Alliance Partners & the 2025 Dual Meeting Experience
ALLIANCE PARTNER RENEWAL & DUAL MEETING INFORMATION
Save the Date: August 25-27 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Thank you for your continued support of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) and our programs. Our goal with the Dual Meeting experience is to provide a framework that allows each partner to engage through some – or all! – of the opportunities available and build a blueprint for successful engagement and growth throughout the next year.
The Dual Meeting experience includes the NIC Annual Meeting of Members and FFE Seminar. Companies/organizations must be Alliance Partners to participate in the meeting.
When I think about being an FFE Alliance Partner, the emphasis is on the word partner. We are welcomed as true partners in ensuring the future success of fraternal foundations and the organizations they support. FFE relies on APs to share expertise, experience and ideas that fuel the success of fraternal foundations. The ability to develop meaningful relationships with foundation leaders and staff is a direct result of how APs are valued by the community, resulting in more opportunities for new business. – Emily N. Musser, Vice President, Client Relations, AMGNational Trust
PERKS OF PARTNERSHIP
NIC/FFE Alliance Partners gain industry recognition, enjoy high visibility during programs — like the Dual Meeting — and receive unique opportunities to market to member organizations/members by connecting with the interfraternal industry’s key decision-makers and influencers. Businesses and organizations serving the interfraternal community and/or fraternal foundations receive tangible benefits from participating in the Alliance Partner programs, which are focused on growing awareness of your company and products/services.
During the Dual Meeting, Alliance Partners will have the opportunity to connect with key decision-makers, executives, staff and volunteers from inter/national fraternities, sororities and their foundations.
Dual Meeting benefits are only available to NIC and FFE partners.
The FFE and NIC work together to preserve the fraternity and sorority experience and invest in industry-wide initiatives that advance research and educational-based needs for students, higher education partners and interfraternal organizations. Because of this essential collaboration, we created the Distinguished Alliance Partner categories that allow partners to engage with both organizations at the highest possible level. Companies/organizations interested in Distinguished FFE & NIC level partnerships should contact Ashley VanDewark.
Questions about the Alliance Partner program? Email FFE Executive Director Ashley VanDewark.
ATTENDING THE DUAL MEETING
Registration will open in May!
Exhibit Tables
Who Should Register
All Alliance Partners (NIC, FFE or both!) are invited to participate in the Dual Meeting. Alliance Partners register as individual attendees.
If you have complimentary registrations as a part of your Alliance Partnership, Ashley VanDewark will email you a coupon code to use when registering after your partnership has been secured and paid.
If you do not have complimentary registrations included with your Alliance Partnership OR you want to register additional participants beyond the number included in your partnership, each attendee must register individually.
Location & Lodging
The event will take place at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
A room block will be available for attendees.
Cancellation Policy for NIC/FFE rate: Hotel cancellations made 48 hours or less before arrival will be subject to a charge of one night plus applicable taxes.
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown 350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
CONFERENCE BENEFITS
As an NIC/FFE Alliance Partner, when you register to attend the Dual Meeting (Annual Meeting/Seminar), your business/organization receives these benefits at the conference, in addition to other year-round benefits whether an NIC partner or FFE partner:
Alliance Partners exhibit in the Marriott pre-function/hallway space near the Marriott Ballroom (2nd floor).
Your table:
Alliance Partners are assigned to exhibit tables based on their level and tenure of partnership, with both FFE and NIC Alliance Partners in the same area. You will be notified of your placement within the exhibiting area a week prior to the conference.
Each table will be 6’ table with two chairs.
An electric drop and/or wi-fi access may be requested by filling out a form with the onsite provider, Markey’s. Any associated expense is the responsibility of the Alliance Partner.
Exhibit materials are shipped to/from the property at the Alliance Partner’s own expense and are the responsibility of the partner.
Set-up: Sunday, Aug. 18 from 12 – 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18 from 7 – 10 p.m. or Monday, Aug. 19 from 7 – 8 a.m.
Tear-down: Tuesday, Aug. 20 after 5 p.m. or Wednesday, Aug. 21 from 7:30 – 9 a.m.
Speed dating offers intentional, focused time to meet with key decision-makers from inter/national fraternities and sororities and/or their foundations. The format for this event involves short, timed face-to-face sessions during which time both participants may discuss whatever they like. During the “dating” sessions, participants should collect contact information and take notes on how the partner and member might work together in the future.
Speed dating FAQs:
What can partners bring to the speed dating session(s)?
Whatever you can fit on your cocktail round, only. Think about what will help you facilitate the initial connection and set you up for follow-up with executives: business cards, brochures/handouts, etc.
No banners/signage, etc. Everything must fit ON your cocktail round. NIC/FFE will provide standard signage for all APs.
How will it work?
Both partners and member organization decision-makers will be asked to rank preferential matches ahead of the Dual Meeting. NIC/FFE staff will then do our best to honor preferences in priority order according to partner level, length of partnership and member ranking alignment. Speed dating assignments will be distributed as a part of pre-conference communication and in registration packets.
A moderator will facilitate timed exchanges during the assigned Speed Dating block (NIC, FFE or both based on partnership).
A map will be provided to participants indicating where APs are located throughout the room.
Just 5 minutes in length, Ignite Sessions are meant to spark an idea or conduct a demo. As these sessions are very short, the presenter(s) must be prepared and the presentation must be structured. Ignite Sessions take place during breakout sessions and like in 2024, Ignite Sessions will be blended with Coffee Chats so attendees will have time to listen, learn and discuss following the Ignite presentations.
Ignite presentations are grouped by common general themes such as finance, fundraising, stewardship, technology or volunteer support. During each Ignite Session, a moderator will briefly introduce each presentation, then the presentations are given in rapid succession, one following another. At the end, time is set aside for connecting with individual presenters, but there is no formal question-and-answer portion of the session. More information will be provided on these sessions and how to prepare.
Alliance Partners will be assigned to a general/keynote session, meal or business meeting to share more about their company through a prerecorded video message no longer than two (2) minutes. Placements will be assigned based on level and tenure of partnership.
Alliance Partners’ logos will be displayed on hotel signage outside of a designated session.Session placements will be assigned based on level and tenure of partnership.
Additional benefits by partnership level:
For Distinguished Diamond and Distinguished Titanium partners: Opportunity to provide advertisement in the program book
For NIC Gold partners and above: Invitation to the Governing Council meeting held before the Dual Meeting
For FFE Gold partners and above: Invitation to the FFE Board meeting held before the Dual Meeting
For Silver partners and above: Complimentary registration(s)
Promotional materials in registration packets:
All partners have the opportunity to submit one (1) piece for inclusion in registration packets; a single-page printed piece (no folded brochures or booklets; double-sided okay) may be no larger than 5.5″x8.5″ (half sheet). Alliance Partners should print 600 pieces to account for all Dual Meeting attendees; mailing address to be provided.
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Partner-Member Speed Dating
Schedule coming soon! Programming will run from Monday, August 25 to Tuesday, August 26 with an optional $60 add-on program Wednesday morning. Additionally, depending on your partnership level, there may be programming on Sunday, August 24 that you will be invited to attend (see key events below).
Event registration opens on the 2nd floor of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown at 7:00 am on Monday, August 25.
Key times for Alliance Partners include: Schedule subject to change.
Speed dating:(tentative as of 4/1) Monday, August 25: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (NIC partners)
For FFE Gold partners and above: FFE Board meeting – Date/Time TBA
For NIC Gold partners and above: Governing Council meeting – Date/Time TBA
Welcome Luncheon (light programming with AP recognition) – Monday, August 25, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Networking Reception – Monday, August 25 5:15 – 6 p.m.
Enjoy an off-site dinner with your team and/or clients – evening of Monday, August 25
Awards of Distinction Reception & Dinner – Tuesday, August 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at The Indiana Roof Ballroom
All APs have the ability to sponsor a table at the dinner program to reserve a spot for their team and/or invite clients to join; a dinner ticket is already included in the price of registration.
