So you joined the road warrior club? Congratulations! But now what? Learn and connect with your fellow new and seasoned road warriors to "hit the ground running". Gain the tools of the trade to be a great fundraiser, travel easier, and advance your career, with a healthy dose of hilarious or jaw dropping stories from the field.

Tune in for an enlightening session that will transform the way you think about alumni engagement and student success! Discover innovative strategies to connect students and alumni beyond academic disciplines, creating a vibrant community of diverse experiences. Learn how to showcase alumni success stories in a way that celebrates their journey beyond graduation and inspires current students. We’ll guide you through establishing a seamless transition from student to engaged alumnus, nurturing a legacy of involvement and giving back. Plus, gain insights into effective tracking methods to quantify the positive ripple effects of alumni interactions on student growth. Don’t miss this chance to enrich your institution’s culture with the power of alumni voices!

Relationship building is the heart of philanthropy. The listening skills a fundraiser needs to be successful at building strong relationships with donors and prospects differs from your usual listening activities in work and life. In this session, you’ll learn the components of active listening and how to develop your listening skills to build solid and lasting relationships. This session will focus on building cultural competencies and practicing emotional intelligence to take your fundraising to the next level.

Will we achieve our fundraising goal this year? Do we have enough asks planned in our pipeline to achieve our goal? Questions like these arise throughout the year in advancement organizations of all shapes and sizes. When they arise in your institution, do you have a reliable method to forecast fundraising results with confidence?

In this session the University of Central Florida Advancement and Partnerships team will share a roadmap for forecasting fundraising totals that has been successfully used to project fundraising attainment within a reliable margin to actual dollars raised. From the analysis methods used to determine discount rates for solicitations to sample reports shared with leadership, this session will provide insights into goal setting techniques, managing fundraiser performance, and monitoring pipeline movement through this method of forecasting fundraising.

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the landscape of higher education marketing and communications, institutions are focused on how to harness its potential while mitigating risks, and rightfully so. This presentation, however, goes beyond introductory AI concepts to share the University of Mississippi's innovative approach to developing and implementing AI guidelines for campus communicators. We'll discuss our process of creating a comprehensive framework that not only sets boundaries but also encourages safe experimentation through advanced use cases.

This presentation delves into the motivational psyche of millennial alumni donors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), particularly exploring Florida A&M University (FAMU) graduates' giving behaviors. It unpacks the critical factors that drive this demographic to engage in philanthropy, presenting a multifaceted view of alumni giving that interweaves personal belief systems, institutional connections, transparency in fund utilization, and the financial capability of individuals as they progress in their careers. Through an exploratory qualitative analysis, the study bridges the gap between traditional alumni giving strategies and the evolving philanthropic landscape shaped by millennials. It underscores the significance of tailored communication, acknowledging the generational demand for transparency and the impact of personal growth experienced during the formative college years on later financial giving.

Explore the evolution of annual giving strategies from traditional methods such as phonaton and mailers, to creative communications and digital engagement in this insightful session. Discover how innovative approaches in online giving, digital communications, social media integration, and texting have transformed the landscape of annual fundraising. Gain a deeper understanding of how these advancements have revitalized and reengaged alumni and donors, paving the way for a more inclusive, effective, dynamic and modern annual giving model.

To kick off the morning, hear from experts leading the way at their respective institutions. CASE Laureate Bill Doerr (Assistant Dean for Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Emory University) will moderate a distinguished panel including: Dr. Laura Byrd (Interim President of Lake-Sumter State College), Dr. Stuart Gulley (President, Woodward Academy), Dr. Juan McGruder (Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Meharry Medical College), and Meg Dees (Vice President of Development, Catawba College) as they discuss their personal journey to leadership and current topics and trends impacting education today.

The higher education landscape is constantly evolving, presenting both challenges and opportunities for fundraisers. From navigating new regulations and technologies to adapting to the shifting priorities of students and donors, leadership must ensure their institution operates at the highest level and utilizes current best practices. A robust suite of highly-tailored policies and procedures can be the key to ensuring your college is equipped to serve your communities and prepare for a bright future. The Broward College Foundation and CCS Fundraising recently partnered on an audit to assess the current state of the foundation’s policies and procedures. This collaboration led to the development of a new, comprehensive suite of policies designed to enhance operations and protect against emerging threats. Join CCS and BCF as they discuss the essential policies your institution needs to support enhanced operations and mitigate risks such as digital currency gift acceptance and naming policies in the age of cancel culture.

Giving Tuesday is the biggest giving day in the world, so getting a foothold can be difficult. Austin Peay reimagined this crowded giving day to make a larger impact through project-based fundraising. Come learn how a small shop with limited tools was able to invigorate faculty and staff, and reengage alumni and friends, and fund 36 projects across campus.