Revitalizing Wolverine Giving: A Collaborative Path to Alumni Major Gifts
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM PT
Speaker(s): Sam de Castro Abeger, Director of Alumni Relations, Harvard-Westlake School, Kate Villasenor, Director of Major and Planned Giving, Harvard-Westlake School
Competencies: Relationship BuildingStrategic Thinking
Experience Level: All Levels
Elective Session
We’ll share how we transformed the Wolverine Giving Society into a vibrant entry point for “mini–major” donors — alumni committing $25,000 before their 25th reunion. By partnering with the major gifts team, listening to current members, and reimagining stewardship and events, we turned an underperforming program into something alumni actually want to join and recruit their peers into. Attendees will learn strategies for revitalizing existing programs, engaging alumni meaningfully, and building a sustainable pipeline of future major donors. Expect real stories (including directly from a Wolverine Giving Society member); practical tips; and a roadmap for making giving feel engaging to your next generation of philanthropists.