and led the university's first branding campaign. Prior to joining Portland State in 2004, she held advancement positions at Washington State University's Vancouver campus, the University of Portland and Eastside Catholic High School in Bellevue, Washington.
Warman has served on numerous boards and is the past chair of the CASE Board of Trustees. She has been honored with the CASE District VIII Distinguished Service Award as well as many other awards and honors.