What happens when you ask fundraisers what they *really* want in a prospect and then build a system around it? In this session, participants will learn how the University of Denver's Prospect Development team, in close partnership with Business Intelligence, shifted from reactive requests to a proactive prospect referral system powered by its CRM. Attendees will learn how DU's prospect development team collaborated with fundraisers to define meaningful prospect criteria, created accountability for both Fundraisers and PD through a CRM-integrated referral system, and developed dashboards that that allow teams to measure outcomes and demonstrate the direct impact of referrals on fundraising success.

As a Leadership Annual Giving Officer, I contacted over 1,000 donors a year through multi-touch cadences. These cadences included emails, phone calls, text messages and handwritten cards. I’ve heard remarks at times like “So you’re pestering donors?” But the reality is this consistent, intentional outreach has sparked over 100 genuine donor relationships in just the past year with remarkably few negative responses. In this session, I’ll share real examples and data that demonstrate how persistence, when rooted in clarity and authenticity, can scale your efforts and deepen donor engagement. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to build more connections, and—just as importantly—ways to avoid burnout. One phrase I hear often from donors? “Thank you for your professional persistence.”

Gift officers spend an extraordinary amount of time in airports, hotels, rideshares, and unfamiliar neighborhoods. Yet most of us have had little to no formal training on how to stay safe and healthy while traveling. This session equips frontline fundraisers with practical tools to protect themselves and their institutions while on the road.
Drawing on real-world scenarios, we will cover:
Situational awareness techniques to avoid or de-escalate risky situations.
Safety best practices for hotels, airports, rideshares, and client/donor visits.
Digital and data security when traveling with sensitive donor information.
Tips for maintaining personal wellness, sleep, and nutrition during heavy travel seasons.
Checklists and “red flags” to consider before, during, and after trips.
Participants will leave with an actionable framework, sample checklists, and simple habits they can apply immediately to increase their safety, confidence, and professionalism while traveling on behalf of their organizations.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:
Recognize and respond to common travel risks faced by gift officers.
Apply situational awareness principles in unfamiliar environments.
Implement practical health and safety routines for frequent travel.
Develop or refine their office’s travel-safety policies and checklists.

Is it possible to turn communications about the university's strategic vision into a successful and engaging social media campaign? Yes, we have proof! Learn how we integrated strategic vision messaging into our social content and created opportunities for campus activations, leading to engagements both on our social platforms and in-person. We are dedicated to having authentic social media feeds that represent our communities and show off the campus experience, and we didn't lose any of that with our efforts — and we didn't spend money beyond purchasing some props. We will review what worked for us, how we pitched it and implemented it, and the ways that we partnered with the campus community. We will also review how these approaches can be applied to other institutional efforts that might not come across as the most interactive and fun content at first.

Behind every thriving Hawkeye community is a passionate volunteer driving connection and impact. This session celebrates the spirit of service and shares how the University of Iowa is building a bold, intentional strategy to empower its Iowa Volunteer Network volunteers.
With over 375 volunteers serving more than 70 networks globally, our volunteers are the heartbeat of alumni engagement. Through a comprehensive engagement framework and the newly launched Iowa Volunteer Network Recognition Program, we’re equipping volunteers with the tools, resources, and confidence to lead with authenticity and impact.
Attendees will explore how our approach—centered on preparedness, empowerment, and appreciation—is transforming volunteer experiences and strengthening alumni networks. We’ll also highlight how this strategy aligns with the broader goals of the Together Hawkeyes Campaign, which integrates engagement and philanthropy in a groundbreaking way.
Whether you're building a volunteer program from scratch or refining an existing one, this session offers practical insights and replicable strategies to elevate volunteer engagement and foster a culture of appreciation.

For generations, American higher education has been the engine behind the nation’s progress, driving our economic prosperity, building a skilled workforce, and nurturing a vibrant democracy. But colleges and universities are experiencing a growing crisis of confidence. Once respected institutions whose importance was assumed, they have suffered a steady decline in perceived value. Just ten years ago, 57% of Americans expressed significant trust in higher education. Today, that number has plummeted to 42%. This isn’t just a concerning trend—it’s a wake-up call. There are many reasons this is happening, but a core part of the problem is the narratives used to describe the value of a college degree, which too often focus narrowly on student recruitment and the job-market return graduates receive on the cost of tuition. Left out are countless ways higher education benefits everyone, whether or not they have earned a degree. To combat this erosion of trust, CASE has partnered with marketing firm BVK to create a public service campaign to promote the value of higher education, utilizing research on how to successfully change minds and shaped by the perspectives of those who most benefit from the work that higher education does. Called “College: Proud Sponsor of America at its Best,” the campaign seeks to remind Americans that college is a public good that uplifts every facet of our society, from creating a skilled workforce and fostering economic prosperity to improving our health, promoting democracy, and protecting our national security. This session will introduce participants to the campaign and the various ways their institutions can join the movement.

In today's ever-evolving workplace, it is crucial to develop effective strategies for managing up to your supervisors and navigating your organization's structure. We will explore the art of managing from your seat, providing you with insights and practical techniques to cultivate strong relationships with supervisors and peers while influencing the decision-making process. We will explore how to effectively communicate your ideas, and results to supervisors, ensuring your contributions are acknowledged and appreciated. Additionally, we will delve into techniques for growing your reputation and credibility and positioning you for success in today’s rapidly changing work environment.

With dwindling publishing budgets and prospective students spending all of their time online, what is the future for the university magazine? Learn how to take your magazine digital and create a unique digital experience to showcase your best strategic content.

As fundraising efforts continue to grow across higher education, institutions are placing increased emphasis on the responsible management and utilization of donor contributions. In today’s climate, transparency and accountability in fund stewardship are not just expected; they are essential.

This session explores the importance and principles of effective fund management and highlights its role in aligning donor intent with institutional impact. Leaders from the University of Nebraska and The Ohio State University will share how they approach these responsibilities through. Their goal is to strengthen donor trust, optimize fund utilization, and drive long-term outcomes.

Whether you are launching a fund management program or refining an existing one, this session offers actionable strategies and insights to enhance stewardship practices and ensure alignment with donor intent across your campus.

97.5% of every institution’s donors sit outside of managed portfolios, receiving only direct mail and mass marketing. Over the years, we’ve seen rising numbers of lapsed donors, weaker pipelines, and new challenges as we work to earn donor attention each year. There’s an inherent link between all of this.
In this panel, Cleveland State University Foundation and Macalester College share how they embraced Autonomous Fundraising to expand one-to-one donor engagement at scale. Both institutions saw an opportunity to reach under-engaged segments and reimagine advancement strategy by deploying Virtual Engagement Officers (VEOs), AI-powered teammates trained in strategic moves management.
At Cleveland State University Foundation, the VEO is a member of the fundraising team that engages and renews lapsed donors, while cultivating LYBUNTS and non-donors within its portfolio. The focus is on re-engagement, participation, and long-term relationship building that leads to the natural outcome of giving.
At Macalester College, the VEO is a fundraiser that strategically engages approximately 1,000 unassigned alumni and friends. The goals are to retain or grow giving from consistent donors, reactivate lapsed or inconsistent donors, and boost alumni engagement—specifically targeting a one-point increase in the CASE engagement score.
Together, panelists will share early outcomes of their autonomous AI fundraisers, lessons learned, and the ROI of integrating Autonomous Fundraising alongside traditional strategies, expanding capacity and strengthening their pipelines.