The future is here, but are we ready for it? Digital transformation is all the buzz within the higher ed Advancement industry, but very few organizations are successful in implementing comprehensive digital strategies. Applying a digital lens over traditional development work can help organizations reach further, faster and make donors feel well taken care of. Come discuss some of the industry trends around digital transformation and how this approach can fit into relationship-based work.

Effective multimedia experiences leverage technology to “show” stories in new and interesting ways. Whether it be audio, video, animation, augmented reality, virtual reality or [insert technology not invented yet], none of these will resonate with your audience unless they have an authentic emotional story at their core. Ravi invites all around the proverbial campfire to unpack the primordial hooks and motivations of enduring storytelling. Collectively, we will examine how new and existing technologies can be integrated to serve content to emotionally engage both new and old audiences. In this session, you will:

• Learn how to identify core story forms within their brand and institutional messaging.
• Consider how time-based media can offer a new perspective on an existing story.
• Get inspired by how new media vehicles can be leveraged to support and extend an established advancement strategy.

Regardless of how an advancement shop chooses to structure alumni relations and development, there are often natural opportunities for alumni teams to collaborate with development teams to engage prospective and current donors in meaningful ways. In this session, you will hear relevant examples of alumni professionals partnering with development officers to cultivate donors in the major gift cycle, while also providing alumni audiences with unique and special experiences. You will gain insight into the win-win opportunities that you can create in your advancement shop that lead to major gifts while also engaging alumni with impactful, alumni-centered programming.

From “annual fund in a campaign”: All of our institutions are either preparing for, in the midst of, or transitioning out of a campaign. There is no absolute truth about whether to integrate your annual fund and alumni engagement goals into the campaign, but there are some important considerations to address before you make your decision. And you may even discover mid-way that you want to go in a different direction. This discussion will explore some of the pros, cons, and factors to consider in deciding how, when or if to use your campaign to promote annual giving and alumni engagement.

Strengthen your development strategy through intentional, collaborative goal setting. This session offers practical approaches for working with fundraisers to set data-informed, realistic, and aspirational goals that align with organizational priorities. Explore strategies for driving shared ownership, building accountability, and using goal conversations as a tool for motivation, coaching, and continuous improvement. Whether you're refining an established process or building a new framework, this session focuses on aligning people, data, and purpose to maximize impact.

One of the joys of fundraising is cultivating relationships with volunteers who care deeply about your institution. This session explores the complete volunteer lifecycle, including identifying potential leaders, effective recruitment strategies, training methods to maximize effectiveness, and management techniques to drive results while keeping volunteers engaged. We'll also address how to properly celebrate volunteer contributions and maintain meaningful relationships even after formal service concludes.

Your head is full of everything you've learned about advancement. Now what? Where do you start? How do you pull together all the pieces for a successful program? How do you get the greenlight for a great new idea? We'll discuss ways to plan for success, whether you're managing an office, a program, a staff-or just yourself. We will cover the why, approaches for ensuring ROI, managing outcomes, aligning resources, and lead an interactive exercise to support the development of meaningful roadmaps.

Good ideas need more than buy-in, they need traction. This session unpacks how decisions really get made inside institutions, and how you can position your work to influence outcomes at any level. Learn how to apply principles from decision science to communicate with clarity, frame choices effectively, and become a trusted advisor to leadership, even if you’re not in the room where decisions happen.

Prospect Research is evolving—fast. As institutions navigate new expectations around privacy, reputation, and real-time intelligence, research professionals are being called to do more than inform, they’re shaping strategy. This session explores how teams can maximize insight while minimizing risk, and how the role of research is shifting in an era of AI, transparency, and heightened donor expectations.

Advancement operations is the backbone of successful fundraising, ensuring data integrity, compliance, and operational efficiency. But how do you balance strict policies with the flexibility needed to drive donor engagement? How do you optimize policies and practices while aligning with aligning with institutional values and principles? This session will equip you to build or refine advancement operations that support your mission.