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Dodging the Dangers of ‘Fantasy Fundraising’: Your Roadmap to Navigating Its Hazards
Adam Fox, Associate Director, Research & Analytics, Operations, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto

From Theory to Practice: Strategies for Maximizing ROI in Major Gift Fundraising: The presentation will offer actionable steps for moving from aspirational ‘fantasy fundraising’ to an evidence-based, data-driven approach. Participants will walk away with strategies for refining their prospect base and maintaining a focus on realistic and sustainable fundraising goals.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognizing and Avoiding the Pitfalls of ‘Fantasy Fundraising’: Participants will learn to identify signs of unrealistic expectations in major gift prospect portfolios, such as relying on improbable ‘miracle donors,’ and understand the risks involved, from missing short-term goals to negatively affecting organizational reputation.
2. Data-Driven Decision Making for Realistic Goal Setting: Attendees will be introduced to the concept of Total Addressable Market (TAM) in the context of major gift fundraising. They will learn how to quantify potential donor markets through surveys, data, and other evaluative tools, ensuring resources are focused on achievable targets.
3. From Theory to Practice: Strategies for Maximizing ROI in Major Gift Fundraising: The presentation will offer actionable steps for moving from aspirational ‘fantasy fundraising’ to an evidence-based, data-driven approach. Participants will walk away with strategies for refining their prospect base and maintaining a focus on realistic and sustainable fundraising goals.

The Italian Job: A case study in strategic international content creation
Sara Laux, Manager of Communications, Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University
Colin Czerneda, Digital Media Specialist, Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University

Picture it: Italy, June 2023. A two-person content team from McMaster University arrives in the country to document two archaeological digs, two McMaster Greek and Roman Studies professors and their students, and a team of collaborators from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. The goal? A multimedia content package that can be used across a variety of platforms and to support a wide range of institutional priorities. How did they do it? WHY did they do it? Can you do it, too? Come and find out.

Learning Objectives

1. To share strategic reasons (reputation development, fundraising opportunities, student recruitment) for investing in integrated international content
2. To share applicable best practices, lessons learned and key results from one international content project
3. To provide inspiration for future projects by highlighting the range of content that can be produced

Digital Accessibility: It’s actually the law!
Alison Abel, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary
Samantha Paterson, Senior Manager, Communications Services, Office of Advancement, University of Calgary

It’s estimated that almost 22% of Canada’s population has some sort of disability (https://easterseals.ca/en/disability-in-canada-facts-figures/). These disabilities aren’t always obvious, and can include seeing, hearing, mobility, flexibility, dexterity disabilities. How do these disabilities affect the way audiences interact with our digital content? This presentation will reinforce the importance of digital accessibility, how to make content more accessible and inclusive (alt-text, camel case, closed captions, just to name a few), to help you reach your organization’s equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) goals. Participants will have the opportunity to practice some of the techniques discussed in the session.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn about the importance of digital accessibility
2. Learn how to implement digital accessibility practices into your work

Prospecting and Agile Project Management: A new approach to address Prospect Research and Pipeline Management
Ali Mikaeili, Prospect Research and Pipeline Specialist, Bow Valley College

This session introduces a new approach to prospecting by leveraging the similarities between prospect research, pipeline management, and Agile Project management. By embracing iterative methodologies and data-driven decision-making, prospect researchers and pipeline managers can continuously refine their strategies to identify potential opportunities and optimize outcomes. By adopting Agile principles, prospecting gains flexibility and adaptability, allowing for swift adjustments in fundraising and business development efforts. The fusion of these practices promotes a proactive and collaborative prospecting approach, enabling professionals to streamline processes, leverage emerging trends, and achieve greater success in identifying and nurturing leads or donors. This innovative approach promises to modify and update prospecting strategies across various industries, particularly in education and non-profit businesses.

Learning Objectives

1. To demonstrate the intersection of prospect research, pipeline management, and Agile Project management, highlighting the potential benefits and synergies of integrating these approaches.
2. To provide practical and actionable strategies for improving fundraising, business development, and project management practices through the application of Agile principles and methodologies.
3. To promote a collaborative prospecting approach, allowing them to streamline processes, and achieve greater success in identifying and nurturing leads or donors.

When good gift plans go bad…
Holly Greatrex, Director Personal and Planned Giving, Carleton University

As a skilled gift planner, you have the ability to recommend different types of giving vehicles for each donor you work with. Customizing a gift plan to support your donor’s financial needs and philanthropic goals is important. But what happens when ‘good gift plans go bad”? In this session participants will learn about common pitfalls, warning signs and administration problems that can disrupt the gift planning process. The gift planning tools available to fundraisers and allied professionals are becoming more complex and harder to navigate. Learn how to create good gift plans for current and deferred charitable gifts.

Learning Objectives

1. Administration problems that can disrupt the gift planning process
2. Common pitfalls- things to avoid- red flags in the planning process
3. Learn what makes a good gift plan

Pathway to an Indigenous Alumni Engagement Program
Trina Harrison, Program Lead, Indigenous Community & Partner Engagement, Alumni Relations /External Relations, University of Alberta
Coleen Graham, Manager Alumni Partnerships, University of Alberta

Trina Harrison, Indigenous Alumni Program Lead and Coleen Graham, Manager Alumni Partnerships will describe the multi-year journey to develop an Indigenous Alumni Engagement program at the University of Alberta. The path to creating program support, aligning to the Institutional Indigenous Strategic Plan, involving Indigenous alumni in leadership roles (through collectives and sharing circles), creating educational programming, celebrating Indigenous alumni successes and establishing networks of community involvement will be explored. Session participants will also have an opportunity to share in circle their hopes for engagement work with First Nations, Metis and Inuit alumni to support truth and understanding.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss the groundwork involved to build support for an Indigenous Alumni Engagement Program (i.e. considering institutional alignment, securing Alumni Council commitment, and ensuring involvement of the Indigenous community).
2. Learn about the role of collectives, sharing circles, and Indigenous Community networks to support program goals and our discoveries.
3. Consider alumni engagement program ideas (e.g. celebrating success through storytelling and awards, employment transition, community building, land-based learning, and professional networks).

The Quest for Lost Alumni – Exploring the Viability of Acquisition and Recapture Initiatives
Steve Kennedy, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, alumni UBC, University of British Columbia.

While alumni UBC has been successful in reaching or exceeding its annual engagement goals for the past five years, it is becoming increasingly challenging to do so. The only way to achieve our objective to double engagement by the end of the decade and meet our 2024 annual goal of engaging more than 100,000 (about 25% of all alumni) is to either find lost alumni who have never engaged before or re-engage lapsed alumni. This presentation will cover the research, strategy and tactics undertaken in the last year for these efforts and the results to date.

Learning Objectives

1. Identifying the different types of alumni that have failed to ever engage or haven’t engaged in the last three years
2. Creating a strategy for contact and engagement
3. Executing the plan and evaluating the results

Telling the story of Saint Mary’s University – STC-SMU Brand Strategy Presentation
Marsh Thornley, VP Client Service, STC Storytellers
Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Vice-President, Advancement & External Affairs, Saint Mary’s University

It’s no small task to undertake a new brand initiative for a university. Your university – whether you’re a student, staff, faculty or alumni – is your university. What’s more, brand relates to reputation, location, programs and offerings. A successful brand is authentic (that’s my university) as well as aspirational and contain an envisioned future (I want to be there, I should consider this university) appealing to potential students and faculty and aligning with institutional plans, vision and values. In short… it’s a lot! So… how did we do it for Saint Mary’s University? This is your chance to find out.

Learning Objectives

1. Gain a deeper understanding of post-secondary branding and positioning projects – challenges and opportunities.
2. Hear how deep campus engagement and consultation built strong support for a new visual identity, including a new logo.
3. Learn new ways to connect your brand to current and future university plans and initiatives (brand is so much more than your logo). 

Breaking Down Silos: Advancement Services, Alumni Relations, Development & Communications – Bridging the Gap to Maximize Outcomes
Lori Shockey, Executive Director, Operations and Services, University of Saskatchewan
Jane Potentier, Associate Vice-President, Alumni and Development, University of Victoria

With a unique vantage point of experience in Advancement Services, Alumni Relations, Development Office and Communications, our goal is to have an open and honest discussion on how to break down silos that tend to naturally form relating to prospect management, alumni engagement and data integrity and enhancement and storytelling. Our goal is for you to walk away from this session with actionable tactics to help bridge the information and process gap that will ultimately further your engagement opportunities; build on your fund-raising success and strengthen your information infrastructure by becoming true “Partners in Information”.

Learning Objectives

1. Facilitate discussion based on participant’s challenges to actively address how to best to align the strategic outcomes of the departments of Advancement Services, Alumni Relations, Development and Communications.        
2. Identify opportunities and tactics on how to align alumni engagement initiatives, fund-raising strategies and improving your organizational memory.
3. Provide an overview on how by working together you can improve the overall success of your programs and strengthen your data integrity.

The Opportunity & Conundrum of Donor-advised funds (DAFs) – How to Work with this Emerging group of Engaged Donors
Celeste Bannon Waterman, Partner, KCI Philanthropy
Rory Green, Director, Gift & Estate Planning, Simon Fraser University

The rise of Donor-advised funds in recent years has been undeniable, but data and practical advice for fundraisers and others seeking to maximize their potential has not kept up. University and college fundraisers in particular need to be prepared to work with donors who may be considering alternatives to a traditional endowment model. In this workshop segment Celeste and Rory will give an overview of the latest DAF research conducted by KCI and CAGP, followed by a chance for participants to dig into specific scenarios to learn how can enhance their practices and materials to attract and retain these highly motivated donors.

Learning Objectives

1. Sharing current research on scope and scale of Donor Advised Funds in Canada
2. Helping fundraisers understand motivations and interests of donors using DAFs
3. Reviewing current donor communication samples to identify areas for enhancement

Lessons from the garden: an annual giving appeal case study 
Stephanie Clay, Senior Advancement Specialist, Annual Giving, Royal Roads University
Carla Girvin, Senior Marketing Specialist, Royal Roads University

Over the course of three years, Royal Roads University (RRU) launched and grew a new community giving appeal in support of its gardens and grounds, raising over $1.2M from 500+ newly acquired donors. But the impacts were far greater than just dollars raised. Join us as we share lessons learned from our Vision in Bloom appeal and speak to its successes as a result of collaboration, communication and relationship-building. Taking an iterative approach, the appeal grew alongside our interdepartmental project team, yielding strong partnerships, significant philanthropic support and increasing community impact.

Learning Objectives

1. Consider how your annual giving appeal can grow beyond dollars raised through partnerships 
2. Discover lessons learned from an iterative approach
3. Learn how effective interdepartmental collaboration can yield greater outcomes

Two-Spiritedness, Place, and Space 
Amanda Fraser (she/her/they), student, Indigenized PhD in Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University

This presentation focuses on Indigenous understandings of Two-Spiritedness. Colonialism has marginalized and oppressed Two-Spirit people. The literature reveals that Eurocentrism has perpetuated negative narratives, stereotypes, and health impacts on Indigenous people. Colonial disruption of Indigenous ways of seeing, knowing, being, and doing has created a need for creating safe and inclusive spaces across educational institutions and Turtle Island (North America). Nêhiyaw (Cree) Two-Spirit scholar, Amanda Fraser will bring in their personal and professional knowledge of Two-Spiritedness and indigeneity while discussing contemporary topics of agency, cultural safety, and allyship.

Learning Objectives

1. To uplift Indigenous voices and knowledge of Two-Spirit people.
2. To raise awareness of Two-Spirit place and space in educational institutions.
3. To understand the significance of agency, cultural safety, and allyship.

Sexualized Violence in Philanthropy – How did we get here and how do we fix it? 
Sarah MacDonald, Senior Director of Development, Dalhousie University
Venna Penney, Project Officer, Annual Giving, Dalhousie University
Lyndsay Anderson, Advisor, Sexualized Violence, Dalhousie University

Sexualized violence is a reality in fundraising and philanthropy. Recent data from nation-wide studies supported by AFP show that up to 80% of fundraisers experience sexualized violence on the job. Dalhousie University’s Office of Advancement began approaching this issue over two years ago, and with significant support across campus and from external experts, subsequently developed eight recommendations provided to their leadership team that were approved and have begun to be enacted. Follow our story and learn about what we’ve been able to achieve within the past few years to support our staff and change the narrative on this topic.

Learning Objectives

1. Sharing a case study from “real life” – including successes and failures on the road to building safe and inviting workspaces when it comes to sexualized violence prevention and response
2. Providing tangible examples of work that can be done to move towards a safe working environment
3. Creating an open dialogue about this topic in philanthropy, specifically in publicly funded institutions across the country.

Learning Objectives

1. Pragmatic tips for each aspect of the donor cycle, from planning to engagement to active fundraising to stewardship.
2. Ideas for leaders to scale fundraising processes for organizations of all sizes.
3. Human resources—practical management suggestions for hiring and retention of fundraisers.

Learning Objectives

1. Share the process through which we secured the gift;
2. Outline the steps involved in working with the donor and 5 Presidents and Deans to create the program;
3. Discover challenges and opportunities of uniting 5 Universities in achieving a donor’s vision.

Based on 2022 research, this session will disseminate current and evolving best practices in donor stewardship in Canada. Organizations will be able to obtain a comprehensive guide to good practices for managing donor stewardship programs and draw inspiration from the strategies being deployed in the Canadian philanthropic sector

Learning Objectives:

1. Share the strategies used to ensure the success of donor stewardship programs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Identify the challenges faced by stewardship programs and what hasn’t worked.
3. Highlight the most effective strategies and approaches by sector of activity.

‘Til death do us part: Marrying alumni engagement with gift planning 
Gabriela Rappell, Canada Officer, Strategic Engagement, Queen’s University
Carmen Vanderlinde, Director, Gift Planning, Queen’s University

As all Advancement professionals know, building a pipeline is the key to long-term fundraising success. While traditional alumni engagement efforts have focused on “friend-raising,” the modern Advancement shop needs to do more. Collaboration between alumni engagement and gift planning professionals provides a significant opportunity to identify prospects, build relationships, and inspire bequests in new, engaging, and seamless ways. This presentation will focus on examples from real-world collaborations between the Alumni Relations and Gift Planning teams at Queen’s University to demonstrate the benefits to both shops and inspire new ideas and approaches for your school.

Learning Objectives:

1. Help participants identify opportunities for partnership between alumni engagement and planned giving and demonstrate the benefit and impact of those collaborations within their organizations.
2. Share examples of a successful partnership between units at Queen’s University, including highlights from the Bagels and Bequests event series and the CASE award-winning virtual event, Estate Planning as an Act of Love.
3. Provide a roadmap to implementing simple, low-cost, and high-impact, collaborative events in resource-limited environments.

Enabling EDI
Cynthia Foo, Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives, York University

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives have been generally understood to embody best practices in an organization: they help foster an environment of productivity and collegiality for everyone. However, what is less understood is the importance of organizational leadership and the manner in which organizational structures can inadvertently contribute to biases. Attend this session to understand how allyship, and the understanding that EDI affects everyone–helps disrupt existing biases while paving the way for inclusion, everywhere.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop a shared understanding of EDI and how it affects business practices including recruitment, talent retention as well as performance metrics
2. Understand the organizational structures which support EDI and how they can be put in place
3. Understand the importance of allyship and anti-bias behaviours and training

Crafting Magic: The Birth of the Donor Affinity Model through the Amazing Synergy between Advancement Services and Annual Giving
Nigel Henriques, Director, Systems, University of Waterloo
Jennifer Murray, Senior Development Officer, Annual Giving, University of Waterloo

We had a problem. The Waterloo Annual Giving team would spend over two weeks grappling with the laborious task of reviewing, massaging, and manipulating raw data from our Systems team to segment their lists based on a donor’s “Last Gift”. This process was not only tedious and manual but also prone to errors. There had to be a better way!  Not only was the process challenging but what if “Last Gift” wasn’t the goal, but “Greatest Affinity” was?

We found a solution: In tackling our challenge, we engaged the expertise of our Advancement Services Systems Team. Through collaborative brainstorming and their specialized knowledge, a touch of “magic” ensued. They were able to create a fantastic solution to develop a “donor affinity model” to help us deliver a more targeted segmentation.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to create a more targeted and efficient donor renewal process using donor affinity.
2. Fostering a collaborative approach to donor-centric activities in a decentralized environment.
3. Explore Annual Giving Program segmentation variations.
4. Explore the current and future impact of the Donor Affinity model.

Unlocking ROI: Measuring Marketing & Communication Effectiveness in Higher Education
Lindsey Fair, MBA, PhD, AVP University Communications and Marketing, University of Victoria

In this hands-on workshop, we will address one of the most critical challenges facing higher education institutions today: measuring the effectiveness of marketing and communication efforts in a budget-constrained, hyper-competitive environment. Join me as we dive into the world of earned, owned, and paid marketing, exploring innovative strategies to ensure every dollar spent generates a tangible return on investment.

Learning Objectives:

1. The ROI Imperative: Understanding the urgency of measuring marketing and communication effectiveness in the higher education landscape.
2. Metrics that Matter: Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the success of marketing initiatives, from social media campaigns to traditional print media.
3. Optimizing Budget Allocation: Allocating resources intelligently based on the insights gathered from ROI measurements.

“If you want to go far, go together”: How to assess and improve web accessibility
Sandy Brennan, Web content manager Memorial University
John Harvey, Associate Director, Marketing, Memorial University

Memorial University’s division of Marketing & Communications launched a collaborative process to improve digital accessibility. The first step was to assess the institutional website against international standards with a goal of meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA. By tapping into existing expertise and lived experience across campus, strategically prioritizing accessibility in recruitment and training, and building in ongoing feedback mechanisms, the web team is becoming a campus steward of web accessibility and helping Memorial take a proactive stance on this key issue.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to measure your current website against international standards for web accessibility
2. Discover how to prioritize accessibility through recruitment, resource allocation, and professional development
3. Explore how to create a community of practice focused on accessibility

Strategic marketing teams say “no”
Paul Lacap, AVP, Marketing, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Marketing needs the ability to think beyond the next student intake. We all face limited resources, not enough time and an endless list of requests that feel like the same perpetual cycle. In order to advance higher education, we must become more visionary, more strategic and have the ability to say no to things that don’t support those outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand your team’s operational maturity
2. Understand the power of moving towards increasingly strategic outcomes by saying “no” to distractions
3. Become more comfortable having significant but difficult conversations

Harness the potential of the case for support; Produce a pitch that empowers development staff and academic partners, and helps generate results
Luke Quin, Senior Communications Advisor, University Advancement, Concordia University

Case statements remain vital to set the impetus of your campaign. Yet, with the number of stakeholders involved, a case statement may become generic, bloated or fragmented. This session offers insights on how to avoid common pitfalls, break with formulas and produce genuine statements that resonate. Participants may return to their institutions better prepared to undertake, lead or support the production of a case for support.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to harness internal vs. external cases
2. Understand common obstacles we face in creating compelling cases for support
3. Writing tips and a behind-the-scenes look at an award-winning case for support

Navigating Governance in Alumni Relations: from stormy waters to smoother seas
Nicole Dorssers, Executive Director, Alumni Relations, Simon Fraser University
Ophelia Yu, Associate Director, Alumni Relations, Simon Fraser University

Whether you work with a board, association, society or council, and whether your institution is 50 or 150 years old, every institution has a unique relationship with its governance. These relationships can be integral to moving institutional priorities and campaigns to the next level and sometimes they can be the turbulent waters that seem impossible to navigate. Through a case study and audience discussion Simon Fraser University’s Alumni Team will share their journey transitioning its Alumni Association from a legally separate society to an integrated Alumni Council.

Learning Objectives:

1. Share SFU’s journey of transforming its governance structure as a case study.
2. Provide insights which will allow other non-profit professionals to critically assess their governance structures and how they are working for or against strategic priorities.
3. Facilitate discussion amongst peer institutions/representatives in the room to identify other cases and governance models.

The power of micro-campaigns in an annual giving program
Élodie Marteau, Directrice des campagnes annuelles, Vice-rectorat aux relations avec les diplômés et à la philanthropie, Université de Montréal

A deep dive into the unique approach to annual campaigns at the University of Montreal. Using a micro-campaign model, the University executes more than 30 campaigns each year.

Each unique initiative is shared on all University channels, with their own key messages, and built with carefully selected and segmented target audiences.

It is a skillful mix of campaigns focused on both the Institution and its various faculties, managed in agile mode, with ROI in mind.

Donation amounts has been growing steadily YOY: 6% two years ago, 10% last year. And this year looks set to be even better!

Learning Objectives:

1. Sharing learning from this adaptive model of annual campaigns
2. Demonstrate the effectiveness of this model for raising funds and engaging internal and external target audiences.
3. Demonstrate the power of multi-channel campaigning and storytelling.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Managed Partnership? College of the North Atlantic and Municipalities NL’s perspectives on a successful MOU and partnership.
Heidi Staeben-Simmons, AVP, Public Affairs and Advancement, College of the North Atlantic (CNA)
Bradley Power, Director of Programs, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL)

College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has relationships with several external partners.  In some cases, these relationships are managed through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).  In all cases the MOUs are developed to recognize and advance the mandates of both partners. This session will provide an overview of one of CNA’s MOU partnerships, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) and Professional Municipal Administrators (PMA), how it developed, opportunities and successes realized to date, and how to make them work for your organization.

Learning Objectives:

1. Share CNA’s experiences on MOU development and management.
2. Highlight potential advantages and challenges for organizations.
3. In a fireside chat setting, discuss existing and new opportunities for MOU development.

10 Direct Mail Tips to Boost Your Direct Mail Program and Increase Donor Engagement
Mélanie Cossette, Manager, Annual Campaign, University of Ottawa
Jennifer Benedict, Director Client Experience, Good Work
Emily Aalbers, Director, Annual Campaign, University of Ottawa

In this session, you’re going to be given practical tips based on actual examples proven to work by University of Ottawa! This will include tips on channel integration, package design, storytelling, segmentation, the all-important offer, reply device strategy and stewardship. At the end of the session, you’ll have some easy and proven tips to immediately deepen your donor engagement and take your campaign to the next level.   Fundraisers will leave feeling confident that they can refer to their tip list and create winning packages and not only will they know what to do, they’ll also understand why they’re doing it!

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how the many pieces of a direct mail campaign fit together into a functioning whole.
2. Have the confidence to plan and execute a direct mail campaign that’s based on best practice.
3. Be better equipped to build greater donor loyalty, increase retention and cultivate legacy gifts.

From Gap to Gain – small changes to create positive results
Carrie Flood, Director, Donor Relations, Dalhousie University
Andrea Olson, Associate Director, Stewardship, University of Waterloo

With competing priorities, it is easy to find yourself overwhelmed by workload and complex structures. In this presentation, we’ll demonstrate simple strategies and tricks we’ve learned to engage with our colleagues, student award recipients, and donors on a larger scale, which require minimal capacity for donor relations staff.   Small changes to our programming led to larger gains and smoother processes. 

We’ll discuss: 

• Using digital platforms to expand reach and engage donors.
• Building a toolkit for your unit to set clear expectations for colleagues.
• Improving collection methods and content quality for impact reports.
• Utilizing learning tools to build collective understanding.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify small changes to make to your program that can lead to greater gains.
2. Learn digital tricks to streamline your processes.
3. Utilize time saving tools to build shared understanding and knowledge.

One size does not fit all! Selecting the right message, channels and calls to action for one event with three distinct audiences
Sarah Tarnopolsky, Communications Manager, Alumni & Development, University of Victoria
Erin Hall, Alumni & Development Communications Officer, University of Victoria

Is it possible to create a unified, campus-wide initiative that people know and love, while recognizing the unique needs of several very different audiences (students, alumni, employees)!?  Yes, it is! At the University of Victoria, a collaborative team of Annual Giving, Donor Relations and Communications professionals created two signature events (Giving Tuesday and Impact Week) that fulfilled key objectives for everyone involved. But we had to get really clear on the strategy, messaging and tactics. See how three simple questions refined our communications plan to cut through the noise and help audiences easily answer, “why should I care?”

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how a collaborative approach can allow one initiative to fulfil different units’ goals
2. Think differently about event marketing/communications and audience engagement     
3. Take home our example model for refining messaging and communications tactics when reaching different audiences

Equitable Advancement Talent Management
Baninder Grewal, B.Comm, MBA, Senior HR Strategic Partner, University Advancement. McMaster University

This course will provide attendees with the tools, resources, strategies, and foundational knowledge on creating equitable talent management strategies with a focus on recruitment, onboarding but also touching base on regular talent planning.

Learning outcomes include the following recruitment and onboarding processes and strategies:

• Establishing recruitment strategy
• Understanding the candidate journey and effective engagement strategy
• Best practice with screening, interview and selection
• Devising a onboarding plan and strategy that will retain your new hire

CCAE Burning Issue Sessions

CCAE Burning Issue sessions provide an opportunity for informal, open discussions on some of the challenging issues facing advancement professionals today. Such challenges don’t offer easy solutions, so take an opportunity to connect with your peers to discuss, share, reflect, and collaborate on possible approaches.

Each session will focus on a broad topic area and will provide an opportunity for participants to engage with each other on how that topic is affecting their work.

This year, the National Conference will provide registered delegates with the opportunity to share their burning issues. Stay tuned to your inbox for a prompt, and let us know what your most pressing concerns are and what you’d most like to discuss with your peers. Based on your responses, we’ll populate the 3 opportunities in the program for discussion.

Sessions will not be recorded, shared or available to anyone who is not physically present.
Please note* capacity is limited and at a first come first serve basis.

Learning Objectives:

• Take a deep dive into specific areas that are currently affecting your work.
• Connect with peers from across the country and the sector to learn how they are approaching these issues.
• Share your own concerns and insight.