How do you turn a milestone anniversary into a movement? At Christ Church, the 500th year became more than a celebration - it became a strategic opportunity to re-engage long-lost alumni, spark fresh connections, and capture lasting engagement data.

In this session, an alum-turned-staff member and a fellow alumna share insights from both behind the scenes and as a participant in a remarkable year of activity — from sold-out black-tie dinners to bespoke scavenger hunts and commemorative merchandise. Discover how the program leveraged shared history and sentiment to boost attendance, drive reconnection, and enable smarter tracking through cross-departmental collaboration.

In this dynamic session, AI as Your Thought Partner: Rethinking How We Work, Jen Fifer of The Episcopal Academy will share a practical, real-world look at how AI is reshaping advancement work today—from idea generation and strategic planning to donor engagement, team leadership, and operational efficiency. Drawing on dozens of live examples from her own workflows , Jen will demonstrate how AI can become a reliable thinking partner that sharpens decision-making, condenses complexity, and accelerates the work of a modern advancement shop without sacrificing authenticity or institutional context.

She will be joined by Emma Sonduck, Senior Data Strategist at CASE, who will introduce the latest findings from CASE’s interactive Generative AI in Advancement report and walk participants through CASE’s comprehensive framework for responsible, scalable AI adoption across shops of all sizes. Emma will share sector-wide trends, emerging use cases, and what institutions are learning as they move from curiosity to true integration.

**What you’ll walk away with**

* A clear understanding of how AI can strengthen strategic planning, donor engagement, team management, and message refinement.
* Practical prompts and use cases you can immediately apply in your own shop—from simplifying complex decisions to elevating communications.
* A roadmap for bringing your team along, including stages of adoption, common concerns, and examples of measurable impact.
* Insights from CASE’s newest research: how peer institutions are experimenting, what’s working, and what a thoughtful, future-ready AI strategy looks like.
* A sharper sense of what’s possible when AI becomes not a replacement, but a disciplined and creative thought partner.

2025 brought significant federal developments for independent schools, from a wave of Executive Orders to the landmark passage of the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). As we look ahead, what priorities will the Trump Administration and Congress pursue in 2026, and how will key provisions of the OBBBA reshape the independent school landscape? This session offers a comprehensive federal legislative briefing tailored to independent school leaders, with particular attention to issues shaping advancement strategy and operations.

How can a small advancement team create meaningful donor connections, increase participation, and empower volunteers—all while keeping efforts manageable and impactful? At Forsyth Country Day School, Aaron Craven, Director of Philanthropy & Community Engagement, has developed a highly personalized communication strategy centered on thoughtful email and text outreach. From LYBUNT renewals to student-led giving campaigns and alumni engagement events, he'll share real-world examples of how strategic segmentation and engaging messaging can energize your community, increase giving, and scale your impact without scaling your team. In addition, we'll delve into the broader industry trends and data points that will explain why Forsyth Country Day School's efforts exceeded their desired outcomes and how you can adopt similar strategies to elevate your own fundraising efforts.

Leadership transitions are inevitable—and often chaotic. Whether you're losing a long-term head of school, facing an interim era, or rebuilding trust after a rocky departure, the advancement office is still expected to keep dollars coming in and donors feeling confident. In this candid session, we’ll share real-world strategies for fundraising through turbulent leadership transitions, including how to message uncertainty, retain donor trust, and even use change to your advantage. You’ll leave with a toolkit of adaptable tactics (and probably a few battle stories) to help your school thrive—even when the building feels like it's on fire. Spoiler alert: You can still raise money even if your organizational chart looks like a crime scene.

Join us for an energizing roundtable experience where you'll connect in small groups to dive into key topics in annual giving, alumni relations, and donor engagement. This interactive session is designed for open dialogue, fresh ideas, and peer-driven learning. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the field, you'll leave with actionable insights, new connections, and renewed inspiration to take your work to the next level. Come ready to share, learn, and grow together!

Most strategic plans gather dust. This session explores how schools have turned their plan into a digital storytelling platform, inspired community engagement and drove lasting impact. Discover how, in partnership with Interactive Schools, traditional five-year plans were reimagined as a branded, interactive experience that reflects each institution’s identity and fuels real momentum. We’ll unpack how a bold visual identity, microsite, and content strategy can transform a strategic vision into something the entire community can rally behind. From campaign-style rollouts to embedding storytelling into everyday school life, this session offers a practical, creative roadmap for turning your strategic plan into a living, breathing communications tool. Whether you’re in the early stages of strategic planning or preparing for a major relaunch, come ready to think differently - and walk away with ideas you can put to work at your own school.

You started the fundraising year with a great script and a full cast: a solid plan for each program and each Advancement team position filled. But that was the halcyon days of summer! Since then staff members have been dropping out…and there are no understudies in sight! How do you navigate the unexpected challenges presented by staffing disruptions and keep your program on track? Our panelists, who have successfully managed similar situations, will share their practical experiences and best practices, offering actionable insights to plan for the unexpected, overcome hurdles, and ensure the “show” is a success.

Grab breakfast in the Exhibit Hall and join one of the following:

• Women in Leadership Room 307
• LGBTQ Room 306
• Professionals of Color Room 308

This is a major gift conversation in three parts: Engagement, Exploration, Execution. Rather than explain each of the three phases, Jon will interact with the donor to demonstrate how conversations could be managed.