For over 15 years, the Alamo Colleges’ only large fundraising event was more of a friendraiser: a brunch that garnered great community visibility but had low ROI and was not fully tied to the institution’s core mission. Then, in 2023, the Alamo Colleges launched its first ever signature fundraising gala, overcoming years of pandemic delays and institutional challenges, grossing over $800k for our Promise program. In early 2024, the gala raised $1.2 million. Find out more about how both events have evolved to complement each other, incorporating industry best practices and building on support from diverse constituencies in the community. Advanced Track

There are companies all over the globe that are renowned for their customer service, but none more so than the Disney Corporation. “Being Disney” takes careful planning, attention to detail, and most importantly the desire to make each person feel like you planned the event just for them. This session will explore key steps for creating magical moments. Foundational Track

Your event has it all – food, drinks, décor, and entertainment, but is it inclusive and accessible to all attendees? This engaging session will discuss considerations and techniques event planners can include to ensure their events are meeting the mark when it comes to attendee inclusion and belonging. All Tracks

Every institution has their own premier programs, rockstar faculty, groundbreaking research, and best of all—brilliant students. This session will outline how you can highlight these points of pride and communicate their impact for your audiences through signature events. Attendees will take a deeper dive into one specific (scalable) event that has proven to be tremendously successful in engaging donors and helping to solidify their philanthropic intentions. Advanced Track

Let's look into the art of enhancing events through what the Davidson events team affectionately calls "Tiny Noticeable Touches," or "TNT." These subtle adjustments to details have the power to sweeten the guest experience, leaving a lasting impact. We'll explore creative ideas and examples that demonstrate how small gestures can make a big difference. From intentional menu design to unexpected accessibility accommodations, we'll showcase how these thoughtful touches can elevate any event, regardless of size or budget. Attendees will leave inspired with practical strategies for infusing their events with warmth, care, and a little TNT. Foundational Track

Discover an innovative vendor vetting process meticulously designed to align with your organization's values and objectives. Uncover the intricacies of identifying and selecting vendors, emphasizing the support of alumni-owned, minoritized-owned, female-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, and/or local businesses in your area. Explore the step-by-step process, from initial vendor research and identification to finalizing agreements, guided by a detailed playbook and effective communication strategies. Elevate your vendor selection game with a unique "Vendor Scoring System" that objectively evaluates diversity, value alignment, online presence, communication, portfolio, and potential red flags. Delve into the scoring system's criteria, each meticulously designed to ensure a comprehensive assessment is accounted for. Learn to make informed decisions based on quantifiable data, streamline the vendor selection process, and prioritize those who align best with your organization’s values for event success. Prepare to navigate the complexities of emergency planning, formalizing vendor agreements, and building lasting vendor relationships. Join us in revolutionizing your approach to vendor selection by fostering inclusivity, reliability, and strategic partnerships. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your event planning toolkit and make values-driven decisions in the vendor selection process. Intermediate Track

Looking for a fresh way to engage and celebrate top level donors? Donor Appreciation events are ever evolving and moving the needle to make these events impactful while celebrating the philanthropy of donors can pose a challenge. Join colleagues from Clemson University's Office of Central Donor Relations as they share how a rebrand of their cumulative giving society recognition program, the 1889 Societies, prompted a brand new multi-day Celebration of Philanthropy donor experience. Walk through the steps taken to plan the elevated donor weekend experience that included an Alumni Holiday Shopping Fair, Cocktail Hour with college deans and administration, full day of ten donor impact track experiences, celebration gala, and football tailgate. Learn about involving campus partners to assist in executing unique donor impact tracks. Walk through strategy to elevate your celebration gala to be more than just dinner, dancing, and drinks. Take away ideas that will help you to plan and execute a donor experience that is engaging on multiple levels and in various modalities so that donors leave feeling not only appreciated but see a true measure of the impact of their gifts. Advanced Track

In the fast-paced realm of Advancement, the demands are soaring, and your team faces a pivotal choice – burnout or build. Picture this: limited budget, no room for team expansion. What's your move? Join our dynamic conference session for an exhilarating dive into unleashing your hottest commodity - students! Learn innovative strategies to harness their potential, lighten your workload, showcase their talent, and cultivate super alum ambassadors, steering your institution towards an unstoppable future. It's time to transform challenges into opportunities – ignite the power within your team and set the stage for success! ? #TeamTransformation #StudentPower #InstitutionalSuccess Foundational Track

Programs play a pivotal role in shaping the essence of any event. Whether it's panels, fireside chats, keynote speeches, or welcome remarks, the messaging conveyed can profoundly influence your post-event follow-up strategy and guide your call to action. Thoughtfully crafted talking points are integral to every aspect of your engagement strategy. In this session, we'll delve into the art of seamlessly integrating a call to action, identifying the types of talking points that align with the event's style, and understanding how these elements synergize with your follow-up strategy to leave a lasting impact. We'll explore the strategic nuances that elevate event communication to drive meaningful outcomes. Intermediate Track

Join our faculty for three micro-sessions on hot topics in special events, including incorporating tradition and branding for milestone events, adding affordable touches to décor, and growing in your career as an events professional. All Tracks