As AI becomes more powerful and pervasive, CFR professionals must navigate its evolving role in grant writing, research, reporting, and relationship management. This session will cover AI basics in CFR daily tasks including drafting letters of support, summarizing information, and editing grants, as well as using AI prompts and the newly developed AutoGranter that summarizes PIVOT information. We will also explore recent advances — including multimodal AI, autonomous agents, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) while discussing the potential impact of AI on the CFR field.

There is a growing need to address the changing expectations of funders as the dialogue surrounding gift versus grant and award acceptance becomes increasingly complex— which in turn fosters greater creativity in funder’s approaches. Corporate and Foundation Relations staff are now tasked with engaging donors in deeper conversations that transcend traditional impact discussions, delving into critical areas such as tax regulations, Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), and alternative funding mechanisms. I aim to develop a session that not only showcases real-world examples of navigating complex gift and grant scenarios but also emphasizes the vital role of internal networks—collaborating with teams like Attorney General Offices, Gift Services, and Grants and Contracts Accounting—to successfully negotiate these multifaceted discussions.

The future of Liberal Arts/Humanities funding is challenging, and now the need for Liberal Arts/Humanities education is greater than ever. These studies will expand students’ knowledge base, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and offers a well-rounded perspective. Liberal Arts/Humanities also equips students with transferable skills, enhances communication abilities, and fosters adaptability and flexibility. The members of this panel are funders in this sector who will discuss the future of funding for Liberal Arts/Humanities, while also addressing any trends they envision on the horizon in the sector. They will also make time in the session for questions and answers.

There has never been a more important time to stay connected with colleagues at other institutions of higher education, and one of the benefits of this conference is connecting with people from all over the country who share common interests and problems. This dynamic session is your opportunity to tap into the collective expertise of leading corporate and foundation relations officers from across the country. Building on the spontaneous, high-value conversations that happen throughout the conference, this session offers a dedicated space for candid dialogue, collaboration, and real-time problem solving. Join us for an interactive recap of the conference’s most impactful insights, followed by an open Q&A where your most pressing questions take center stage. Connect, engage, and leave with actionable takeaways tailored to your needs—empowering you to drive results in an ever-evolving landscape.

Philanthropy plays a crucial role in addressing society’s most pressing challenges, especially in times of political and economic uncertainty. As the current U.S. administration implements policies that directly affect nonprofits, colleges, and universities—ranging from shifts in federal funding priorities to regulatory changes—foundations are increasingly called upon to fill critical gaps, drive systemic change, and advocate for long-term solutions. This panel will explore: · Adapting to Uncertain Policy Landscapes: How foundations assess and evolve their strategies in response to shifting government priorities, particularly those affecting higher education and the nonprofit sector. · Funding for Resilience and Innovation: How philanthropy can serve as a stabilizing force, ensuring continued investment in areas such as social and racial justice, environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and academic research. · Building Stronger Partnerships: How foundation leaders collaborate with nonprofits and academic institutions to drive awareness, action, and sustainable funding strategies in a rapidly changing landscape. · Strategies for CFR Leaders: How corporate and foundation relations professionals can effectively engage with philanthropy to advance academia’s role in tackling today’s most urgent societal issues. With higher education and nonprofit institutions facing increasing scrutiny and challenges, this conversation will provide critical insights into how foundations are responding—and how CFR professionals can position their institutions for continued success.

This session will explore how Vanderbilt University created a holistic model for strategic corporate engagement that is needs-based, mission-aligned, and enterprise in scope. Radical collaboration and an empowered team have enabled a new level of coordination across the myriad opportunities for corporate collaboration, encompassing philanthropy, student engagement, recruitment, employee training, technology transfer, R&D and innovation acceleration, procurement and business engagement, athletics, sponsorships, and so much more. Presenters will share the strategies leveraged to foster cross-campus coordination and meet the evolving needs of corporate partners. Key attributes of the Vanderbilt model are a concierge approach, account management of strategic relationships, collaboration accelerator events to catalyze engagement, a campuswide advisory team, a shared CRM and templated reports for enhanced communication, annual awards and recognition, and more. Through real-world examples, transferable concepts, and interactive discussion, participants will gain ideas for breaking down internal silos, engaging corporate partners, and building robust sustainable relationships. Whether you're looking to scale your efforts, enhance collaboration, or just hear about a different approach, this session will offer practical insights, discussion, and takeaways.

Are you feeling overwhelmed as a new CFR officer or with the increase in requests for corporate and foundation fundraising in the current funding climate? As newer CFR officers representing a variety of backgrounds and schools, we share the strategies we used to get through our first years in CFR. We will give you concrete tips and tricks to help prioritize your work, develop your CFR skill sets, and build relations with internal and external partners. While focused on helping new CFR officers, these strategies can be applied at any career stage. Enjoy an interactive session, where presenters and participants share their struggles and successes in a safe space to build strategies and tools to optimize our work.

This session will review historical corporate and foundation giving data from the annual Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey. How has giving from these two sources changed over the decades of data collection? Where are we now? What is not captured in the survey instrument? How are institutions managing relationships with foundations, corporations, and such entities as Charitable LLCs, Donor-Advised Funds, and other supporting entities?

This session emphasizes the importance of a strategic, data-driven approach in Foundation Relations operations. While foundation fundraising may not be literal rocket science, it demands a sophisticated and intentional combination of intelligence and data insights. This presentation highlights projects that have enhanced the strategic initiatives of the Office of Foundation Relations at The Ohio State University and Boston University, fostering a culture of data-consciousness and systematic decision-making.

Attendees will gain knowledge on intentional data acquisition, preparation, and analysis, along with trends and insights derived from these processes. This intelligence is instrumental in improving internal and external partner engagement, fostering beneficial partnerships across the organization, and developing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans that ensure sustained engagement and support.

Susan Ferrari (Grinnell College), Amy Myerson (Trinity College), and Kari Steeves (Barnard College) will lead a discussion on the multifaceted nature of positions in corporate, foundation, and government relations, and how work seemingly far afield from getting proposals out the door can contribute to success in grant-seeking and add value to our institutions.

Particularly at small offices or small institutions, CFR officers may have to dabble in a far-ranging set of fields to accomplish their goals. On any given day, we may moonlight as project managers, forensic accountants, faculty developers, or even family therapists–this in addition to writing, reviewing, and hitting submit. While it can be overwhelming to wear this many hats, our complex roles also mean that we have incredibly deep knowledge of the workings of our institutions, which enhances our ability to steward grants, support faculty, and contribute to strategic initiatives. During this session, the leaders will present a set of case studies highlighting the challenges and benefits of their “CFR-plus” roles–including how to enforce boundaries when your role is wide-ranging–and will invite the audience to share their own stories and insights.