More than ever, the advancement disciplines rely on each other to ensure school and institutional success. Learn how cross-discipline collaboration works (and sometimes doesn't) from a panel of leaders in alumni relations, fundraising, advancement services, and communications and marketing. Discover the current state and coming trends in collaboration across advancement disciplines. Your institutes' chairs will share examples of how fundraising, advancement services, alumni relations, and communications and marketing.

This opening session sets the tone for the CASE Summer Institute in Advancement Services. Participants will meet the faculty—seasoned professionals who bring diverse perspectives across advancement disciplines—and engage in an honest conversation about the personal and professional realities of advancement services work. Through shared experiences, we’ll explore practical strategies for maintaining well-being, navigating competing priorities, and sustaining a people-first approach while balancing multiple roles.

Attendees will meet daily with curated advisory small groups led by expert faculty members to debrief from the day’s learning and problem solve in real time.

As the education sector undergoes seismic shifts, advancement professionals are being called to adapt with purpose and agility. As new advancement professionals there is a powerful opportunity to lead with purpose, creativity, and heart. Join Brian Flahaven, vice president of strategic partnerships, and Jessica Elmore, senior director of cross-cultural learnings, as they highlight the shifts shaping the advancement field and inspire you to see your unique and essential role in the future of education.

In the ever-evolving landscape of alumni relations and fundraising, understanding and leveraging the power of data is critical for success. This session will delve into the strategic use of metrics and KPI to drive alumni engagement and boost fundraising outcomes. Attendees will learn how to harness data to identify trends, measure engagement effectiveness, and tailor outreach efforts for maximum ROI.

To effectively communicate the impact of social media, you can’t rely only on the metrics provided by platforms. It’s important to find ways to assess social media efforts against your specific goals in marketing, communication, fundraising, or recruitment. This session will cover the different types of metrics used to assess social media success, where to find them, and how to choose the appropriate metrics to report to various stakeholders.

One of the greatest privileges of working in education is in a community filled with unbounded ambition. although most academic-development interaction centers around prospect and donor work, this session will explore ways we can cultivate meaningful relationships with members of the academic and campus community to strengthen fundraising potential and expand our intellectual curiosity. You can learn how to effectively identify who and how to approach them, maintain relationships, and build your own board of directors.

Strategic and generative conversations are at the heart of our work. Questioning and listening are powerful life skills. First, they will help you create productive donor relationships. What organizations do you support with your philanthropy? Where are we on your list of philanthropies? How do you make your philanthropic decisions? What has been your most meaningful gift? Quality questions elicit amazing information that will guide you in the solicitation process and help you build relationships on campus with your supervisor, peers and faculty members. Learn how to develop questions instead of talking points that will inform your gift strategy, advance relationships, and result in a joyful, generous "Yes" to your request for increased engagement with your institution, a significant gift to one of your priorities or for whatever you were hoping that volunteer or colleague would do to help you achieve your goals.

AI is changing how we work - and a well-built CustomGPT can supercharge your effectiveness. In this session, Dayana Kibilds will walk you through how to build, train and deploy an AI tailored to your specific goals. But building it is just the beginning. Through real examples - including the popular Mailed It! GPT — she’ll also share tips for keeping your CustomGPT sharp and aligned with your needs. You’ll learn how to upload data, fine-tune instructions and avoid common pitfalls so your AI works hard for you.

Why do some fundraising professionals thrive while others plateau? What can we learn from those who ascend to the highest levels of impact? In this interactive session, we’ll go beyond inspiration and introduce a practical framework rooted in the habits, mindsets, and disciplines of expert performers. Through this lens, you’ll chart your path toward excellence—whether you're seeking sharper skills, stronger relationships, or a more purposeful career. Discover why advancement stars are made, not born—and how you can shape your journey to become one.