Here are NEAGC’s sessions for Monday, March 4th.
All times are Eastern.
9:30-11:30 a.m. – Pre-Conference Workshop
An Introduction to Annual Giving and the Northeast Annual Giving Conference with
Skylar Beaver, The Lawrenceville School
Danforth Room
(Free) Registration required – More details are here.
1:00-2:00 p.m. – Plenary Session
Conference Opening Welcome Session:
All The Sessions You Don’t Want To Miss… Welcome, Introductions and a Preview of the 2024 Conference
Skylar Beaver, Conference Chair and Bob Burdenski, Conference Director, with a welcome from Scott Mory, Vice President for University Advancement, Carnegie Mellon University
Rangos Ballroom
Well-known Crystal Apple teachers Skylar Beaver and Bob Burdenski and CMU Vice President launch the 21st-anniversary 2024 Northeast Annual Giving Conference with a festive anniversary welcome, some conference memories, and a rapid-fire rundown of their favorite annual giving conference sessions and speakers to follow. Join Skylar and Bob as they provide a preview of the great conference sessions to come, and hear a special welcome from our sponsors.
2:00-2:15 p.m. – Plenary Session
Presentation of the 2023 Diane Thompson Award
Rangos Ballroom
The Diane Thompson Award is an annual award presented to a senior annual giving professional who, in the opinion of the Northeast Annual Giving Conference Committee, has exhibited excellence in annual giving practice and commitment to the profession. First presented in 2015, the award is named after Diane Thompson, a founder of the Northeast Annual Giving Conference back in 2003.
2:15-3:15 p.m. – Plenary Session
Plenary Panel Discussion:
What Next For Annual Giving? The Chief Advancement Officer’s View
Colin Hennessey Ed.D, University of Iowa Center for Advancement, with Kristin Davitt, University of PIttsburgh, Chris Biehn, St. John Fisher University, Mario Hicks, Deamen University and Meghan Bollens, St. Edmund’s Academy
Rangos Ballroom
They lead advancement at their institutions – what’s their current perspective on annual giving? Is our work evolving from “participation” to “pipeline?” Is the “base of the pyramid” still important? Are there annual giving assumptions that have changed? And what’s stayed the same? Join a panel of chief advancement officers and hear their perspectives “from the top” about the continuing role of annual giving in institutional advancement.
3:15-3:45 p.m. – Break
3:45-4:45 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
Empowering the Next Generation:
Student Engagement and Philanthropy on Giving CMU Day
Julie Knight, Carnegie Mellon University
Rangos Ballroom
Now in it’s tenth year, Carnegie Mellon’s giving day, Giving CMU Day, has evolved to focus on engaging undergraduate and graduate students and finding new ways to connect them with alumni. Through initiatives that span five months of the academic year, CMU students are being educated about the impact of philanthropy through giving day-related activities and have opportunities to engage directly with donors around giving day. These efforts led to significant growth in student giving and student volunteering, with long-term impacts for young alumni giving.
A New High Score: How an Urban Research University Grew its Annual Giving Program
Molly McGarry, Kean University Foundation
Connan Room
Kean University Foundation saw a record-breaking FY23 by raising funds through donor participation, various new revenue streams, and a historic Founders Day (annual day of giving). With a new University President as of 2020, and an annual giving department of one, come learn about ways to increase awareness and revenue. Through this interactive lecture-led discussion, participants will have the opportunity to engage throughout the entire presentation by open-ended conversation and comprehensive visual slides. Upon completion, participants will be able to prioritize the needs and wants of their annual giving program and implement examples of stewardship, events, direct mail, phone, text and social components to grow their annual giving program.
Why Data is the 4-Letter Word Savvy Fundraisers Swear By
Lauren Milione, GiveCampus
Danforth Room
To fully flex your fundraising muscle you need buy-in from both the annual giving and advancement services sides of the house. How do you achieve the alignment necessary to drive meaningful results? The devil is in the data. GiveCampus analyzed aggregate data from 4,532 campaigns and 4,973 giving forms to identify what’s moving the proverbial needle in fundraising and what’s not. Find out from fellow fundraisers how they’re leveraging that data to drive decisions at key stages of the philanthropic lifecycle, and how they got everybody—including advancement services—to back their biggest bets.
Upon completion, participants will understand how to:
✔ Maximize the results of their own fundraising efforts based on aggregate data;
✔ Convince key stakeholders at their institution to take a chance on change;
✔ Get more creative and launch bold initiatives that drive better outcomes
4:45-5:30 p.m. – Break
5:30-7:00 p.m. – Networking Reception at the University of Pittsburgh
NEAGC Welcome Networking Reception
Lower Lounge, William Pitt Union
University of Pittsburgh
Sponsored by MCR with a welcome from Kris Davitt, Senior Vice Chancellor for Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement, University of Pittsburgh
