Strategic and generative conversations are at the heart of our work. Questioning and listening are powerful life skills. First, they will help you create productive donor relationships. What organizations do you support with your philanthropy? Where are we on your list of philanthropies? How do you make your philanthropic decisions? What has been your most meaningful gift? Quality questions elicit amazing information that will guide you in the solicitation process and help you build relationships on campus with your supervisor, peers and faculty members. Learn how to develop questions instead of talking points that will inform your gift strategy, advance relationships, and result in a joyful, generous "Yes" to your request for increased engagement with your institution, a significant gift to one of your priorities or for whatever you were hoping that volunteer or colleague would do to help you achieve your goals.

A session about memory and strategies to help your audience remember and take action after you communicated with them.

Curious? Good, you’re in the perfect profession. One of the greatest privileges of working in education is in a community filled with unbounded ambition. Yes, most academic-development interaction centers around prospect and donor work. This session will explore ways we can cultivate meaningful relationships with members of the academic and campus community to strengthen fundraising potential and expand our intellectual curiosity.

Are there a few principles we should keep top of mind before we make a move? Before we produce that case for support, admissions viewbook, media pitch, dean's speech, annual fund appeal, lecture poster, all campus announcement, grant proposal, event invitation, campus store t-shirt ... refrigerator magnet? There are. And you probably know them already or follow them intuitively. But let's name them. Discuss them. And ensure we're reaching our constituents, both head and heart.

Get Ready to Go Forward - Marketing Research, Preplanning, and Goal-Setting

Why Diversity and Inclusion should be a Core Principle of Every Marketing Campaign. No longer are the days when marketing campaigns are effective simply because of a catchy slogan and celebrity endorsement. Even the most powerful brands have fallen prey to advertising mishaps. To attract and retain a diverse student body, your marketing strategy must be authentic, inclusive, and convey a sense of belonging. This visual presentation shares insights on campaigns that serve as a model as well as those that missed the mark. In this session, you will learn more about how brands (and institutions) are embracing Diversity and Inclusion as part of their overall marketing strategy and why it should be a core principle of every campaign.