The Role of the CFO and Other Leaders in Advancement

Mar 6, 2025 | Advancement Insights, Annual General Meeting, Best Practises, Education Sessions

March 2025

Featuring:
David Palmer, Vice-President, Advancement, University of Toronto and Trevor Rogers, Chief Financial Officer, of the University of Toronto

Partnership and collaboration among senior university leaders that helps foster a culture of philanthropy and drives growth in fundraising and engagement

Transformational growth in fundraising and engagement does not come without significant budgetary investment. In an environment of increasingly tight financial constraints and intense internal competition for available dollars, finding such investment with operating budgets is often a non-starter. To meet this challenge, the University of Toronto recently re-introduced assessments on endowment distributions and expendable gifts, under the Advancement Investment Model (AIM).

The AIM model has also served as the basis for discussion of a national best practice guideline on the use of gift fees presented to and endorsed by senior advancement leaders at the CCAE National Conference in May 2024. This guideline describes principles and parameters for the successful implementation of such fees within educational institutions.

In this session, the University of Toronto’s Vice-President of Advancement, David Palmer and CFO, Trevor Rogers discuss the genesis of the AIM model and the important role that senior university leaders play in supporting a positive, productive, and growth-oriented culture of advancement that enables the pursuit of transformation growth in fundraising and engagement.

Supporting documents:
Deepening the Impact of Advancement at the University of Toronto
Guiding Principles on Supplemental Funding Sources for Advancement
University of Toronto AIM Model
CCAE AGM Presentation: Guiding Principles on Supplemental Funding Sources for Advancement

 

TDIMM Fellowship Information Webinar

Nov 14, 2024 | Advancement Insights, TDIMM Fellowship Archive

This webinar provides the knowledge on how to select an applicant, the impact a fellowship creates, and what it takes for a successful application.

Featuring 2019/20 fellowship recipient, Jenna Kirker of Confederation College, 2020/21 institutional mentor, Tom Meadus of NBCC, Danielle Lamothe, CCAE President & CEO, and Anne Menard & Scott Grant of TD Insurance Meloche Monnex.

Related Resources:
2023 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellowship Presentations
APPLY for a TDIMM Fellowship in Advancement

Key Competencies for Responsible GenAI Use

Oct 2, 2024 | Advancement Insights, Education Sessions

September 2024
CCAE 2024 Fall Education Kick-off Session

Featuring:
David Burns, AVP, Academic, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)

This session discusses a competency framework developed at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for generative artificial intelligence use – not by computer scientists but, rather, by the rest of us. AVP, Academic, David Burns discusses some of the early challenges he saw in his corner of the institution and some of the ways in which the team he works with faced them.

Key Takeaways:

  • The industry and government advisors KPU contacted while developing its approach suggest several key competencies for responsible GenAI use.
  • These will, and are, changing over time.
  • Institutions are best advised to take an approach of cautious optimism. 

Related Resources:
KPU GenAi Framework
Policy and Practice of Artificial Intelligence white paper
Podcasts: theverge.com The Vergecast Podcast & Hard Fork podcast – NY Times

 

McGill Women Take the Lead: Inspiring Women’s Philanthropy in Annual Giving

Jul 17, 2024 | Advancement Insights, Education Sessions

May 2024
#CCAE2024 National Conference Session

Featuring:
Hilary Morden, Annual Giving, McGill University

This vital conversation focuses on inspired leadership from women philanthropists in an Annual Giving context. This session provides a case study on a volunteer-led fundraising initiative that raised $130,000 in 12 months from McGill alumnae, highlighting the roles of the Annual Giving, Alumni Relations and Communications teams in supporting the volunteers. This session also explores how such initiatives could be successful in other underrepresented donor constituencies.

Learning Objectives

  • Provide a case study on a volunteer-led fundraising initiative that raised $130,000 in 12 months to endow a scholarship to support female students facing systemic barriers to education in STEM
  • Delve into how McGill University supported these volunteers using existing tools and contributed to their success
  • Explore how such initiatives can be successful in other underrepresented donor constituencies

 

An AI Primer: plain language introduction to hot new tech

Jul 17, 2024 | Advancement Insights, Education Sessions

May 2024
#CCAE2024 National Conference Session

Featuring:
Katherine Scott, Prospect Development Officer, Toronto Metropolitan University
Sarah Marcotte, Senior Specialist, Data Steward, SickKids Foundation

Like any new tech currently reaching the apogee of the Gartner Hype Cycle, AI in all its permutations is inescapable. But what is it, really, and how does it affect nonprofits?   This session will provide a gentle, plain-language introduction to AI, dispel some myths, and provide a grounded approach to how nonprofits can use this tech to advance their missions while feeling confident in navigating this ever-changing space.    

Learning Objectives

  • Provide overview of available AI-based tools and their capabilities
  • Provide overview of how AI-based tools can intersect with daily fundraising practice               
  • Understanding considerations needed when considering incorporating AI-based tools