Student experiences across campuses differ greatly, but almost all can relate to being in a student organization, whether that's an improv group or the chess club. Clubs can be a second home for students, but what organizations hope to achieve and the funds they receive is usually a large gap. Seeing the gap, the George Washington University Annual Giving Team executed a Student Organization Giving Challenge in 2023, raising $17,000, and then again in 2024, raising over $179,000, increasing giving by 10 fold. Additionally, this campaign attracted 254 new donors and reengaged 226 lapsed donors. In this interactive session, attendees will learn about the efforts taken by the team, including planning, strategy, gamification, strategic partnerships, and harnessing digital platforms to engage students and begin their philanthropic journey.

This session will provide an overview of the different ways in which the Georgia Tech Alumni Association is engaging new alumni, a population we define as those who graduated within the last 10 years. Learn about four proven programs and communication initiatives to engage your new alumni populations and consider using strategic frameworks, including Georgia Tech’s New Alumni Framework, and alumni-led working groups, like GOLD Advisory Council, to guide your work. By sharing our thought processes and successes, we aim to inspire and share best practices with other institutions.

Reporting metrics, committee formation, peer-to-peer fundraising, days of giving, senior class gift, underclassman solicitations, philanthropic education…where does one start in building and growing a student philanthropy program? Join this roundtable discussion to learn how different institutions are shaping their student solicitation programs, how to pull which metrics to track success, and how to steward these donors to encourage giving year after year - and share any success stories from your campus as well!

Do you have a young alumni group and are looking for fresh ideas or do you want to start a young alumni group and need ideas? Join this facilitated roundtable session for sharing ideas and discussing strategies for engaging recent graduates. We will start with sharing strategies and successful programs and then will facilitate time for sharing in small groups across the room.

This presentation will walk you through a vision and strategy for creating a culture of philanthropy on campus as will discuss how higher education’s current context requires institutions to invest in student philanthropy programs. Dr. Alonso will share his research on the use of student engagement and cocurricular student philanthropy education as an approach to awareness raising and as a mechanism for creating a culture of philanthropy among college students.

Join us as we explore the world of Gen Z college students and young alumni, digital natives born between 1995 and 2012. These tech-savvy individuals are navigating "emerging adulthood," a phase where they are no longer adolescents but not quite adults. We'll delve into Arnett's concept of identity exploration, instability, self-sufficiency, and endless possibilities. Additionally, we'll examine Schlossberg’s Transition Theory to understand how Gen Z seniors prepare to graduate and enter the "real world." By understanding the 4 S’s of Transition—Situation, Self, Support, and Strategies—we can create innovative support for seniors and young alumni. This session will highlight how thoughtful support during this transition impacts their perception of the value of their college education. Let's learn, appreciate, and support our Gen Zers on their exciting journey!

The faculty will answer your lingering and last questions in a closing panel. They will summarize the conference learnings sharing the top tips and motivating moments from the last three days.