Reporting is not just about tracking activity. The metrics organizations choose to measure shape priorities, behaviors, and decision-making across advancement. This session explores the core reports, metrics, and KPIs that support healthy fundraising pipelines and organizational strategy across the donor lifecycle. Attendees will examine the difference between strategic, operational, and standard reporting, discuss common reporting pitfalls, and explore how to deliver the right information to the right audience in ways people will actually use. Through practical examples and discussion, participants will leave with ideas they can apply immediately to strengthen reporting, improve clarity, and support better institutional decisions.

The hype around AI in advancement is real—and it's transforming how we work. And even though AI is constantly evolving, let us get back to basics with a brief history about AI, some related fundamental concepts, as well as challenges and limitations to AI use in the workplace. We'll conclude with case studies of our respective institutions in terms of AI resources and integration into advancement operations.

In today’s evolving advancement landscape, data is more than a reporting tool—it is a strategic asset that must be accurate, accessible, secure, and responsibly managed. Building a truly data-centered culture requires more than dashboards and analytics; it demands a shared commitment to data governance, cybersecurity awareness, and informed decision-making. This session will explore how advancement services professionals can foster a culture where data integrity, privacy, and security are prioritized alongside usability and innovation. Participants will learn strategies for strengthening collaboration between advancement, IT, and institutional leadership while creating systems and practices that support informed fundraising strategies, donor trust, and long-term organizational resilience.

Join us to discover how you can leverage various project management techniques to ensure your Advancement team operates at peak efficiency. With numerous projects and competing priorities, both large and small, it can be challenging to stay on top of everything. Project management tools can help you achieve your goals, support team well-being, and position your team to be more proactive and less reactive. In this session, you'll learn practical strategies to streamline your workflows, prioritize tasks effectively, and enhance overall productivity.

Donor-advised fund gifts, matching gifts, and other third-party contributions often raise deceptively simple questions. Whose money is it? How can it be applied? And why does it sometimes feel more complicated than it should be? This session will unpack the unique rules, expectations, and gray areas that come with managing third-party gifts. Participants will walk through real-world scenarios, including common requests around pledge application, and explore the legal, ethical, and operational frameworks that guide appropriate decision-making. The session will help gift processing professionals build confidence in managing these gifts accurately and efficiently, while communicating clearly and consistently with donors, fundraisers, and internal partners.

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.

Prospect research is evolving beyond wealth screening and reactive fact-finding into a more strategic function that supports fundraising, engagement, and institutional decision-making. This session explores the changing role of research in advancement, including how teams can provide stronger partnership around prospect identification, relationship strategy, reputational risk, and donor engagement. Attendees will examine the core foundations of effective prospect research, discuss how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping the field, and explore practical ways fundraisers, alumni relations, communications, and advancement services professionals can better collaborate to strengthen donor relationships and organizational insight.

Managing social media can feel overwhelming, but this session will share a practical, step-by-step framework to bring clarity and purpose to your work. We’ll start by discussing how to audit your current efforts and identify what’s working (and what’s not), then align your content and platforms with institutional goals like recruitment, retention, and engagement. From there, we’ll explore key trends, audience behaviors, and platform strategies shaping higher ed today. Finally, we’ll focus on working smarter, sharing tips for streamlining workflows, strengthening account management, and leveraging AI tools to increase efficiency without sacrificing authenticity. Attendees will leave with actionable insights and a roadmap for managing social media with confidence.