All times are Central Time.
Wednesday morning sessions will be at the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium directly across State Street (400 S. State) from the DePaul Conference Center building on the lower level of the Harold Washington Chicago Library building.
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Opening Plenary Session:
Be Mindful: All The Sessions You Don’t Want To Miss…
Welcome, Introductions and Conference Highlights
Bob Burdenski and John Taylor, Conference co-Chairs
Once-well-known Crystal Apple teachers, CASE authors, listserv moderators, and fundraising curmudgeons Bob Burdenski and John Taylor will launch the 2023 Midwest “Meeting of the Minds” Conference with a festive welcome and a rapid-fire rundown of their favorite advancement services and annual giving conference sessions and speakers to follow. Often in sync, lovingly in conflict, and always working in support of philanthropic goals, annual giving and advancement services offices play a critical role in advancement success. Join Bob and John as they provide a preview of the great conference sessions to come.
9:45-10:45 a.m.
Plenary Session:
Life After US News: What Next for Alumni Participation?
Liz Sullivan, Northwestern University, John Templeman, Cleveland State University, Ray Watts Claremont McKenna College, Erin Allen, University of Missouri
The US News and World Report Best Colleges and Universities Rankings has eliminated annual alumni giving percentage as a metric in its ratings formula. What does this mean for the importance of annual alumni giving? Is a “broad base of support” still our goal? Will alumni giving participation still be an institutional point of pride? Join a panel from a range of institutions for an opening discussion about alumni participation as a goal in the wake of the USNWR decision.
10:45-11:00 a.m. – Break
11:00-Noon
Opening Plenary Session:
Advancement Services Strategies:
A Reference Guide for Advancement Professionals – LIVE!
John Taylor and Chapter Contributors: Lynne Wester, Elisa Shoenberger, Ann Kaplan, Gail Ferris, Jon Thorsen, Kirsten Reppert, Eric Valdescaro, and Maureen Procopio
CASE has just released the 4th edition of its classic resource Advancement Services Strategies: A Reference Guide for Advancement Professionals, edited (as always) by our very own John Taylor. John will convene a live hybrid discussion with many of the contributing authors from the book, highlighting some of the important elements from the new 4th edition, and some takeaways that have stood the test of time.
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on Your Own
(All other conference sessions will be at the DePaul University 8th floor Conference Center – 1 East Jackson St.)