All sessions are Central Time. All Thursday and Friday sessions are at the DePaul Conference Center, 8th Floor, 1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Continental breakfast with beverages and bakery items will be available beginning at 8:00 a.m.
9:00-10:15 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
All About the Pipeline: A Leadership Annual Giving Forum, Part 1
Ann Fisher, Michigan Medicine, Teresa Sutter, Art Institute of Chicago,
Kelly Brault and Jamie Sablotny, Oakland U.
Room 8005
Part one of a two-part morning session all about leadership annual giving programs, with particular emphasis on membership organization pipelines, grateful patient and medical school pipelines, and face-to-face fundraising strategies.
Giving Days, Part 1:
Multiple Giving Days, Giving Tuesday, Faculty and Staff Success,
and The Day of the Badger
Paige Gustafson, Albion College and Nicole Weir, Wisconsin Alumni Association and Foundation
Room 8204
Part one of a two-part morning session all about giving days. Paige will share the success story of Albion College’s giving day, including the use of three giving days throughout the year (Giving Tuesday, Founders Day, and an athletics giving day), Albion’s strong faculty and staff giving day fundraising, and their use of a custom-designed giving day platform. Nicole will provide an overview of Wisconsin’s Day of the Badger giving day, which raised $1.7 million in 1848 minutes. (And all other giving day discussion topics are welcome.)
Small Shop Hacks and Automation Tools Anybody Can Use (and Afford!)
Torey Calvert, Archdiocese of Chicago, Andrew Gutierrez, Cleveland Clinic and Tracy Rush, Otterbein University
Room 8206
This practical and engaging session will explore a treasure trove of budget-friendly hacks and easy-to-use automation tools designed specifically for small fundraising shops. Whether you’re a team of one or just wearing too many hats, you’ll discover creative ways to streamline operations, manage donor data, and boost productivity without breaking the bank. From time-saving email workflows to data cleanup tricks, we’ll focus on solutions that require minimal technical know-how yet deliver maximum impact. You’ll leave this session with a toolkit of accessible technologies—many of them free or low-cost—that can help you automate repetitive tasks, improve data accuracy, and create space for more strategic work. If you’re ready to work smarter, not harder, this session is for you!
Donor Journeys : Green Lights, Cross Roads and Stop Signs
Rachel Spencer, VanillaSoft
Room 8002
An understanding of where a given prospect sits on their individual journey of awareness, interest and desire to take action, should be at the core of our outbound engagement strategies; as well as the way we think about sustainable pipeline development. From the Engagement Center, to DXO and Leadership Gift programs, we need to pay close attention to the various signs and signals of “readiness to progress” (or – perhaps – a lack thereof!!!) So, what signs should we look out for? And what should we do when we encounter them?!!
Using Gift Assessment Fees to Support a Campaign & Offset Budget Reductions
John Taylor, John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
Room 8009
Your budgets are being frozen (or reduced), yet the Boss wants to launch a campaign next fiscal year. After an internal campaign readiness assessment, you have determined the likely need for increased staff, improved technology, and expanded stewardship and marketing efforts. However, money does not grow on trees. This overview will outline various Advancement funding models analyzed over the past three decades that might bridge the growing gap and discuss their pros and cons.
10:30-11:45 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
All About the Pipeline: A Leadership Annual Giving Forum, Part Two
Hilda Rivera, Wheaton College, Meredith Howell, UChicago Medicine, Kayleen Berwick, U of Wisconsin
Room 8005
Part two of a two-part morning session all about leadership annual giving programs, with particular emphasis on alumni, class and reunion leadership giving strategies and leadership giving societies.
Giving Days, Part 2:
Working with Volunteers, Affinity Challenges and the “Mature” Giving Day
Emily Vetne, Wabash College
Room 8204
Part one of a two-part morning session all about giving days, with particular emphasis on Wabash College’s work with volunteers and affinity challenges. All giving day discussion topics are welcome.
Getting (it) Out of Your System: Lessons Learned in Systems Selection
Christina Pulawski, Zuri Group
Room 8206
With technology ecosystems becoming more complex, it’s important to have the right ingredients in place – and it seems every day, there’s a new tool introduced in the marketplace. You could be selecting or replacing the CRM at the core, doing a “bake-off” between two possible communications tools to integrate, or branching out into a whole new line of business: there is no “best” tool in any category, it’s what’s “best for you,” considering your needs, culture and users. In this session, we’ll share the elements of a disciplined approach and how they’ve been applied at different organizations.
Why is AI All Up In Your Business?
Felicity Meu, GiveCampus
Room 8002
AI is everywhere, in every industry, and it’s actually been a part of our daily lives for years. Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Face ID, Netflix’s movie recommendations, and Gmail’s spam filter all use AI to–at least in theory–make our lives easier and better. But what does it mean for you as an advancement professional? After all, cultivating an authentic, personal relationship is key to getting someone to give, so how exactly can AI help? Discover how to leverage this emerging technology while preserving and enhancing the most important aspect of the work you do—meaningful human-to-human engagement.
In this session, participants will learn:
● Why advancement teams should care about Artificial Intelligence
● The opportunities and challenges of this technology in the fundraising space
● Practical ways to start leveraging AI in order to reclaim your most precious resource—time.
Join Felicity as she discusses the opportunities and challenges posed by AI and how to effectively leverage this powerful tool today.
5 NIU Playbook Moves for Cross-Team Donor Engagement
Jake Shechtman, EverTrue, Meghan Miller and Lauren Cunningham Northern Illinois University
Room 8009
In this session, Northern Illinois University will share five ways their advancement teams are working together to deliver more personal and effective donor engagement. From coordinated stewardship efforts and shared video messaging to aligned outreach across annual giving, alumni relations, and major gifts, NIU is breaking down internal silos to better serve their donors. Attendees will walk away with practical ideas for improving collaboration, streamlining communications, and building stronger donor relationships – without adding extra work.
11:45-1:15 p.m. – Lunch on Your Own
1:15-2:30 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
The Annual Giving Lessons I Learned When I Left Education and Joined a Not-For-Profit
John Grice, Obama Foundation
Room 8005
Three years ago, John Grice remembers reading for the first time: “At the Obama Foundation, the core belief is that ordinary people working together can create positive change.” Encouraged to take a leap full of hope and change, he took a (maybe?) sabbatical from higher education fundraising to launch a broad-reaching grassroots fundraising program for The Obama Foundation. At first, he just had a few mail pieces out in the wild. Now his calendar is full of tentpole digital campaigns, a robust direct mail strategy, enthusiastic door canvassers, dope direct-to-camera digital ads, and more. Three years after he spoke at MOTM in his role at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, what’s he learned from his not-for-profit journey, and what advice does he have for his old annual giving friends in education fundraising?
Celebrating and Promoting Donor Loyalty: The NU Loyal Program
Cori Myers, Northwestern University
Room 8204
NU Loyal is a giving society that recognizes the thousands of alumni, parents, and friends of Northwestern University who make a gift of any size every fiscal year. Membership in NU Loyal begins once you make your third consecutive annual gift and is maintained through ongoing annual philanthropic support. Hear from Cori how Northwestern is using NU Loyal and other donor appreciation and motivation strategies to strengthen donor retention and build donor relationships.
Records Management – A Panel Discussion
John Taylor with Dania Calandrino, Art Institute of Chicago, Brandi Hovisi, UIC and Pete Kotowski, U. of Denver
Room 8206
Please join our group of industry experts who are prepared to discuss your records management concerns and conundrums! We will encourage audience participation as you are the experts, too! We will come prepared to discuss topics including data governance, deceasing best practices, common data entry errors, when – and when not – to create a spousal/partner record, matching gift company management, daily and weekly data integrity edits, and whether you really need to create a new record when you receive a gift from an existing donor’s estate. While we will be happy to discuss these topics with you, we also want to review what is most important to you! We will add your suggestions to our list at the session’s opening.
Email Fundraising, Communications and Digital Analytics Bootcamp
Beth Hatcher, Beth Interactive
Room 8002
How can you take your email communications to the next level? This interactive workshop is all about email fundraising and engagement best practices—and how to leverage post-campaign data to drive greater giving. We’ll walk through fundamental email marketing best practices, advanced analytics and A/B testing, as well as navigating the impact of AI and machine opens/clicks on email. We’ll also present case studies on how emails can drive a donor pipeline, target engaged prospects, and build major and planned giving portfolios. Finally, we’ll provide practical tools like an email send checklist and library of samples, so you can begin implementing new ideas right away. Participants can even get live feedback on their email campaigns—with guidance on copy, design and fundraising strategy—by sending their email samples to us in advance! Join us for this instructive bootcamp and walk away full of actionable, practical next steps to see real results with your next email campaign.
AI and Development: A Peek at the Future of Fundraising and Alumni Engagement
Alyssa Sulinski, BrightCrowd
Room 8009
While AI is an emerging tool for alumni relations teams, its effectiveness depends on the depth and quality of the data it processes. Explore how institutions can modernize data strategies and leverage AI-powered solutions to create personalized, impactful engagement.
2:45-3:45 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
Like, Share, Give: A Social Media Playbook for Annual Giving
Anna Davis, Grand Valley State University
Room 8005
Discover how to amplify your annual giving efforts through the power of social media. Anna Davis, Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Digital Strategy at Grand Valley State University, will share proven strategies to engage donors, boost visibility, and drive donations using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Learn practical tips for creating compelling content, leveraging paid digital campaigns, and measuring success effectively. Whether you’re new to social media fundraising or looking to refine your approach, this session equips you with actionable insights to enhance your organization’s outreach and impact.
Digital Engagement Centers 2.0: The Successful Sequel
Alexis Allen, University of Louisville
Room 8204
Discover how the University of Louisville transformed its traditional phonathon into a dynamic Digital Engagement Center! In this session, you’ll hear about the journey from ending an outdated calling program to building an innovative, in-house model that combines phone calls, texting, and personalized video outreach, all on a tight budget with a small two-man team. You’ll learn how we achieved our first positive ROI in years, empowered student callers as true ambassadors, and created an omni-channel strategy that is setting the stage for even greater success. Join us to explore where we started, where we are now, and where we’re headed next.
Integrating New Constituency Groups Into Your Already-Crowded Prospect Pool
John McBride, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Room 8206
At SAIC, they’re constantly bringing in new prospects—whether it’s from taking on fundraising for new areas like an on-campus theater or adding new parents each year. This session will walk through how to fold these new sources into your existing workflow. Are they major gift prospects? Annual giving? How do you know, and how do you manage them without dropping the ball on your current work? We’ll talk about why it’s essential to have an overarching goal for new prospects, a clear plan, and a guiding philosophy—so you’re not just reacting, but integrating them with purpose. You’ll leave with practical ways to qualify, prioritize, and keep everything moving without burning out your team—or your database.
Increasing ROI Through Data Modeling, Direct Mail, & Digital Marketing
Ryan Talbert & Allison Shore, Excalibur Direct Marketing
Room 8002
This interactive discussion will focus on developing a deeper understanding of your data to help impact your annual giving campaigns. It will include a review of the benefits of data modeling, and how to directly target your most likely donor matches from your current lists.
Let’s Dance! Inside the University of Louisville’s raiseRED Dance Marathon
Amanda James, University of Louisville
Room 8009
RaiseRED is the University of Louisville’s largest student-run philanthropic organization, and its efforts benefit the Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and the UofL School of Medicine. Every February, raiseRED hosts a nationally recognized 18-hour dance marathon that celebrates the children & families it supports. With hundreds of students involved each year, it aims to be a dynamic, inclusive, and impactful entity. It has raised over $5 million for research and patient needs over the past eleven years. Come and hear the story of raiseRED.
4:00-5:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
Annual Giving Stewardship: Delivering Annual Giving Affection At Scale
Nicole Weir, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association
Room 8005
Annual giving “appreciation” used to mean a prompt thank you letter and “see-you-next-year” strategy. But giving data has confirmed the importance of retaining the donors you already have, and our multi-channel world has opened new cost-effective methods of showing appreciation and giving donors hugs throughout the year. Nicole will host a discussion about how institutions are successfully turning high-volume gift transactions into philanthropic relationships – without exhausting the team and breaking the budget.
An Ethics in Advancement Forum – When “Yes or No” Isn’t So Simple
Ric Stewart and Bob Burdenski
Room 8204
Fundraisers can often find themselves in tricky (and murky) situations. What if a casino business wants to support your organization? What if a donor wants an explanation of your “prospect research?” What if a prospect in your portfolio takes a little too much of a liking to you? Or picks up your dinner check? Or leaves you something in their will, but not your institution? What about the fundraiser who switches organizations, and takes donors with them? Or what about those frequent flier miles you collect from your business trips? Join a discussion about the many ethical considerations in our work, and some (usually) effective ways to manage the murky in fundraising ethics.
How Students Took Over Our Giving Campaign (in the Best Way)
Katrina Begrow, Grand Valley State University
Room 8206
Annual Giving often talks about student impact, but what if students were the ones telling that story themselves? This session dives into how GVSU’s Student Philanthropy Week empowers student organizations to take control of their own fundraising narratives. From pitch to promotion, students lead the charge all while Annual Giving staff provide tools, guidance, and matching incentives. The result? Authentic engagement, increased participation, and a more inclusive culture of giving across campus. If you’re looking to strengthen the student-to-donor pipeline and build a campus culture of generosity, this one’s for you.
Innovative Practices in Prospect Research & Management
Andrew Gutierrez, Cleveland Clinic and Peter Kotowski, University of Denver
Room 8002
In this session, we’ll explore creative and cost-effective approaches to prospect research and prospect management tailored specifically for smaller fundraising shops. With limited staff, budgets, and tools, smaller organizations often face unique challenges in identifying, tracking, and prioritizing potential donors. This presentation will share practical solutions—including free and low-cost research tools, efficient database strategies, and streamlined workflows—that can help teams maximize their impact without overextending their resources. Whether you’re a team of one or part of a small advancement office, this session will provide you with strategies to level up your prospecting game.
Class and Reunion Fundraising
Ally Campbell, WashU Medicine
Room 8009
This session will explore how Washington University School of Medicine leverages milestone reunions as strategic opportunities to engage alumni and inspire philanthropic support. Attendees will learn how we structure reunion campaigns to foster personal connection, celebrate shared legacy, and elevate giving outcomes. The presentation will highlight key elements such as volunteer engagement, personalized communications, multi-channel solicitation calendars, and campaign branding. Using data from recent reunion cycles, we’ll discuss lessons learned, successful strategies for participation and leadership giving, and how we align reunion giving with broader advancement goals. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to refresh or enhance their own reunion programs, whether working with medical alumni or other specialized constituencies.