Annual Conference for Development Researchers
Program
Day 1, Monday, February 15
NOON-1:00 PM
Registration
1:00-1:30
Welcome, Announcements and Faculty Introductions
1:30-3:00
Keynote Address: Supporting the Intelligent Campaign
Campaign goals are stretching both internal resources and the financial capacity of our donors. To be successful in this environment, a campaign demands much more than static data, profiles and analytics. Moving forward, information professionals will need to provide systems and processes that extract the intelligence from all of the available external, internal and constituent-supplied data. In an intelligent campaign, the focus will be on supporting critical decisions with real-time interactive knowledge that is readily available to whoever needs it, whenever they want it and accessible from wherever they happen to be.
Speaker: David Lawson, Information & Technology Consultant
3:15-4:45
Elective Sessions (choose one)
- Fundraising Strategies: Moving Forward, Not Down
The steep decline in the stock market triggered bail-outs, stimulus packages and dramatic erosion in corporate and foundation wealth. Many grant makers lost nearly 1/3 of their assets, stock prices such as Ford, plummeted to $1.99 a share, and some individuals saw nearly 40 percent of their investment holdings vanish. Today in many areas, unemployment has reached nearly 10 percent. Philanthropy faces a number of challenges during this period of market instability, recession and corporate closings that may lead to ‘flat is the new up.' Discuss some of the issues that caused such chaos, and what new fundamental challenges researchers, analysts and fundraisers will face. Learn and leave with strategies to adapt and move forward during a dramatically changing economic environment.
- Where's the Money Now?
With the economy in turmoil it's easy to look at your prospect pool as a dark and foreboding place. The fact is while many people are suffering, others are doing extremely well. This session will focus on how to identify prospects who are finding success in everything from emerging technologies to back-to-basics businesses.
5:00-6:00
Networking Reception
6:00
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own
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Day 2, Tuesday, February 16
8:00-8:30 AM
Continental Breakfast
8:30-10:00
Elective Sessions (choose one)
- Campaign Forecasting: Are We Going to Make Our Goal?
Examine the basic analytical functions already available to you in Microsoft Excel that drive all predictive and forecasting models. Review the solid foundations of basic forecasting theory and methodology. You will come to understand that forecasting/predictive modeling is NOT rocket science and you will walk away armed with the tools to begin predictive modeling as soon as possible.
- Determining Capacity: How to Pull a Rabbit Out of Your Hat
10:15-11:45
Elective Sessions (choose one)
- Measuring and Profiling for Engaged Future Prospects: It's Easier Than You Think!
How can we use our current alumni and prospect data to predict giving behavior? Discuss the steps in creating your own predictive prospect model. We will build upon our understanding and formulate a multiple characteristic profiling tool leading to a true predictive model. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the predictive modeling process. A working knowledge of MS Excel is beneficial but not necessary.
- Making Prospect Management Work
What if we gave a party and nobody came? When designing and implementing our prospect management process we need to be sure that we are building something that will not only provide useful information to the staff who are supposed to use the system, but also make sure that we have a commitment from those users to fulfill their role in the process. The best tracking system in the world can only track data that it has available. The purpose of this presentation is to present some of the key issues to consider when designing and implementing your prospect management program in order to maximize the usefulness of the system for your development partners.
11:45 AM-1:15 PM
Lunch on your own
1:15-2:45
When Worlds Collide
This session addresses the individual responsibilities of fundraising research in organizations, focusing on the most pressing and stressing aspects of this role and its accountability. Where do I begin? What information is imperative for profiles? What are the best resources for me to use? How do I begin to search and how do I know when to end? How do I know what prospective donors hold the most potential? What factors should I consider for inclination and financial capacity? How do I begin to create or maintain a rating system for financial capacity and inclination? How do I formulate a suggested solicitation amount? How do I best format my analysis for a ‘quick read?' How do I stop the world from spinning? This session is for those who wish to be proactive and shine in their organization, while remaining sane during the process.
3:00-4:30
Elective Sessions (choose one)
4:15
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own
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Day 3, Wednesday, February 17
8:00-8:30 AM
Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:45
Elective Sessions (choose one)
10:00-11:30
Elective Sessions (choose one)
- Prospect Management for Fundraisers
One of the key functions of prospect management is to provide timely, accurate reports of the current status of prospect management at your institution. These reports enable fundraising staff to stay current with the status of their portfolio of prospects, proactive lists of newly identified prospects, their own progress toward goals, and pipeline reports for both proposals and prospects. Review some of the electronic and printed reports available to fundraisers at Syracuse University and Ithaca College to assist them in managing their prospects without them having to spend time either requesting reports or running reports themselves.
- Session TBA
11:30 AM-NOON
Wrap Up and Faculty Q and A
NOON
Conference Adjourns
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