Join us as we explore the evolution of principal gift (PG) impact reporting at the University of Calgary. This session will provide insights into our phased approach to improving donor communication, enhancing financial transparency, and strengthening bespoke reporting. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how strategic changes in stewardship practices can lead to more meaningful donor engagement and operational efficiencies.

Take your annual giving day to the next level by enhancing the ways you follow up with your generous donors. Show them their impact and build those relationships with meaningful stewardship. In this session, you’ll receive examples for creating a comprehensive stewardship plan, audit your giving day thank yous, streamline your stewardship process, report back on your giving day success and gain templates you can adapt for your institution. This session will also highlight fun events to build connections with donors as well as your giving day partners.

In the 2024 fiscal year, the University of Washington’s People and Culture team partnered with hiring managers to fill nearly 150 positions across the University Advancement organization. As the search for top candidates in advancement and higher education becomes more competitive, it is essential for people and culture teams to regularly assess their recruitment and employee engagement processes and tools. This practice helps identify opportunities to enhance recruitment agility and facilitate a faster, more efficient flow of talent into the organization This session will focus on the importance of developing proactive methods of finding the right talent, investing in modern recruitment technologies and systems, and utilizing metrics and data to measure and improve hiring metrics. By focusing on these key areas, this session will showcase how organizations can clear the "congestion" in their hiring processes, thereby accelerating the flow of talent while ensuring a better experience for recruiters, hiring teams, and candidates alike.

Explore how technology can enhance donor experiences with bespoke, scalable stewardship through new communication developments at Oregon State University. Faced with rising expectations for personalized touchpoints and a notable 20% increase in major gift donors over the past five years, the Oregon State University Foundation’s Stewardship team partnered with Fundmetric, an AI-driven fundraising platform. Together, they have begun pioneering unique communications custom-fitted to donors’ interests. Despite having only one team member dedicated to this effort, OSU Stewardship now harnesses this approach to amplify outreach and create tailored experiences for thousands of donors. Join us to explore how your team can craft communications and weave in data to deliver personalized luxury at scale.

Come join UVic’s Leadership Giving Team to learn how, with minimal resources and a team of three, they secured a 50% response rate to their invitation to meet, and over 20% positive responses, including major gifts and new student awards. With a comprehensive campaign on the horizon, all hands are on deck to help identify new prospects to support UVic’s ambitious goals. Through a multi-channel, personalized qualification strategy, the newly established Leadership Giving team (raising gifts in the 1k-25k/year range) launched a personalized invitation to meet -- and in the process, developed a scalable qualification model on a shoestring budget. Learn about their DIY approach and leave with ideas, and a solid plan to uncover prospects in your own database.

Demographics; immigration; birth rates; generational shifts. These and other factors are drastically changing - right now, in real time - our donors, our learners, and our communities. The vast majority of institutions and advancement programs are not keeping pace. Don't get left behind! All of these factors have a HUGE impact on if, why and how donors give. How will your institution THRIVE in the rapidly changing cultural context of your donor constituency, and your community? Is DEI the answer, or what else must we do to succeed? Ross will address current trends in Canada and the US, and overlay it with his 35 years of advancement experience in five countries, as well as ongoing longitudinal research - beginning in 1999 - about the cultural imperatives and impacts inherent in philanthropy amongst diverse cultures.

In an era dominated by the attention economy, the digital landscape is rife with cynicism, misinformation, and disengagement. Yet, as fundraisers, optimism is in our DNA. So, what would happen if we decided to lean into that optimism? And what if it were contagious? In this “net-positive” session, we’ll explore how joy and hope are not only core to who we are but something we’re uniquely capable of spreading. Discover how to create authentic and thoughtfully designed online experiences for your community that capture attention—and then effectively channel that attention towards meaningful and impactful philanthropic initiatives. We’ve got examples!

This session will explore effective strategies for engaging student-athlete alumni. Attendees will learn about the unique challenges of maintaining strong alumni relations with former student-athletes, including time constraints, career transitions, and differing experiences from non-athletes. Participants will discuss successful approaches, such as career networking programs, tailored alumni events, and mentoring opportunities that foster long-term engagement. The session will also address the emotional and psychological challenges student-athletes face when transitioning from sports to professional careers. Attendees will leave with practical tools to create impactful engagement initiatives and strengthen alumni relations with former athletes, ensuring they remain valuable members of the institutional community. Ideal for professionals in alumni relations, athletics, and development, this session will provide strategies to enhance student-athlete alumni involvement and build lasting connections.

Join four fundraisers from the University of Oregon for an exciting conversation about working the mid-level! Topics covered will include donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; moving donors along the pipeline from annual giving to major gifts; and navigating career growth as a frontline fundraiser. Bring your questions and be ready for some real talk!

Are you fundraising to create resources specifically for Indigenous students? Effective campaign preparation must prioritize engagement within the framework of Indigenous reconciliation.  This session is intended to be a respectful dialogue that promotes understanding and collaboration with Indigenous communities. This discussion is led by a non-Indigenous public engagement professional dedicated to learning and fostering meaningful engagement. They are eager to share their experiences and encourage the conversation while acknowledging how far they, too, still have to go.