Impact of Future Fund

Impact of the Future Fund

Investing in the Future of Advancement

Over the past year, the CASE Future Fund has stood as a powerful testament to the generosity and vision of our philanthropic community. More than a strategic investment, it represents a collective commitment to advancing education and empowering the professionals who make that possible. The Future Fund has served as a catalyst for meaningful transformation across the global advancement profession, fueling innovation and excellence.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and the vision behind the Fund, CASE has expanded access to scholarships, accelerated talent development, and delivered new educational content to advancement professionals around the world. These investments have opened doors for emerging leaders, strengthened career pathways, and created learning experiences that reflect the evolving needs of our community.

The Future Fund is a living example of philanthropy in action, transforming potential into progress and building a future defined by purpose.
 

Scholarships: Expanding Access and Opportunity

For many of us, our first experience at CASE was a conference, a place where knowledge, community, and ideas come together to inspire meaningful change. These gatherings are more than sessions and workshops; they are moments that spark new approaches, connect us with peers across the globe, and remind us why our work in advancement is so vital.

At the heart of the Future Fund is this same focus: empowering people, because people are the future of our profession. Through the generosity of our donors, the Future Fund was able to support 25 scholarships to CASE conferences around the world. Recipients came from institutions across continents, experiencing firsthand the learning, collaboration, and inspiration that shape the next generation of advancement leaders.

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Attending the CASE Annual Giving Workshop gave me access to peer institutions and insights I would not have had without this opportunity. Learning from other professionals and seeing the measured, proven strategies used by successful schools helped me refine our annual giving plan and bring back a clear, actionable roadmap for my team. The experience gave me confidence to plan ahead with purpose. Thank you to all the donors that have made this possible through the Future Fund.

Brian Beck, Director of Annual Giving, Porter-Gaud School
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Being able to attend the CASE conference was invaluable. It cemented that I want a long and successful career in development in the higher education sector, gave me confidence in my skills, and allowed me to learn from peers, develop my knowledge, and make great connections. I have already implemented learnings and started developing income streams based on knowledge gained at the conference.

Natasha Hodby, Grants and Gifts Officer, University of Suffolk
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Nikita Vasyliev’s Future Fund scholarship made it possible to attend the CASE International Schools European Forum, a turning point in their advancement journey. The experience sparked new ideas, built global connections, and empowered them to support their school and community in Kyiv.

“It was inspiring to exchange ideas on shared challenges and explore creative approaches that we are eager to implement at PSI. It all seems possible now since we’re part of this fantastic group!"

Nikita Vasyliev, Communications and Marketing Manager, Pechersk School International (PSI Kyiv)
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This was my first CASE conference, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It helped me see how my skills translate, how what I do fits in the community college space, and introduced me to a network of professionals navigating similar challenges. It was both eye-opening and energizing. I walked away with a stronger sense of community and a toolkit of ideas I can use to make a difference in my work.

Thomas Falgout, Development and Annual Giving Manager, South Louisiana Community College

Talent Development: Cultivating the Next Generation of Leaders

2025 CASE intern cohort visiting CASE offices in Washington, DC

2025 CASE intern cohort visiting CASE offices in Washington, DC
 

Meet the 82 CASE interns

CASE is deeply invested in shaping the future of the advancement profession through its signature talent development programs. Through the Future Fund, CASE is opening doors for emerging professionals, transforming lives, and strengthening the global advancement community through its internship and graduate trainee programs. 

In the last year, the Future Fund has helped CASE extend the global reach of its internship and graduate trainee programs. This support has enabled new partnerships, broadened access to professional development, and strengthened the foundation for a new generation of advancement leaders who are prepared to shape the future of the profession.

  • Delivered expanded professional development training for the global cohort of Graduate Trainees, including virtual workshops focused on communication, change management, and resilience, equipping participants with essential skills for leadership in advancement.
  • Supported the tenth year of the Advancement Internship Program and enabled the launch of a new partnership to introduce CASE’s first cohort of interns in Africa, expanding the program’s reach and deepening its global impact.

 

CASE–Inyathelo Partnership: Building Africa’s Advancement Talent Pipeline

Program participants with CASE and Inyathelo staff

Program participants with CASE and Inyathelo staff

Through a partnership between CASE and Inyathelo, 12 interns from six South African universities were selected to participate in the CASE Advancement Internship Programme. This strategic collaboration expands CASE’s talent development efforts across Africa, offering immersive internships in fundraising, alumni engagement, and strategic communications, fields often overlooked by early-career professionals.

“When we first launched the CASE internship programme in 2016, our ambition was straightforward: to nurture entry-level talent and broaden awareness of advancement as a profession,” said Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of CASE. “Bringing this initiative to South Africa with Inyathelo feels particularly meaningful.”

Together, CASE and Inyathelo are cultivating a new generation of advancement professionals, strengthening institutional capacity, and championing educational development across the continent.

 

Empowering Advancement Through Online Learning

The Future Fund has helped support the creation and completion of a comprehensive set of online learning modules focused on the foundations of integrated advancement, including Foundations of Fundraising, Foundations of Alumni Relations, Foundations of Marketing and Communications, and Foundations of Advancement Operations. These modules build on the Introduction to Integrated Advancement course, which was also made possible through philanthropic support and form a cornerstone of CASE’s ever-expanding digital curriculum.

Four Foundations of CASE

Making foundational courses in integrated advancement available in an online format is a significant step in ensuring that professionals across the globe have access to high-quality, relevant training. These digital modules empower individuals to build essential skills, deepen their understanding, and contribute more effectively to their institutions. By investing in content that is accessible, relevant, and future-focused, we’re helping CASE members stay ahead of the curve and lead with confidence.

220
course completions with 519 in progress and growing
364
institutions impacted
24
countries representing 6 continents
6,000
hours of learning and counting

Hear from the Participants

Participating in this program was a truly enriching experience. The content was well-structured, relevant, and immediately applicable to my day-to-day work in advancement. It deepened my understanding and gave me practical tools to approach challenges with greater confidence and strategy.

This course was the perfectly well-rounded experience I needed to kick off our new academic year in alumni relations. Stepping into advancement is often an unexpected path for many of us, yet it quickly becomes incredibly fulfilling as you see the impact of bringing people together and fostering community. The course provides a hands-on perspective on the key areas of focus for an alumni relations representative, equipping you with practical skills and insights that are immediately applicable in the field.

I came into the course expecting it to be a boring online course of reading and answering questions, I was wrong. This course provided good foundational concepts with award-winning examples that inspired me and I now have each of my team members use it as part of their onboarding.

After many years of working in various nonprofit organizations outside of a college setting, the CASE Foundations of Fundraising course was a great experience for me. The components of the program, combined with real-world examples from a college setting, allowed me to view fundraising from a new perspective.

Together, We Shape the Future

The CASE Future Fund is a powerful investment in the long-term strength and sustainability of the advancement profession. Every contribution supports the development of future leaders, the evolution of best practices, and the tools needed to meet tomorrow’s challenges. As we look ahead, the Future Fund will continue to be a driving force behind CASE’s vision to champion education and transform lives.