We recently launched our first philanthropic campaign. In this session we will share how we prepared for a successful campaign launch event. We will cover what worked, what didn’t work and how we will do it differently next time. We will discuss data segmentation, data quality, sourcing a diverse range of known and new invitees, planning for and producing the event briefing, and working with teams across the office in a high pressure situation.

Join us for this interactive session where we’ll hear from experts Dr Marta Herrero (University of York) and Jonathan May (Hubbub). Marta is leading an academic research project focusing on developing our understanding of how fundraisers, philanthropists, and the nonprofit sector view the introduction and adoption of AI technologies for the purpose of fundraising and of incentivising philanthropy. Marta will give us an insight into her research findings ahead of the launch of the new Centre for Digital Innovation in Philanthropy and Fundraising. Jonathan is the founder of Hubbub Fundraising and an advisory board member for the new Centre. He will share his expertise in how AI is already supporting advancement activity, the opportunity it provides and some of the pitfalls we should avoid. We’ll seek feedback from the audience to share experiences of how we are using AI to enable the success of our advancement objectives, and we’ll leave you with practical tips on how you can use AI to support your role.

Geopolitics is becoming increasingly complex, and universities’ international partnerships and funding sources are under greater scrutiny than ever. Advancement Operations teams must adapt their due diligence processes to keep pace with evolving regulatory expectations, reputational risks, and technological advancements. Join Jack O'Toole, Head of Operations at Newcastle University, and Beca Daniel from Xapien as they explore: • How Advancement teams are navigating a rapidly shifting risk landscape. • The role of technology in streamlining dynamic due diligence while maintaining oversight. • Best practices for balancing risk with donor engagement. With due diligence no longer just a box-ticking exercise, this session will provide actionable insights into how institutions can proactively manage risk while supporting fundraising success and international engagement.

A great report isn’t just about data - it’s about clarity, impact, and action. In this session, we’ll cover practical tips on structuring, visualising, and communicating data effectively so your reports inform decisions, not just fill inboxes. Build reports people actually read - and use!

We are delighted to present a panel session of (relatively) new managers who will share their experiences of stepping up into roles with management responsibility. What have they learnt? What did they wish they’d known beforehand? What advice would they give to others who are looking to progress in their career? This session will give those who are new to management or who would like move into a management role an insight in to what it’s really like!

In July 2023, the University of Manchester lost access to its fundraising and engagement database following a cyber incident. The database returned in March 2024. This session will cover how we reacted in, responded to, and recovered from a business continuity environment to keep our fundraising, engagement and volunteering programmes going.

Harnessing the power of collaboration: This session will focus on how Income Management and Processing teams can build stronger, more impactful partnerships with external Finance, Legal, and Faculty teams. Through practical examples and insights from both successes and challenges, will share a toolkit to enhance cross-departmental engagement and drive more effective collaboration beyond Advancement. Intermediate Level CASE Career level: 3 - 4

How do you unlock the potential of AI in your fundraising efforts and drive greater success for your institution? Join the Blackbaud team as they explore the practical application of AI in the realm of fundraising. This session will provide actionable insights and examples of how AI can revolutionise your fundraising strategies and operations and provide a behind the scenes look at how Blackbaud is building accessible, responsible, and powerful AI fundraising features so universities can achieve their missions more effectively.

In this interactive session, we’ll explore the best tips, tricks, hacks and tools to boost efficiency and support our colleagues in our alumni and fundraising teams. From streamlined processes to innovative technologies, we’ll cover proven strategies to that have made our lives easier while still providing an efficient and effective service to our colleagues we work with in our institutions. We’ll also open the floor for you to share your own ideas and hacks – because collaboration and learning from one another is one of the key outcomes. Bring your top tools, tricks, and techniques, and leave with fresh ideas to enhance your workflows and support your organisation’s success! We hope you enjoy, participate and learn something from what hope will be an excellent closing to another brilliant conference, maybe you’ll even be inspired to come and share more in a session next year.