Reunions offer a powerful moment to deepen alumni engagement and drive meaningful philanthropic results. In this session, Deerfield Academy will share a strategic framework for recruiting and empowering volunteers, setting class-specific goals, and executing a year-long communications plan that strengthens class identity and increases participation. Attendees will learn how Deerfield uses reunion momentum to cultivate leadership annual donors, increase donor participation, and reinforce long-term loyalty through thoughtful stewardship.

Hear how the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Alumni Relations team designed an unforgettable alumni weekend. Whether your institution has been hosting reunion gatherings for decades or you’re just getting started, this session will be packed with inspiring ideas that you can implement on your campus. Learn how to engage existing resources, such as campus partners and alumni volunteers, in a case study that could be applicable to larger and smaller institutions alike.
From hands-on workshops and an alumni bazaar to a mentorship networking lunch with students, you'll discover programming strategies to craft a standout schedule that includes one-of-a-kind experiences. You’ll also hear about FIT’s marketing and communications campaign to build buzz and boost engagement among a wide array of alumni audiences.This session will also facilitate discussion with fellow attendees to exchange successes and challenges around hosting an alumni weekend.

With new leadership and a strategic plan in place, the development team at Penn Libraries faced the challenge of translating an ambitious vision into language donors would understand, be inspired by, and ultimately invest in. Learn how the team navigated those crossroads by engaging the staff and board, handling unexpected detours, and how their path forward could be the roadmap for your institution’s success. Blending presentation, panel discussion, and audience interaction, this session will leave attendees with a better understanding of how to effectively communicate with donors about big goals when you’re not yet in a campaign.

Artificial Intelligence isn’t the future—it’s already reshaping how advancement offices scale engagement, personalize outreach, and work smarter with leaner teams. But most institutions are stuck between flashy pilots and ethical paralysis.

In this session, Joe Manok (VP for Advancement, Clark University) and Brent Grinna (Founder and President of EverTrue) share what’s next after the hype: how a mid-sized university moved from AI curiosity to a fully operational lab, governed by real policy and purpose. Drawing on lessons from the EverTrue–Clark Advancement Lab, Joe and Brent reveal the tested frameworks around the world—including the AIRS (AI Readiness State) and AI Ethics Spectrum.

Attendees will leave with practical models, governance playbooks, and a vision for how to responsibly accelerate AI adoption—not just in tools, but in team structure, budgeting, and board engagement.

This is a next-generation conversation for advancement leaders ready to move from proof of concept to systemic change.

As educational institutions continue to navigate an ever-changing philanthropic environment, it is important to have the right board with the right mindset to support your fundraising efforts. This panel will highlight the essential traits and characteristics of board members who are true partners in the fundraising success of the organization. What does it take to get board members who are forward thinking and proactive with the ability to pivot as necessary? This presentation will provide attendees with the tools that are needed to assist in the selection process.

Whether you're launching your institution's first comprehensive campaign or developing a strategic approach to a specific fundraising initiative, the challenge of building a campaign strategy from the ground up can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive session provides higher education advancement professionals with a systematic, literature-based framework for developing robust campaign strategies that drive sustainable fundraising success.
Drawing on established strategic planning theory and contemporary campaign research, participants will learn to apply proven planning methodologies to fundraising contexts. The session introduces the adapted S.C.R.A.T.C.H. Framework, providing a step-by-step roadmap for campaign development from initial conception through successful execution.
This interactive workshop moves beyond anecdotal advice to provide evidence-based tools that advancement professionals can immediately apply to their campaign planning process, regardless of institutional size or campaign scope.

Predictive modeling has the potential to reshape fundraising by enabling more strategic, data-informed engagement with donors - but despite the transformative potential, these projects often fail at user adoption. The Alumni Affairs & Development team at Cornell University will outline their strategy for bringing new technology to the table, building trust in the results, and delivering a product people will use.

At the end of each fiscal year, we find ourselves wringing our heads thinking of a novel way to thank and invigorate our volunteers. However, stewardship through gifts can often be expensive, labor-intensive, and unfortunately, wasteful. In this session, we will share the way Amherst College has tackled this issue, and strategize with one another to maximize and streamline the art of gratitude, which will help to sustain volunteer engagement without depleting staff members' time and energy.

In December 2024, UA initiated the Advancing AHANA Alumni Pilot Project—a collaborative effort to deepen engagement with BC alumni of color. AHANA, an acronym that stands for African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American, reflects the University's longstanding commitment to supporting diverse communities. This pilot brings together a cross-functional team of fundraisers, alumni relations staff, marketing and communications professionals, and representatives from the Office of the Vice President for Development. Selected fundraisers were chosen for their expertise in portfolio management and demonstrated commitment to engaging AHANA alumni.

What has emerged from this pilot is a vibrant, reflective “Core Group” environment—one that values open dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative insight over rigid metrics. This approach has not only deepened internal understanding but has also generated practical insights that will inform broader divisional strategies.

Good digital communications aren’t about doing more or being cleverer—they’re about making thoughtful choices that help donors understand why a message is meant for them.
This session explores how segmentation, timing, and storytelling work together to strengthen email communications in advancement. Drawing on real examples from Choate Rosemary Hall’s Annual Fund, you’ll see how small, intentional shifts in tone, acknowledgment, and framing can make outreach feel more personal and more effective. Participants will leave with a practical framework they can apply immediately—and greater confidence in the work they’re already doing.