Discover how UB celebrated its monumental $1 billion fundraising campaign by putting impact and donor experience at the forefront. This presentation delves into the strategy behind the success, showcasing key events, innovative marketing approaches, and impactful communications that brought the campaign to life. Learn how personalized donor stewardship throughout the campaign celebration period enhanced engagement and fostered lasting relationships. Join us for an inside look at the tactics and creativity that not only achieved but celebrated this historic milestone.

Do you find it challenging to get responses from faculty and students for messages of gratitude? You're not alone. One of the biggest hurdles is simply explaining who we are and why we’re reaching out. Join us for an insightful session where we’ll share success stories and effective strategies that have worked to inspire input. Engage in open dialogue with your peers, exchange ideas, and discover new ways to foster meaningful connections and simplify processes with faculty and students. Let’s turn these challenges into opportunities together!

In this interactive session, explore how AI technology can revolutionize donor relations by streamlining processes, enhancing personalization, and uncovering actionable insights. We’ll discuss how AI tools can
assist in identifying and cultivating potential donors through predictive analytics, strengthen relationships with dynamic communication strategies, and improve stewardship by automating and customizing touch points. Participants will learn how AI-driven data analysis can uncover trends to inform strategic decisions and campaign readiness, all while maintaining a human-centered approach through active
listening and engagement. Designed for donor relations and advancement professionals at all levels, this session will equip you with practical strategies to integrate AI into your donor relations program, ensuring it is innovative, efficient, and future-ready.

You can’t ask for the next gift if you haven’t effectively stewarded (and spent!) the last one. This session unpacks the challenges of fund compliance and utilization—what makes programs thrive (or fail!)—and the critical partnerships that drive success across your division and campus. Discover the essential elements of a strong financial stewardship program that ensures philanthropic funds are spent according to donor intent and at full capacity. We’ll dive into strategies to enhance collaboration among key stakeholders for a seamless and effective approach. From data and reporting, metrics, engagement, and constituent education programs, you’ll gain practical insights to optimize your fund stewardship efforts. Through real- world case studies from multiple organizations, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to navigate this complex space with confidence.

Each of us brings our own set of values and individual strengths to work each day. Whether you are fresh out of school and learning about donor relations, managing a team of advancement professionals, or wondering how your colleagues will describe your impact at your retirement party, this session will empower you to find clarity in what matters most for a fulfilling career. This interactive session will include a presentation, offer tools and resources, and provide guided exercises to help participants navigate their next steps. Attendees will then have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A with a faculty panel to gain insights on making career decisions with authenticity and purpose.

Discover how Colorado State University has transformed its scholarship stewardship program over the past four years to better reflect its values, mission, and commitment to equity. This session explores the journey of reimagining stewardship, offering key insights into rethinking power dynamics in philanthropy and the lessons learned along the way. From eliminating student barriers and protecting privacy to fostering transparent donor practices, we’ll unpack the strategies, collaborations, and leadership that have shaped this transformation—ensuring that stewardship efforts justly include students and donors. This timely discussion is for all those who advocate for vulnerable communities or work to address inequities in fundraising. You'll leave with knowledge and inspiration to promote more equitable giving relationships, through the lens of donor relations and stewardship.

Learn how to elevate donor relations by creating a standout experience for major and principal gift donors. This session—framed through memorable analogies like a charcuterie board—offers a practical framework for building a thoughtful, personalized annual plan. You’ll explore how to align core engagement activities, supporting experiences, and personal touches into one cohesive approach. Whether your shop or staff size, these strategies are scalable and effective. Walk away with tools to plan and tailor interactions that build stronger donor connections and long-term partnerships.

Join us for "Tech-Driven Impact: Elevating Engagement and Streamlining Workflow” -
a session designed to inspire and equip nonprofit professionals. Explore innovative technologies that amplify donor impact, elevate storytelling, and boost retention while simplifying workloads. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, you’ll gain actionable insights to creatively and efficiently transform your approach to donor engagement. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just starting your digital journey, this session will empower you to revolutionize your strategies and make a lasting impact.

Over the past few days, you've explored the how of our work—now, we’ll dive into the why, focusing on the impact of donor relations and engagement on the overall success of our organizations. Start our final day with a fast-paced, insightful session dedicated to program measurement, standardized metrics, and the critical connection between engagement efforts and fundraising success. Measuring donor engagement—whether through impact and fund reporting, events, retention and recognition programs, communications, or beyond—can be a daunting challenge. With increasing pressure to do more with less, we must balance relationship-building with operational efficiency.

You’ve just spent three days learning from amazing peers, now you need to take that knowledge and put it into practice at your organization. In this closing session, Eliza will serve as a guide through some of the most current ideas and voices in the areas of internal communications and organizational behavior. You’ll hear tips to improve how you connect with your colleagues, share your ideas, influence others, and spur action to be taken. We’ll close the conference out with a final round of Q&A and send you off ready to tackle your institution’s biggest donor relations opportunities!