Ernestina Snead—Director of Research Communications
Cornell University—Ithaca, N.Y.
United States
Conferences & Training
Advanced Development for Deans
Program

Day 1  

Day 2  

 

Day 1, Thursday, January 20

8:00-8:45 AM
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:45-9:00
Welcome and Introductions

9:00-10:30
Leadership
Development is just one of many areas in which deans and senior academics must lead their organizations. We will share perspectives on the role of university leadership in today's increasingly complex global environment and delve into the characteristics of good leadership as they apply to deans' roles as leaders within their colleges, especially in the development program.

10:45-11:45
Advisory Boards
Advisory boards and campaign committees can play a critical role in raising the visibility of your fundraising efforts especially as they serve as role models to inspire other donors. Whether you have a board or wish to start one, come to this session to learn the great benefits of working with volunteers and discover what pitfalls to avoid.

11:45 AM-1:00 PM
Networking Luncheon

1:00-2:00
A Dean's Advancement: Provosts and Presidents
Senior-level positions come with a new set of added complexities. Whether you are already a president or provost, or aspire to become one, we will discuss the changes in development and donor priorities that come with these roles.

2:15-3:30
Elective Sessions (choose one)

  • Solicitation Basics
    Review the basics of solicitation to sharpen your skills and prepare for tomorrow's intensive solicitation workshop.
  • A Dean's Priorities (repeated at 3:45 PM)
    Finding enough time for development work among your many responsibilities is possibly the biggest challenge a dean faces. This session will take on this difficult topic and prepare you to develop a strategy to balance your responsibilities effectively.
  • Leadership Transitions (a special session for Development Officers)
    What happens when your dean moves on? A leadership transition does not have to slow the progress of your program. This session is designed to help development officers plan how to strategically celebrate a departing dean and welcome a new one.

3:45-5:00
Elective Sessions (choose one)

  • A Dean's Priorities
    Finding enough time for development work among your many responsibilities is possibly the biggest challenge a dean faces. This session will take on this difficult topic and prepare you to develop a strategy to balance your responsibilities effectively.
  • Expanding Your Development Team
    In addition to your development staff, you can benefit from involving faculty and staff throughout your college in your development program. Engaging department heads, faculty and other members of the college can increase your results significantly. This session will explore the best roles for these colleagues and give you practical tips on how to prepare them to be part of the development process.

5:15-6:15
Networking Reception

6:15
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own

 

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Day 2, Friday, January 21

7:00-8:00 AM
Continental Breakfast

Donor Strategies

8:00-9:00
Part I: Cultivation and Solicitation Strategies
We begin our donor-focused morning by exploring the complexities of developing relationships with potential donors and determining the best solicitation strategies. We will cover how to engage prospective donors with your program, how to identify the key components of a successful ask, and techniques for getting a yes.

9:15-10:15
Part II: Role Play
Participants will break into small groups and develop a solicitation strategy for a fictional donor couple. Some of the groups will have the opportunity to implement their planned strategy in a role play setting.

10:30-11:30
Real Life Challenges
Participants will have the opportunity to share a cultivation or solicitation situation where they need help progressing. The faculty and audience will help them develop new ideas for how to proceed.

11:30 AM-12:45 PM
Lunch on your own

12:45-1:45
Elective Sessions (choose one; both sessions repeat at 2:00 PM)

  • Advisory Board Clinic
    As a follow-up to yesterday's general session on advisory boards, we will tackle the challenges you are facing with your own advisory board. Whether you are considering creating a new board or trying to solve problems with an existing board, you will leave this session with practical suggestions for addressing your situation.
  • Staffing
    This session, featuring a dean/development officer pairing, offers practical guidance for choosing and managing staff, working with the central development office, and collaborating with your development officer for maximum effectiveness.

2:00-3:00
Elective Sessions (choose one)

  • Advisory Board Clinic
    As a follow-up to yesterday's general session on advisory boards, we will tackle the challenges you are facing with your own advisory board. Whether you are considering creating a new board or trying to solve problems with an existing board, you will leave this session with practical suggestions for addressing your situation.
  • Staffing
    This session, featuring a dean/development officer pairing, offers practical guidance for choosing and managing staff, working with the central development office, and collaborating with your development officer for maximum effectiveness.

3:15-4:15
Campaigns
It seems that universities are always either in a campaign or preparing to be in a campaign. What does it mean to your college for your university to have a campaign? Should you campaign on your own? We'll look at the opportunities provided by campaigns and help you prepare to make the most of your current or next campaign.

4:15-5:00
Conference Wrap-Up Discussion
In our final session the faculty will take questions, address any issues that weren't covered in the earlier sessions, and go into greater detail.

5:00
Conference Adjourns

Day 1

Day 2

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