Like most people, you might probably find yourself spending one-third of your life, if not more, working! To not only excel but also enjoy your role, it takes strategy and rigour as well as knowledge and experience. This will be a light-hearted session where we invite our faculty to reflect on their career journeys in advancement – tapping on their experiences to explore how we can succeed, but more important make the most of our career in advancement.

This plenary explores how institutions can focus their energies and efforts in planning and delivering ambitious multi-year, comprehensive-yet-concentrated, fundraising efforts known as campaigns. Using examples and case studies, this session not only sheds light on what a campaign is, but also how to get campaign ready. A campaign can be a key enabler in building the culture of institutional philanthropy which you and your leadership are seeking. This session will outline how a campaign integrates all aspects of engagement, leadership and governance, strategic communication and development programmes to advance the mission of the organisation. We will also look at case studies of larger international campaigns – their successes and challenges – and understand how fundraising works.

Curtains up! Spotlights on! Regardless of which role you are in, active asking is an essential skill that you will need as a development professional. This workshop will help equip you for success. We will use small group role plays and scenarios so that you rehearse and practice in a safe space, establishing rapport and engaging the interest of potential donors, elegantly engaging with them so that you can comfortably, and respectfully, ask for their gift and continuing support.

Ethics are paramount in fundraising. They provide a moral compass, guiding professionals to act with integrity and respect for donors. A good understanding of ethical principles can help Development professionals build trust and credibility, fostering stronger relationships with donors. This authenticity not only attracts new supporters but also encourages existing ones to continue their generosity. Adhering to ethical standards also safeguards the institution’s reputation, ensuring that its fundraising efforts are aligned with public values and expectations. This session will help us reflect on the significance of purpose and authenticity in fundraising, and how ethics shapes the fundraising profession. We will also examine various scenarios where taking an ethical stance is necessary to uphold institutional purpose and authenticity.

Philanthropy thrives on vision—and the people who bring that vision to life are often those outside our Advancement teams. In this engaging panel discussion, academic, research, and non-profit leaders will share their experiences partnering with fundraising colleagues to build meaningful donor relationships and secure philanthropic support. The session will offer insights into what matters most when engaging internal stakeholders, and why collaboration is key to inspiring donor confidence. Panelists will reflect on what has helped them most in these partnerships, what they wish had been provided, and what they’ve enjoyed about working with Advancement. Together, we’ll explore how fundraisers can better support those with the expertise and passion to address the causes donors care about—and why this alignment is essential to delivering impact.

Legacies are a hugely emotive subject and talking about money and death can be difficult. This session debunks that thinking and will leave you knowing that this is a normal and vital conversation to have with your donors. You will learn tips and techniques for talking about this most taboo of subjects and discover the tools and rules for helping a donor achieve incredible things with their legacy.

Effective cultivation of prospects/donors requires a whole range of skills to re-connect and engage supporters with your institution. It should be done in an elegant and unforced way which is relevant to the individual (even bespoke) - and, for the best results, often over a lengthy period of time. Prospects who are new to, or who have lost touch with, your institution need careful cultivation involving many types of activity (face-to-face meetings, digital and print communications, and events/reunions). Who is responsible in your organisation for this area? What steps do you take to gain trust? How much should you ask for, and how long should you cultivate before you make the ask? Donor Cultivation is both an art and a science - and must be carefully planned. Systems and processes are important to track prospect movement but nothing beats a strong personal relationship.

This session explores the often-overlooked ‘mid-level’ donor segment — supporters who give more than entry-level donors but aren’t yet major donors. Participants will examine strategies to identify, cultivate, and steward mid-level donors to strengthen the pipeline for major gifts, enhance donor retention, and grow lifetime value. Case studies and practical frameworks will highlight how tailored communications, personalised engagement, and meaningful recognition can unlock this critical revenue stream for sustainable fundraising growth.

What does the wider Advancement team do? How does philanthropic fundraising fit into the wider advancement ecosystem? What does the future of philanthropy look like? Faculty members from differing institutions will look at the fundamentals for each discipline and how Alumni Relations, Marcomms and Development Services professionals work successfully together and support you and your work. We will cover all of these topics in an interactive session as we bring the Institute to a close.

Inspiring and receiving philanthropic support requires more than a BIG game changing idea and gratitude— robust philanthropic governance frameworks are also essential. This session explores some of the key considerations when it comes to receiving generous support from donors. We will cover essential frameworks for due diligence, gift acceptance, documentation, and risk mitigation, ensuring alignment with legal, financial, and donor intent obligations. We’ll unpack some of the terminology, giving models, key stakeholders, and the major gift fundraiser’s role in ensuring the donors generosity can have impact. Learn how to build confidence with donors, uphold institutional integrity, and embed ethical, transparent practices into your fundraising efforts.