In a time of unprecedented change in the higher education advancement landscape, we will discuss new trends from 2020 and review how Blackbaud customers and the industry are responding to this environment and developing new strategies for success.

A global pandemic took us all by surprise in 2020 – and it will undoubtedly continue to impact fundraising operations into the next year.  Most institutions may have been caught unaware in the first few months of this new world, but it is those organizations who adapt and innovate that will thrive.  In this session, we will explore what we have learned during the pandemic, what we can control going forward, and how to find opportunity amidst uncertainty.

You want the best results possible from your team. Gift officers need to be set up for success in their work. Utilizing data from 180+ institutions in the Fundraiser Performance Management community, we'll dive into the key factors to consider when creating a portfolio management strategy that puts your officers on top. 

Successful leaders are always looking for the next tweak, addition, or major process change to keep their teams ahead of the curve. Regardless of whether it is new technology, a new staffing model, or even a small adjustment, adoption and success can hinge on keeping a focus on the human element of the change. This session will focus on specific actionable content from the change management discipline that can be put into motion immediately to support leaders as they manage short- and long-term change.

The clock is ticking! Gift officers and gift officer managers are challenged to use metrics (science) to drive results related to relationship building (art).  How many contacts does it take to secure a visit now? How might you improve? This session will provide data-driven insights to improve the time to a donors first major gift and help your organization achieve fundraising goals with efficiency!

Over time, Higher Ed campaigns have become more dependent on big gifts from a few donors. We get focused on those big donors and by the time the campaign is complete, we realize we haven’t cultivated a full pipeline to prepare us for fundraising life post-campaign. As we add the reality of a struggling economy due to the current pandemic, we need to re-think the campaign model.  In this session, Matthew White and Rachel Richards from Utah State University will present their innovative approach to fundraising and campaigns leveraging the full gift pyramid

The total number of donors continues to decline. For now, the total dollars raised continues to increase year over year. How much should leaders worry about the decrease of donors? What is causing it and what are the long-term effects? This session will unpack some of the trends we're seeing with sub $100 donors, and what that means for your pipeline.

Alumni participation – has this metric taken on too much weight or is it still driving us to excellence? This session will take a data-driven look at this question and will prepare you to have a conversation with your boards about the best approach for your institution.