Do people read emails anymore? Yes—they do. But not the way you think. This talk will show you exactly how to write subject lines, optimize your links, and lay out your email copy so your message gets across. In this session, you’ll learn: How to write good subject lines that increase open rates. Typical email reading patterns and how to use them to your advantage. How to appropriately use formatting and white space. Recommendations on sentence structure and reading level. How to use links and buttons to guarantee click-through. A quick way to test if your email will get read. This session is useful for everyone, whether you send mass emails or just internal ones.

It’s been a highly political year, and we all have opinions. What should you share personally, and what should you encourage your campus to share internally and externally? Understanding the interconnected nature of higher education and politics and thinking through your institution’s mission and personal values will empower you to be more effective in your role. This session will provide data and national trends to frame how to help your leaders look around corners and return to strategically communicating with internal and external audiences. Teresa will share how to stay true to yourself while staying safe, and what works for institutions in a polarized environment to shape a narrative.

Not all alumni are created equal—and neither are their engagement needs. From the newly minted grad firing up their first job to the retired executive ready to mentor the next generation, your alumni community moves through distinct stages. Each one requires different strategies, messaging, and touchpoints. In this session, we'll map the complete alumni journey and show you exactly how to meet people where they are. Learn to identify the critical transitions—the moments when alumni are most likely to engage or drift away—and design interventions that keep momentum going. We'll explore what differentiates a casual participant from a dedicated volunteer, a donor from an advocate, and a supporter from a steward. Plus, discover how to recognize when alumni are ready to level up and have the tools to invite them deeper into your community.

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. Attendees should bring a laptop or internet-enabled device.

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.

While alumni of different generations may consume information differently, they often seek the same things: meaningful relationships, shared purpose, pride in their institution, and opportunities to contribute. The challenge is not creating separate experiences for every generation, but designing engagement opportunities that connect alumni to one another and to the moments that matter most.

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.

It will happen if it hasn’t already. You and/or members of your team must face a difficult decision. Not a black or white issue, but one of those grey areas with multiple points of view, involving volunteers, top donors, colleagues, faculty members, or someone you supervise or report to. What to do? In this plenary, we’ll give you the foundational guidance to set you up for professional success. You will then get an opportunity to engage in conversation working through real situations advancement professionals just like you, have faced. You will walk away with new insights, tools, and strategies that will help you and your team, operate at the highest ethical standards.

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.