Vanderbilt has been tasked with growing our staff from a development headcount of around 240 to over 330 people in four years. This rapid growth has presented challenges in every area of our advancement shop, from recruitment, to culture absorption, to increasing our retention rate. This presentation will share the steps we have taken to meet this challenge. We will outline our remote work policies, our strategy for integrating Gen Z workforce, our robust performance incentive program and the steps we have taken to ensure effective onboarding and culture engagement for all employees, whether they are in Nashville or California. We will also touch on the key aspects of our culture, namely our organizational values and leadership principles, that ensure we are attracting talent that will be a long-term fit for the organization. We are seeing results in both our hiring practices, as well as our retention rate, which we improved by 50% in the last two years.

Sponsored by Huron | GG+A The CASE Research Symposium looks at current research and explores its impact on and relationship to advancement. This session will work in response to the Pew data on public trust in science by addressing how institutions might respond and better communicate the impact and societal benefit of scientific research.
Confidence in scientists has declined and views of science have turned less positive since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This session will look at public views of science over the last fifty years, with extensive focus on the last five. Brian Kennedy, Senior Researcher on Pew Research Center’s Science and Society team, will compare confidence in scientists to confidence in other groups and institutions over time. He’ll also discuss the partisan gap in attitudes about science and scientists, and how Americans view research scientists’ traits and characteristics. Finally, the session will look at public views on science funding.

Sweeping federal mandates, natural disasters, NIL controversy, sudden departures – leadership is constantly tested. How do you make critical decisions and act decisively when chaos erupts? Our expert panel explores real-world challenges and provides actionable insights for navigating the unpredictable.

What issues are most important and vexing for our advancing our institutions right now? How are liberal arts colleges engaging with the greater community, and how does that translate to the greater public good? What is working for you and where could you use a bit of additional support and camaraderie? Join this session for an in-depth facilitated conversation with your peers.

Two different institutions. One transformative approach: fundraisers and marketers working together to achieve powerful fundraising goals. In this session, hear how Lehigh University pulled together a cross-team collaboration to fuel a re-envisioned renovation of the student center to become a hub of the campus community. At the University of Maryland, the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Advancement Officer aligned the university’s bold institutional brand with a transformative fundraising effort to reinforce the institution’s brand as a top-tier university. Learn the specific strategies they used for collaboration and execution on their ambitious aspirations.

Human-Centered Fundraising: Leveraging AI Without Being Artificial
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
In the race to reimagine advancement and “do more with less,” virtually everyone is navigating the question of whether and how to make use of AI. In this session, we will explore practical ways to harness the transformative power of AI without abandoning one of our profession’s fundamental truths: philanthropy is about human beings. We will demonstrate how thoughtful use of AI can supercharge human productivity–not replace it. We will discuss how carefully-designed applications of AI can enhance human connection–not eliminate it.
This won’t be a theoretical survey of AI’s potential. It will be a candid conversation about what’s already working, where AI can deliver real impact today, and how leaders can develop and refine an approach that works for them–and their teams. We will highlight real-world examples of institutions that are realizing significant gains through the use of an AI and machine learning engine designed specifically and exclusively for fundraisers at educational institutions. These examples will stretch across numerous functional areas including annual giving and pipeline development, prospect research, and major and principal gifts. .
Speakers: Matthew T. Lambert and Kestrel Linder

Autonomous AI Fundraising: How we Raised $1M in 6 Months with Pioneering Leaders
12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
The advancement industry faces an insurmountable challenge: institutions can neither afford nor find enough frontline fundraisers to meaningfully engage all rated donors and prospects with 1:1 engagement. To address this frontline staffing reality, innovative leaders are turning to digital labor through autonomous fundraising as a transformative solution. This groundbreaking panel unites the first advancement leaders to ever implement autonomous fundraising to share their compelling results in various stages of deployment. These pioneers will discuss how each of their Virtual Engagement Officers (VEOs) are working with targeted portfolios of donors to address the greatest areas of opportunity for their individual organizations. The discussion will explore their communities' reaction to fully autonomous AI fundraising and share both results and learnings in an unprecedented and candid conversation. Attendees will gain practical insights into implementing autonomous fundraising, including change management strategies, emerging best practices, and real-world data showcasing the impact on donor engagement and giving. They’ll also hear from these leaders about their perspective on the future of digital labor and their visions for comprehensive 5-year digital workforce strategies that complement their frontline fundraising team. Join us to learn from those who have successfully navigated this transformative journey and glimpse the future of advancement, where human and digital labor collaborate to achieve unprecedented reach and results.
Speakers: Jason Diffenderfer, Brooks Hull, Matthew T. Lambert, Adam Martel, and Jennifer Shimp-Bowerman

Sponsored by Huron | GG+A The CASE Research Symposium looks at current research and explores its impact on and relationship to advancement. This session will work in response to the Pew data on public trust in science by addressing how institutions might respond and better communicate the impact and societal benefit of scientific research.

Can institutions afford to continue relying on traditional qualifications like degrees and brand-name affiliations as they navigate a host of new and increasingly complex challenges? Or, amid transformative changes in technology, politics, and philanthropic behavior, should they rethink the skills, competencies, and credentials they prioritize, look for, and develop in their workforces?

Higher education advancement leaders are grappling with this evolving landscape, one that demands new approaches to engagement, relationship-building, and revenue generation. As advancement teams respond by becoming more agile, strategic, and data-informed than ever before, we ask: are hiring practices keeping pace?

Through candid discussions, attendees will gain insights into how organizations are reassessing talent strategies—whether by redefining key competencies, making the case for nontraditional backgrounds, or upskilling their teams in new ways.

Whether you are actively hiring, thinking about professional development, or looking to sharpen your leadership skills, this session will provide actionable takeaways to help you build a team that thrives in the future of advancement.

Advancement services is the backbone of fundraising and engagement at our institutions – but it can be much more. Learn about two specific institutional examples of how advancement services led organizational change by becoming data-driven, enabling personalized approaches, and enhancing operational efficiencies all leading to better outcomes. Join us for an engaging discussion on how institutions can embrace the culture change stemming from AI-powered transformation and break free from outdated models. Whether you’re leading an advancement team or managing technology infrastructure, this session will provide actionable insights to ensure your institution is not just keeping up—but setting the pace.

In this dynamic session, we'll explore innovative strategies to boost engagement, create lasting connections, and build communities that drive change. We will discuss mindset shifts and practical opportunities to engage our communities of donors with a strong focus on strategic benefit to the institution and a through line to investment potential.