Stewardship refers to how we take care of our donors, keep in touch with them, and show them the impact of their giving so that they feel motivated to give again. When we know that it costs five times more to find a new donor than it does to secure a gift from someone who already donates, effective stewardship isn’t just the right thing to do—it makes good economic sense. But in a world of finite resources and complex environments, how do you make sure your donors receive the right interventions at the right time? In this session, we will explore what stewardship is, how to approach it strategically, and how to use the tools at your disposal.

Volunteerism is a key pillar of successful alumni engagement and fundraising, with volunteers giving their “time, talent, and treasure.” The treasure part – making a philanthropic gift – is straightforward enough, but what about this “time and talent” bit? In this session, we’ll explore some best practices in alumni volunteer management, looking at a variety of volunteer types from boards and campaign committees, to class and reunion volunteers, and more. When volunteers are not well managed, the consequences – and your headaches – can be painful. But when they are carefully recruited, guided, and stewarded, their gifts of “time and talent” can increase your organization’s impact and generate exponentially more “treasure” in support of your school.

Fundraising in higher education is purpose‑driven, rewarding - and increasingly demanding. Shrinking teams, rising expectations, emotionally complex donor relationships, and ongoing sector uncertainty mean that resilience and wellbeing are no longer “nice to haves”; they are essential professional skills for a sustainable career. Blending data and practical advice, the session offers realistic strategies for protecting your energy, maintaining ambition without burning out, and building habits that support long‑term success.

In today’s advancement landscape, data is abundant - but alignment is rare. Colleagues across our teams each rely on distinct metrics, tools, and insights. Yet the greatest institutional impact happens when these perspectives are connected. This interactive joint session creates space for advancement colleagues to unpack the data, trends, and performance indicators shaping our work - and to consider how insight can travel more effectively across teams. Through a facilitated discussion and live Q&A, we will explore the most pertinent data and insights driving: Fundraising performance and pipeline health Alumni engagement and participation trends Brand, reputation, and digital marketing effectiveness Cross-functional reporting and storytelling for leadership Participants will gain practical insight into how shared metrics - such as engagement scoring, campaign performance data, donor lifecycle analytics, and audience segmentation - can be interpreted differently across teams, and how to use them more strategically to inform institutional priorities. Rather than operating in parallel, advancement teams can create exponential value when data, insight, and messaging are aligned. This session will help you connect the dots - turning information into shared strategy.

In this session, Antony and Margaret will take the mystery out of major gift fundraising. We’ll look at the theory and practice behind major gifts: who are these elusive major donors, why do they part with large sums of money, and most importantly how do we secure these gifts for our institutions? Participants will come away with an understanding of the basics of major gifts work and some practical ideas to take back to their institutions.

Asking for gifts is the most fundamental task for any face-to-face fundraiser. In this interactive session we will look at how to set the scene, introduce giving into a discussion, work as part of an asking team, and deal with situations that have gone awry. We’ll be looking at some examples of how to do it right—and how to do it wrong. And of course, we’ll be asking you to have a go!

As Advancement professionals, we can tell incredible stories. Stories of the transformative impact of philanthropic giving; stories of the lifelong relationships forged at university; stories of the extraordinary lives our graduates go on to live. This session will explore how we can turn those stories into compelling content, and how that content can in turn drive alumni engagement and lay critical foundations for fundraising activity and volunteer recruitment. We will also dive into what happens when it becomes harder to craft our own stories: when the reputation of our sector is in the spotlight, and we need to cut through challenging narratives to make the case for the impact of our organisations. Delegates will come away with a marketing and communications toolkit – from creative briefs and content strategies to reputation management tactics – to underpin their work in relationship management, fundraising and supporter engagement.

Fundraisers often need to broker relationships with people more affluent, older, or more senior than them, as well as with people who are more vulnerable. Sometimes this can lead to challenging situations. This session is about navigating this landscape, building your confidence, ensuring your safety, and helping you to handle challenging situations if and when they arise.