Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming alumni engagement . This interactive session will provide a foundational understanding of AI concepts, explore best practices in data-driven engagement, and showcase real-world applications that drive personalized outreach. Participants will engage in a hands-on exercise to explore AI tools and collaboratively design strategies tailored to their institution’s goals. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your approach, this session will equip you with practical insights and actionable frameworks. Come ready to learn, experiment, and leave with a roadmap for integrating AI into your engagement strategy.

To advance in any field, a basic understanding of budgeting is a critical skill. Demonstrating solid budget management can also help you make the case to increase support for your programs. Whether you will be part of strategic budgeting conversations or responsible for managing a budget, knowledge of funding and the basics of financials, variance sheets, and budget planning will give you a head start to success. Attendees will walk away with resources and tools to make them more proficient and efficient with budgeting.

Events are at the heart of alumni engagement, and understanding the “art of gathering”, how to strategically approach events based on your intended outcomes and next steps, and the core elements of successfully planning and executing are critical. This session is designed to provide you with a tactical approach to events, as well as a modern approach to evaluating the outcomes and success of your events.

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.

Your prospect portfolio is one of your most powerful tools as a fundraising professional, but are you managing it to its full potential? This session explores the mindset and acumen needed to approach portfolio management with confidence and purpose. We'll then dive into the mechanics of organizing, prioritizing, and moving relationships forward. Whether you’re new to portfolios or refining your strategy, you’ll leave with practical tools to maximize results and build long-term success.

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.

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.