Preconference Forums
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One-Day Forums | Two-Day Forums
These popular, three-hour workshops are held the afternoon before and the first morning of the conference. Stop by the registration desk before your forum to pick up your name badge and materials.
Registration fees for each forum:
$99, CASE and NAIS members, $150, nonmembers
Register early, space in each forum is limited.
Saturday, Feb. 4
2:00-5:00 PM
Planning Makes Perfect
Speakers: Peter Fissinger, President, and Julia McGuire, Vice President, Campbell & Company; and Lucinda Lee Katz, Head of School, Marin Country Day School
Is your school considering launching a campaign? How can you be sure your school is ready to launch that campaign? Peter Fissinger and Julia McGuire, who have partnered with schools and nonprofit organizations to help plan and facilitate their campaigns, will demonstrate how planning sets the stage for a successful campaign by:
• Engineering a decision-making process that is informative, inclusive, consensus building and powerful,
• Ensuring a case for support is well-developed and has support at all levels,
• Assessing the fundraising program effectively to ensure you have the appropriate resources allocated,
• Cultivating volunteer involvement and ownership of strategic priorities, and
• Deepening your knowledge of and relationship with your top donors and prospective donors.
Effective Use of the Web and Social Media Tools in Development, Part I: Tech Tools and Strategies
Speaker: Rob DiMartino, Director of Business Development, finalsite
Spinning your wheels with social media? Learn how to get back on track by reviewing case studies in alumni relations, marketing and communications, admissions and fundraising. Explore the latest technology tools schools use to make the job easier and brainstorm strategies for overcoming the most common challenges to success. Wherever you are in the social media journey, we'll get you to the next step.
Learning objectives:
• Discover easy-to-use technology tools to facilitate social media usage.
• Learn new strategies for overcoming challenges to social media success.
All About Annual Giving, Part I
Speaker: Wayne Loosigian, Director of Annual Giving, Philips Exeter Academy
This session will cover the key components needed to run a successful annual giving program. Discuss the importance of accurate records, the recruiting and training of volunteers, the components of a direct mail program, the various forms of phonathons, electronic solicitation, leadership gift programs and much more.
Learning objectives:
• Discover the power of targeted marketing and solicitation.
• Discuss the importance of paying attention to detail.
Sunday, Feb. 5
8:30-11:30 AM
Love Thy Reader: The Science and Secrets Behind Highly Effective Donor Communications
Speaker: Tom Ahern, President, Ahern Communications, Ink.
Stop guessing. Learn what the pros know. This workshop is a "you just need to hear this once" expert immersion into the science and secrets used by the world's most successful nonprofit communicators to raise more money, retain more donors and build an organization's image and reputation. You'll learn dozens of proven techniques for attracting support and sending a more powerful message.
Among the topics covered:
• Corporate communications vs. donor communications, and why the distinction matters,
• How direct mail actually works,
• Proven formulas for successful print and email donor newsletters,
• Making storytelling fast and persuasive,
• How to market bequests,
• Talking effectively about endowment, and
• Using emotional triggers to drive response.
Review dozens of good-and not so good-examples of donor communications. Learn vital best practices for your newsletters, annual reports, brochures, direct mail, emails, social media, website and face-to-face solicitations.
All About Annual Giving, Part II
Speaker: 
Robert Burdenski, Principal, Robert Burdenski Annual Giving
Moderator: Lou Ellen Stansell, Director of Development, St. Mark's Episcopal School
Innovations in Annual Giving author and annual giving consultant Bob Burdenski provides an overview of new and emerging annual giving strategies for independent schools. With multimedia examples from independent schools worldwide, Burdenski offers some insights on where annual giving fundraising is heading next.
Learning objective:
• Discuss the latest strategic thinking about the evolving challenges for existing fundraising methods, and the new opportunities for innovation and creative thinking.
Effective Use of Web and Social Media Tools in Development, Part II: Hands On with Video
Speaker: Travis Warren, President, WhippleHill Communications Inc.
Video is an essential tool in your communications and marketing tool box, with the ability to take your school's communication to the next level. Discuss video formats and standards, review the social media video options available and identify ways to master the video capture. Participants will learn what to look for when purchasing video equipment, explore live streaming basics, learn to improve the sound quality of videos and review basic editing techniques.
Learning objectives:
• Learn what to look for when purchasing video equipment.
• Review the basics of live streaming.
• Find out how improve the sound quality of videos and explore basic editing techniques.
These two-day forums are held the afternoon before and the first morning of the conference. You will be expected to attend both the Saturday and Sunday sessions. Breakfast is included on Sunday morning. Stop by the registration desk before your forum to pick up your name badge and materials.
Registration fee for each two-day forum:
$250, CASE and NAIS members; $350, nonmembers, includes breakfast on Sunday.
Register early, space in each forum is limited.
Saturday, Feb. 4
2:00-5:00 PM
All About Advancement Services, Part I
Speakers: Cathy Coleman, Director of Development, The Schenck School; Lauren Koontz, Director of Development, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School; Anita Lawson, Advancement Services Manager, RAND; and Robert Weiner, Principal, Robert L. Weiner Consulting
- 2:00-3:15 PM
Get Your Ducks in a Row Before You Dive into a Campaign
If your school started a capital campaign today, would you be prepared? Learn to identify essentials of advancement services and how to audit your own program to maximize fundraising opportunities - both during campaign years and "normal" years!
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3:30-5:00 PM
Stock, DAFs and United Way Gifts—Oh My!
Do these and other unusual gift types make your head spin? Who's the donor? How can you streamline getting those gifts into your database and to the bank, and sending receipts to your donors? Please join your colleagues for an introduction or refresher to gift processing best practices and an update on how to make technology work for you.
Learning objectives:
• Identify essentials of advancement services.
• Audit your own stewardship, data, research and gifts systems for maximum effectiveness.
Sunday, Feb. 5
8:30-11:30 AM
All About Advancement Services, Part II: Advancement Services Issues Unique to Independent Schools
Speakers: Steve Baker, Director of Operations, St. Paul's School; and Stephanie November, Director of Development, Ascension Episcopal School
Explore the issues that make independent schools unique and discover how to apply big-school and university methods to independent school environments.
Learning objectives:
• Examine issues that we share and issues that make us different.
• Learn when to use best practices from college and university models in a small school setting.
