Transformational Gifts 2026
Join peers and experts in the field in to better understand what makes the cultivation and solicitation of a transformational gift unique and how to best partner with campus colleagues and inspired donors to realize these impactful gifts.
Learning Objectives
- Define a transformational gift in the context of your institution, including how it differs from a principal or major gift.
- Create a transformational gift plan proposal based on case studies from real donor profiles.
- Describe how transformational gifts factor into campaign planning.
- Identify key institutional partners within your own advancement team and across your campus that are necessary to facilitate a transformational gift opportunity from proposal to implementation.
- Engage institutional leadership in the cultivation and solicitation of transformational gifts.
- Develop stewardship strategies to support and engage transformational gift donors.
Who Should Attend
- Vice presidents and chief development officers
- Principal gift officers
- Philanthropic advisers
- Gift planning officers
- Estate planners
- Presidents
- Heads of School
- Deans and academic leaders
- Trustees
See what your colleagues are saying about Transformational Gifts:
Armin Afsahi
An accomplished and respected advancement leader with nearly 30 years of experience, Armin Afsahi began serving as Vice President for Advancement at The University of Chicago in April 2023. In this role, he leads the University’s strategy, direction, and organization for development, alumni relations, and campaign planning. He works closely with UChicago’s president, provost, deans, officers, and board of trustees to advance the University’s mission through the intellectual, social, professional, and philanthropic engagement of the University community.
Afsahi brings a wide range of expertise in institutional advancement, strategic management, business development, leadership, and operations. Prior to joining UChicago, he held senior roles in advancement at multiple universities including the University of Denver, UC San Diego, Georgetown University, and Harvard University, respectively. He is a member of the board of directors for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), serving on the Leadership and Governance and Finance and Investment commitees. He is a recipient of of the CASE Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence.
Afsahi holds a BA in communications from UC San Diego and an MBA from the University of San Diego.
