Geared towards early-career advancement professionals, this pre-conference workshop promises vibrant sessions filled with rich content, collaborative ventures, and interactive problem-solving. The format includes a plenary presentation, small group discussions led by experienced mentors, and peer-led lunch discussions for networking and knowledge-sharing. Participants will delve into crucial CASE competencies such as relationship building and leadership, as well as explore the emotional intelligence essential for thriving in the workplace. Attendees will walk away with valuable skills to successfully navigate the early phases of their careers.

Storytelling is the #1 business skill necessary to connect, motivate, and lead people in today’s world. Stories compel us to engage in experiences, learn lessons, and define our values and ourselves within our organization. Matthew Luhn, a 20-year Pixar story veteran, brings his experience creating and developing 10 blockbuster films at Pixar, and provides practical strategies that teach and inspire people and teams to connect more effectively with audiences on an emotional level. Matthew will also share how to innovate, differentiate, and stay relevant in today’s business world, creating more value and winning customer loyalty. Matthew uses the power of storytelling and the secrets to innovation to bridge the gap between business and heart, driving your story toward one unforgettable selling point.

A successful annual giving program thrives in a collaborative environment. Departmental silos limit donor participation and dollars raised on an annual basis. Scripps College changed the paradigm of philanthropy at Scripps by creating an interdepartmental committee, The Scripps Fund Committee. Learn how stakeholders were chosen, the role committee members play in the annual giving process, and simple ways to maximize your annual fund’s effectiveness and reduce your cost to raise a dollar.

In August 2022, CSUSB invested in its advancement team by creating a position dedicated to professional and leadership development. Since then, we have hired 20 new team members, promoted 5 of our staff, created an Advancement Academy, developed a professional development program, and administered an engagement survey. We have created magic with the help of our friends in strategic communication, academic affairs, and human resources, and we agree with Walt – it’s kinda fun to do the impossible! Help us spread the magic as we share our recruitment and engagement strategies, our mistakes, and our successes over the last year.

For most of us, the road to fundraising was accidental. We arrive from completely different careers and wildly unique backgrounds. The path to leadership is just as diverse and, honestly, a little mysterious. Join this panel of Vice Presidents to pull back the curtain on what the top job really takes. If you’re a new leader, get advice on how to think big, focus on your biggest value, and inspire a culture-shift not a culture shock. If you’re an aspiring leader, learn what skills, experiences, and opportunities to seek out that will prepare you for your next step.

The University of Oregon is committed to developing innovative programs that promote inclusivity, leveraging partnerships with community stakeholders, engaging alumni and major gift prospects, and supporting student career readiness. The team responsible for engaging new prospects in the state of Oregon developed a way to meet these needs through an innovative event built off mutually beneficial outcomes and relationships with community leaders. In 2023, the Oregon Engagement Team created a new event that brought together efforts of the UO's Lylle Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center, the Black Business Association of Oregon, the UO Alumni Association Black Alumni Network, and the Portland Trail Blazers to engage students, build community, identify and cultivate major gift prospects, address workforce development for our region, and connect students with business leaders. The event was such a success, planning began for a similar event in 2024 that evolved into a networking experience for BIPOC Alumni Network Board leaders, University of Oregon Portland students, and notable Oregon BIPOC business chambers and associations. These strategic engagement events have accelerated the UO’s ability to support students from underrepresented communities, build partnerships with key members of the community, and strengthen relationships with alumni.

Disneyland is known as The Happiest Place on Earth. Shouldn’t our respective schools at least be The Second Happiest Place on Earth? A major role of Advancement staff is that of hospitality. In this session, we will draw from the Disneyland guest experience and relate it to the constituent experience at our educational institutions. How can we help ensure that our school brand is as positive and reassuring as that of the Disney brand?

Starting a new position is intimidating for us all, at any stage of our careers. A solid plan for your first 90 days in a new role makes all the difference in the world. In this session, presenter Ellen Whitlock Baker will walk participants through a tangible plan for how to approach the first three months of a new job with confidence. Topics covered will be who to meet with, what questions to ask, how to write and present your 90-day plan, and how to assess your first 90 days.

This session is appropriate for Advancement team members at any level, as well as for HR/People and Culture team members responsible for onboarding new team members.

This emerging and contemporary higher education philanthropy session is based on Dr. Peter Robertson’s doctoral dissertation consisting of an AERA award-winning qualitative research case study that explored the motivations by allies of the LGBTQ+ community for giving toward LGBTQ+ university causes. Findings revealed heterosexual and cisgender LGBTQ+ allyship affiliations, as well as their motivations for financially supporting LGBTQ+ campus programs and student initiatives. Both topics have not been academically explored, and the findings generated important recommendations for higher education advancement leaders. Today, higher education institutions must strive to connect and engage with its alumnx and all constituents in authentic, honest, and sincere ways, which can increase the likelihood and propensity of private support from this previously overlooked demographic: heterosexual and cisgender LGBTQ+ allies.

Don’t let a milestone anniversary slip by with a simple slice of cake or balloon emoji on Instagram. Take the time to plan out a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy that is intentional and multi-faceted to really leverage the momentum of the big occasion. Share your company’s origin story and lean into all the triumphs and achievements throughout the years. Tap into nostalgia. Nostalgia strengths people’s emotional connection with your company and deepens their loyalty and brand affinity. Your audience will be delighted with special edition product releases and/or retro branding. Infuse all these elements into social media, advertising, PR efforts, design, web content and more. Historical dates and photos can be throwback posts on social media. Create a special commemorative logo that can visually brand the anniversary. Highlight the founders of the past while also celebrating current employees in videos and blog content. Now is the best time to control the narrative, tell your brand’s story by highlighting the past and outlining the vibrant future yet to come.