A thriving donor pipeline doesn’t just support fundraising—it strengthens the entire advancement ecosystem. This session explores how to build a sustainable, long-term pipeline by connecting alumni relations, strategic communications, fundraising, and operations. Grounded in principles from behavioral economics, we’ll walk through a model that defines stages of engagement and identifies the signals that move people forward. Learn how to think bigger, and more collaboratively, about how your institution finds, engages, and develops potential over time.

What does it take to turn a donor’s intent into a clear, actionable, and compliant gift agreement? This session explores the critical collaboration between fundraisers and advancement services in structuring agreements that honor donor goals while protecting institutional integrity. Attendees will learn what makes a strong gift agreement, gain clarity on each team’s role, and hear real-world stories illustrating how shared understanding leads to better outcomes—for donors and the institution.

Over the past decade, higher education has shifted from having our faculty experts comment during election years to candidates using our work and missions as polarizing talking points. Regardless of your role in marketing or communications, grasping the interconnected nature of higher education and politics will empower you to be more effective in your role. Teresa will provide vital tools for proactive, strategic, and thoughtful action. In addition, this session will provide data and national trends from the current election year to frame how we can help our leaders look around corners and return to strategically communicating with our internal and external stakeholders to remain true to our strategic foci and key messages. Teresa will share what works in a polarizing environment, what we need to plan for in the coming months, and how we should position our expertise for different stakeholders so we can have a leadership role in shaping our own narratives and our institutions’ reputations.

For more than 10,000 years humankind has been moved by great stories. Stories have changed the course of history, been used to right wrongs, and to educate new generations. Each of our educational institutions is bursting with powerful, meaningful stories. As advancement professionals, we have the opportunity and the challenge to capture this vital information and bring it to life. Many believe that the best fundraisers are also exceptional storytellers. This elective session will dive into the techniques and approaches that will help anyone learn to tell a great story, including time to role play what you’ve learned with your classmates!

Our work uses alumni engagement strategies and frameworks to create a profound sense of belonging and inclusion within our communities. Moving beyond traditional events and solicitations based solely on graduating class year or degree field, we tap into each individual's unique interests and passions. In this session, we will explore the transformative power of the “magic of 3” and how to cultivate meaningful relationships that lead to successful outcomes. We will discuss how to deepen connections, foster a welcoming atmosphere at events, and inspire stronger support for our initiatives. Join us in this journey to make every member feel valued and included, and to achieve remarkable results that resonate with the heart of our community.

Our alumni aren’t just names on a list, they’re constituents, stakeholders, potential life partners … a most valuable resource for our institutions. They want and deserve access (to a degree), a voice (always), and to be advocated for (who doesn’t!), so how we communicate with them—to open a relationship or to deepen one—is crucial. Let’s review strategies and deliverables for interacting with these important and often far-flung community members.

Most external facing advancement officers have experienced an uncomfortable, offensive, tricky, or harmful donor interaction. Perhaps you have. If not, chances are you will. Power dynamics are real, and it is easy to feel as if the donor, volunteer, or potential donor has ALL the power. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll equip you with tools and tactics to help you define situations, navigate difficult donor conversations in the moment, follow-up actions, and ways to create strategies that will minimize troubling donor interactions in the future.

Elevate your institution's alumni engagement and achieve meaningful returns by joining our session on "Maximizing Alumni Event ROI Through Effective Operational Support." Discover the critical role of operational excellence in driving successful alumni events and learn how advancement services can provide the streamlined support necessary to exceed expectations. We will explore best practices in planning, execution, and post-event analysis, offering practical strategies to maximize event ROI and enhance future success. Gain valuable insights and actionable tools to transform your alumni events into impactful, ROI-driven successes. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your approach to alumni engagement and operational excellence!

Fundraising campaigns are complex, and so is the blueprint for campaign marketing and communications. We have to reach a variety of constituents for a ton of different reasons over a period of years. And all the while we have to tell a coherent story based in our institution’s values, mission, and plans. So where to start? What to produce and why? This is doable.

Join us for an insightful presentation on the significance of student philanthropy at our organizations. We will explore how educating students about philanthropy through initiatives such as senior gift campaigns and awareness drives fosters a culture of giving that lasts beyond their time on campus. Attendees will learn best practices for implementing a robust student philanthropy program and understand the lasting impact of instilling philanthropic values in students before they graduate. Walk away with practical strategies to nurture the next generation of engaged and generous alumni.