Join conference chair, Jen McGrath to meet the faculty, learn how to get the most out of your time at the conference and get a big picture overview of the field of Development.

Bring all questions related to starting out in this career, learning about your institution, making the ask and more!

To advance any organization, it takes collaboration. Within Advancement, do you know the players and how their roles work together harmoniously? This session will focus on the many colleagues who make up an Advancement team and how their unique roles fit into the greater whole. You’ll learn how to build strong internal partnerships, work beyond siloes, value collaborative leadership, and explore accomplishments that have come as result. Did someone say cross-teaming? Yes, that’s right!

This session will focus on the core principles of alumni relations and how to build meaningful connections with alumni. Participants will learn strategies for engaging alumni, creating strong networks, and fostering long-term relationships. You’ll walk away with practical insights for developing an impactful alumni engagement program.

Annual giving: not just for specialists! Discover how understanding its core principles can empower any development professional. This presentation unlocks common strategies, impactful initiatives, and emerging trends, equipping you to leverage the immense potential of annual gifts within your own role.

This session will explore how engagement programs can be powerful tools for identifying potential donors. Learn how to use events, volunteer opportunities, and other engagement strategies to build relationships and uncover new giving prospects. You’ll leave with practical insights on turning engagement efforts into valuable donor connections.

As your career advances you will face many opportunities and challenges…none so complex as learning how to effectively manage yourself in the various roles you play from day to day (or minute to minute!). This interactive conversation will focus on how to manage up, down, directly, through influence and through change management…all while sharpening your own working style and being part of a high functioning organization.

Major and principal gifts are cultivated with care and rooted in the alignment of an organization’s mission and a donor’s values. They are realized with focused, intentional efforts, and often, with the engagement of leadership. Come ready to learn the fundamentals of how these kinds of gifts are achieved by employing intentional outreach, meaningful engagement, and thoughtful moves management.

Let’s demystify the idea of “making the ask” by talking about the basics. A solicitation doesn’t need to be anxiety-provoking! Let’s discuss the criteria that need to be in place before we are ready to talk about money. And, as importantly, let’s make sure that our prospects are ready to be asked! See professionals in action and get your chance to solicit your peers. Attend one of the two "Making the Ask Practice Sessions" on Wednesday at 4:15PM or Thursday at 11:00 AM to practice what you learn here.

All of our institutions are either preparing for, in the midst of, or transitioning out of a campaign. In this session, we'll walk through the basics of a comprehensive campaign and review the essential ingredients for success. From planning to volunteers and the public launch, and current trends, this will be an opportunity to review the fundamentals of campaigns.