| Start Time | End Time | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Alliance Partner Exhibit Hall Open |
| 7:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. | FFE Membership Development Committee Meeting |
| 7:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. | FFE 2027 Summit Planning Committee Meeting |
| 7:30 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. | FFE Volunteer Interest Q&A |
| 7:30 a.m. | 9:15 a.m. | FFE Breakfast and Keynote | Our State of the Industry – By the Numbers with Patrick Alderdice & Aaron Parker For more than two decades, Pennington & Company has tracked the financial health of fraternity and sorority foundations keeping the interfraternal community informed on where the industry stands and where it’s headed. How does your foundation compare? Patrick Alderdice and Aaron Parker return to unpack the latest IRS Form 990 findings, setting current results against a 20-year backdrop of asset growth, fundraising totals, grantmaking, and program spending. This year’s session goes a step further, digging into the nuances behind the numbers and what they mean for your foundation’s benchmarking. Whether you’re navigating challenges or executing on the next visionary project, you’ll leave with fresh benchmarking context, trend analysis, and practical recommendations to help your foundation grow and thrive in the year ahead. |
| 9:15 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 9:45 a.m. | 10:45 a.m. | FFE Breakout Sessions II Volunteer Track: People Volunteer Differently When You Put Your Arm Around Them presented by Tracy Garner and Jen Webb from Alpha Delta Pi Foundation This session focuses on a relationship-centered approach to volunteer management. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our Foundations. Recruiting, retaining, and effectively utilizing their talents requires more than an application or resume. Discover how a culture of intentional connection transforms volunteer engagement at every level. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building a sustainable volunteer pipeline, including identifying your Foundation’s needs before making an ask. We’ll review best practices for recruiting in ways that feel personal rather than transactional. We’ll also explore how structuring and shifting committees can better serve your Foundation. We’ll take a deeper look at governance-level engagement: defining the complementary roles of the Board President and Executive Director, clarifying where responsibilities diverge, and identifying when their partnership is essential. We’ll also examine how Board liaisons can bridge leadership and committees, ensuring organizational alignment. Finally, we’ll provide tools to help volunteers remember that we come from recruitment-based organizations, and the member experience directly shapes the volunteer experience within our Foundations. Plannual Giving: How Asset-Based Gifts Can Grow Your Annual Fund presented by Jim Spencer and Greg Wilson, Stick Figure Fundraising, LLC The donors most likely to make an asset-based gift to your foundation are already in your database. They are your loyal, multi-year alumni donors, the same people whose commitment to the chapter runs deepest. And research shows that when those donors make a planned or asset-based gift, their annual giving increases by an average of 30%. This session introduces Plannual Giving: the practical integration of asset-based gift vehicles into annual fund strategy. No planned giving expertise required. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of which gift vehicles matter most, how to signal openness to these gifts within existing annual fund communications, and how to identify the donors in their current portfolio most likely to give this way. We will cover qualified charitable distributions, gifts of appreciated securities, and donor-advised funds in plain language with concrete case studies built for the fraternal foundation context. We will also address one of the most persistent myths in annual fund management: that encouraging planned gifts reduces current giving. The opposite is true, and we will show you why. Optimizing Fundraising Using AI & Predictive Analytics presented by Chris Smith, Alpha Tau Omega Most fraternal foundations are sitting on the data they need to identify their next donors. They just don’t know how to ask it the right questions. This Intermediate-Advanced session teaches a repeatable, statistical methodology for building donor propensity models using tools already available to your team: Excel, large language models, and your CRM. Attendees will learn how to use dependence testing to identify statistically significant variables across wealth data, membership history, and giving behavior, apply logistic regression to weight those variables and build a scoring model, and use large language models to generate and interpret propensity scores without writing a single line of code. The methodology is iterative by design, meaning scores can be refreshed as new data becomes available without rebuilding from scratch. Examples are drawn from real fraternal foundation work and are designed to be replicated regardless of organization size, CRM platform, or staffing structure. Attendees will leave with a clear, step-by-step framework they can begin applying to their own data immediately. Innovating Donor Engagement: How Autonomous AI Fundraising is Reshaping Advancement Strategy presented by Ben Pendry, Western Carolina University and Renee Fraker Quinn, Givzey This session explores how advancement teams can expand donor engagement and increase participation through AI-powered, autonomous outreach. Traditional portfolio models limit reach, leaving many donors unassigned or under-engaged. Attendees will be introduced to a scalable approach that enables personalized engagement across the full donor base without requiring proportional increases in staffing. Presenters will highlight the experience of Western Carolina University, now in its second year of deploying an AI-driven engagement agent. This real-world case study will provide practical insight into implementation, performance, and lessons learned. The session will also address how AI-enabled “virtual engagement officers” can complement frontline fundraisers, enhance annual giving strategies, and uncover new prospects for deeper cultivation. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to integrate emerging technologies into advancement operations while maintaining a donor-centered approach and driving measurable results. Starting with the Students: Building an Undergraduate Giving Program presented by Thomas Fralich and Josh Ronk, Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation This session will explore how the PIKE Foundation is building a culture of philanthropy by connecting undergraduate giving, philanthropy education, and parent/family engagement into one coordinated strategy. Attendees will see how student giving can become more than a transactional ask by serving as an early habit-forming experience that introduces students to stewardship, ownership, and long-term investment in their organization. The session will also examine how philanthropy education helps students understand why charitable support matters, how foundations create impact, and how giving connects to leadership development and lifelong engagement. Finally, participants will learn how parent and family engagement can strengthen these efforts by building trust, creating advocates, and opening new opportunities for support. Attendees will leave with practical, scalable ideas for strengthening donor pipelines, improving philanthropy messaging, and creating a more sustainable culture of giving. Rethinking Onboarding to Maximize Skill and Workload presented by Allison Rickels, Neil Stanglein and Aaron Smith from FarmHouse Foundation; and Christian Wiggins, Lumen Leadership Strategies The FarmHouse Foundation hired two new director-level staff members in December 2025 and created a seven-day onboarding and comprehensive training program to provide an in-depth introduction to the Foundation, Fraternity staff and volunteers with whom they would be working with. The training also equipped new staff members with the ability to own their respective work areas sooner than prior processes. This educational session will walk participants through how the Foundation staff created the onboarding schedule, the topics and highlights of onboarding, and how the process involved fellow Foundation staff, Fraternity staff, board members and volunteers. The presenters will be the Foundation’s CEO, the two new employees and the outside consultant used to shape the content outline, so participants will learn from the professional who led the onboarding process and from the staff who participated. The presentation will also cover key lessons learned, practical takeaways and opportunities for improvement that other foundations can adapt for their own organizations. Why Making the Ask Matters: Engaging Sorority Alumnae in Transformational Giving presented by Jill Leach and Michaela Johnson from Pennington & Company Research consistently shows that women control a growing share of wealth and are deeply motivated by purpose-driven philanthropy. Data from the Bank of America High Net Worth Study, Cygnus alumnae research, and FFE’s Amplifying Sorority will guide our conversation on how sorority alumnae expect to be invited into meaningful philanthropic conversations. This session will challenge long-standing assumptions about who is “ready” for a major gift ask and explore research on female philanthropists’ decision-making, understand the cost of under-asking, and learn practical strategies for confidently engaging sorority alumnae in major gift conversations. Attendees will leave with data, language, and actionable steps to elevate their major gift pipeline and ensure women are invited to invest at levels that reflect both their capacity and their commitment. From Transactional to Transformational: Building Donor Loyalty Through Identity, Story, and Shared Legacy presented by Dr. Michael Ayalon, Greek University In Fall 2024, a fraternity chapter faced a catastrophic challenge: over $1.3 million in damage to their chapter facility, displacing students and disrupting operations. What followed was not just a fundraising campaign—it was a case study in donor loyalty. In just 203 days, the organization raised over $1.25 million from 541 donors, with 106 making multiple gifts and 83% of alumni classes participating. This session explores why this campaign succeeded where others fail. The answer wasn’t urgency – it was identity. Donors did not give because the organization needed money; they gave because they saw themselves in the story being told. Attendees will learn how the campaign reframed giving as legacy rather than obligation, activated nostalgia and pride through storytelling, segmented alumni audiences for more personalized engagement, and created visible momentum through public progress updates and recognition. By anchoring contributions to identity – through class-based goals, naming opportunities, and shared milestones – the campaign transformed one-time donors into emotionally invested stakeholders. What in the World is Going On?: Connecting economic and market perspective to enhance foundation leadership presented by Dan Cravitz and Emily Musser from AMG National Trust; and Jill Carrel In a world being reshaped almost daily by geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty, and rapidly changing markets, foundation leaders are increasingly called on to make decisions requiring complexity and nuance. Presented by investment and foundation professionals, this session will provide a clear, forward-looking view of the U.S. economy, markets, and the global landscape, helping foundation executives and volunteers better understand the broader forces that are influencing donor confidence, long-term planning, and the environment in which foundations operate. Attendees will gain perspective that can support investment oversight, strengthen donor stewardship and planning, and help leaders provide reassurance and clarity during periods of market volatility. Less Noise, More Impact: Stewardship That Drives Retention presented by Lee Fuller and Samantha Patton, Phi Kappa Psi Foundation; David Wachs, Handwrytten The best stewardship program isn’t the most elaborate one. It’s the one you can actually execute. For foundations of every size, donor retention often suffers not from a lack of intention but from a lack of a sustainable system. This session makes the case that consistency beats complexity every time. We’ll walk through the core components of a realistic, repeatable stewardship program that doesn’t require a large team. Whether you’re a one-person shop or part of a larger team, you’ll leave with a framework to use right away and practical resources, including platforms like Handwrytten that enable personalized, scalable outreach without adding staff. We’ll share what’s working at the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation, including honest lessons learned. In 2025, showing up consistently helped us achieve a 59% alumni retention rate. Not because we had the most sophisticated program, but because we had a reliable one. Donors don’t need to be dazzled. They need to feel remembered. The foundations that retain donors year after year aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets; they’re the ones that built simple, repeatable systems and stuck with them. The goal has never been to impress. It is to show up reliably, year after year. |
| 10:45 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 11:15 a.m | 12:15 p.m. | FFE Coffee Chats and Ignite Sessions |
| 12:15 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 12:30 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. | FFE Lunch and Keynote | The New Philanthropic Reality: Understanding Affluent Donors in Today’s Giving Landscape with Dianne Chipps Bailey Charitable giving is changing—and fraternal foundations are on the front lines of that transformation. As philanthropy increasingly concentrates among a smaller circle of affluent donors, foundation leaders face rising expectations, generational shifts, and ongoing economic uncertainty. Drawing on the Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, this keynote will deliver timely perspective on the realities fraternal fundraisers face today. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how affluent households give, volunteer, and make philanthropic decisions. Throughout the session, data‑driven insights are paired with practical considerations that professionals can apply in partnership with boards and volunteers––building confidence and increasing success when engaging high‑capacity donors. Participants will leave with sharper clarity into what truly motivates major donors—including how economic and social forces are shaping donor behavior through 2026 and beyond. With access to the research report, foundations will be better equipped to include a data-driven lens when securing majors and transformational gifts, and to turn insights into lasting philanthropic impact. |
| 1:45 p.m. | 2:15 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 2:15 p.m. | 3:15 p.m. | FFE Breakout Sessions III Volunteer Track: The Science of Donor Motivation: Maximizing the Joy of Giving presented by Brian Gawor, 3M and Sean FitzGerald, Delta Upsilon Educational Foundation Our understanding of the “why” of giving is growing rapidly, and it’s time fundraise smarter. Using the latest research on Greek donors and philanthropy across North America, we’ll explore the psychology behind giving and uncover what drives donors to make big gifts. Topics will include identifying donor values, aligning organizational impact with personal motivations, and leveraging behavioral insights to strengthen relationships. And, we’ll talk about how the data you have today can help you meet donors where they are at in their cause adoption journey. Join us for actionable strategies to engage donors at every stage – from first gift to wealth distribution. The Bell Chapter Model: Driving Chapter Impact Through Strategic Alumni Investment presented by Michael Greenberg and Wes Hotsclaw, Sigma Chi Foundation The Bell Chapter initiative stands as a cornerstone of Sigma Chi’s $85 million Capital Campaign, offering a scalable and sustainable model for chapter-centered philanthropy. This session explores how the program empowers alumni to make direct, meaningful investments in their home chapters while simultaneously advancing the Fraternity’s broader educational mission through the Transformational Leader™ curriculum. Attendees will gain insight into how localized giving—when aligned with institutional priorities—can strengthen undergraduate experiences, expand leadership development, and create long-term financial sustainability. The presentation will also highlight how the Bell Chapter model integrates seamlessly with housing and educational space initiatives, creating a comprehensive approach to chapter success and organizational growth. Score Once, Serve Both: A Unified Approach to Member Engagement Data presented by Tristan Conroy, re:Members and Ande White, Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation What happens when a fraternity and its foundation stop treating data as separate domains and start treating it as a shared asset? At Pi Kappa Alpha, the answer is a more informed, more connected organization. One where a single Salesforce instance powers decisions for both the Fraternity and the PIKE Foundation. In this session, Ande White (PIKE Technology Officer) and Tristan Conroy (re:Members Client Success Leader) will walk through how PIKE built an integrated data infrastructure that serves two distinct entities through a Member Engagement scoring project. From the development of a cross-functional engagement scoring model to practical lessons in managing shared pipelines, attendees will see firsthand what it looks like to break down the data silos that often separate fraternity and foundation staff. This session is designed for development staff, undergraduate/alumni engagement professionals, and data/IT teams who want actionable ideas for making their shared technology work harder, whether they’re just starting to explore integration or looking to level up what they’ve already built. Build, Launch, Fund: A Practical Guide to Giving Circles for Young Alumni Engagement presented by Lucy Love, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation At its core, a giving circle is a group of people who pool their donations and collectively decide where the money goes. The collaborative element is what makes giving circles a powerful tool for fraternal organizations, where shared purpose and community exist amongst our members already. In this session we’ll review why giving circles are helpful in engaging younger alumni by reviewing the build out and launch of the Alpha Delta Pi under 40 Giving Circle. More than a case study, we’ll discuss details spanning the logistics and data management aspects of launching a giving circle to the long-term and aspirational results. Participants will see first-hand the benefits of creating a customized culture of philanthropy for young alumni and how giving circles can deepen their engagement by going beyond asking them to donate and instead asking them to participate directly in funding decisions. Investing in Well-Being: Advancing Mental Health to Strengthen Member Outcomes and Donor Impact presented by Dr. ShirDonna Lawrence, JED Foundation and Chris Woods, Plaid As fraternal organizations increasingly prioritize member well-being, mental health has emerged as both a mission-critical issue and a compelling opportunity for donor engagement. For fundraising professionals, the ability to connect student mental health outcomes to organizational impact is essential for building meaningful donor relationships and securing philanthropic support. This session brings together Dr. Shirdonna Lawrence, Senior Manager for Greek Letter Organizations at The Jed Foundation (JED), and Chris Woods, Partner at Plaid, to explore how mental health initiatives can be positioned as a strategic priority within advancement efforts. Participants will learn how campuses and organizations are leveraging mental health programming to demonstrate impact, engage alumni, and align donor interests with student well-being initiatives. The session will also introduce practical JED resources and strategies that can be translated into fundable programs, helping advancement professionals articulate a clear case for support and elevate mental health as a philanthropic priority. Beyond the Ballroom: Turning Events into Donor Engagement Engines presented by Danika Arenibas and Melissa Hammer, Kappa Delta Foundation Large-scale events like conventions and leadership programs can be one of the most powerful opportunities for donor engagement. This session introduces a practical, repeatable framework for transforming events into strategic donor engagement opportunities. This session will use Kappa Delta Foundation’s 66th Biennial National Convention as a case study to demonstrate how a tiered approach spanning pre-event cultivation, on-site experiences and post-event stewardship can deepen relationships, reduce barriers to giving and create meaningful donor experiences. Participants will leave with a clear framework, practical tools and adaptable ideas to design donor engagement strategies for their own events regardless of size, staff structure or budget. Go from just being part of the agenda to leveraging it to create thoughtful donor journey experiences. Legal Winds Blowing in the Nonprofit and University Landscape presented by Heather Moore and Jane Wilson, Faegre Drinker & Biddle This session will provide a legal update of how new laws, executive orders, litigation, and similar developments are impacting tax-exempt organizations and higher education with specific reference (as appropriate) to foundations and Greek organizations. Presenters will delve into cutting-edge rulings “ripped from the headlines” and also make predictions as to any increased risks and “areas to watch” within the Greek and higher education spheres. Automation & Process Improvement to Streamline Resources and Enhance the Donor Experience presented by Leinin Dumitrescu and Chloe Long from Phi Mu Foundation; and Meredith Stice, Kappa Delta Foundation Discover how two foundations transformed manual, time-intensive processes into streamlined, donor-centered experiences through smart automation. The Kappa Delta Foundation implemented an automated system to identify event attendees and process White Rose purchases, improving fulfillment efficiency, reducing staff workload, and driving record-breaking participation in the White Rose Garden. Similarly, the Phi Mu Foundation reimagined gift processing by automating a previously manual workflow. By integrating Stripe payout reports with Omatic Cloud and Raiser’s Edge NXT batch gift entry, the organization reduced errors, increased processing speed, and freed staff to focus on higher-value engagement. This session will highlight practical strategies for leveraging existing tools to improve accuracy, scalability, and the overall donor experience. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to identify automation opportunities and implement process improvements within their own organizations. How to Acquire More Recurring Donors A Tested & Proven Approach to Growing Recurring Revenue presented by Erik Tomalis, Avid Monthly giving has been the buzzword of the nonprofit industry for the past few years. But most conversations about recurring giving lack substantial data and evidence about what really works to increase recurring revenue. While it can be inspiring to see examples from complex organizations that are seemingly “doing it right”, growing your recurring giving program often isn’t as complicated as some would have you think. In this workshop session, you’ll take a hands-on look at your current fundraising efforts to identify tested, proven, and practical opportunities to grow your recurring revenue by acquiring more monthly donors. Throughout the session, we’ll cover tactics and strategies that have been proven to increase results through real-world a/b testing covering key areas including: Converting recurring donors within the one-time donation process. Upgrading one-time donors after they’ve made their first gift. Whether you have a monthly giving program up and running today, or you’re looking to launch one in the future—this session will equip you with proven insights that you can apply to your program right away to start growing your recurring revenue. |
| 3:15 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 3:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | FFE Breakout Sessions IV Day of Giving in a Box: Building a Scalable, Data-Driven Campaign presented by Jake Bredstrand, SigEp Foundation and Zac Gillman, re:Members This session explores a proven, system-driven approach to building a Day of Giving that drives participation, urgency, and sustained growth. Attendees will be introduced to a practical framework centered on five key elements: activating local ownership, delivering segmented and personalized outreach, creating momentum through strategic challenges, leveraging real-time dashboards to guide decisions, and building the data infrastructure needed to support it all. Participants will learn how to identify influential advocates, align messaging to different donor audiences, and design campaigns that adapt in real time. The session will also highlight how thoughtful planning and data visibility can transform a single day into a coordinated, high-impact experience. Rooted in Sisterhood: Leveraging Chapter Affinity to Build Sustainable Scholarship Funds presented by Raenee Patterson Chavez, Delta Zeta Foundation This session explores how chapter‑based scholarship endowments can activate alumnae affinity, deepen engagement, and meet the evolving expectations of future members. Using Cygnus donor‑behavior insights and Amplify Sorority research on what prospective members value most, we’ll share how our organization launched a scalable Chapter Association Scholarship model that empowers alumnae to fundraise for their own chapter’s legacy while expanding educational access for today’s students. Setting up Systems that Payoff: Infrastructure that Matters presented by Matthew Dempsey, CSI and Marsha Grady, Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Do you have a blueprint for your fundraising efforts or are you building the plane while in the air? Let’s review evidence-based and peer-tested systems and processes that will help you build a strong foundation. We’ll break fundraising down into systems and processes that can be repeated and refined over time so you can stop doing everything for the first time every time. From Questions to Commitment: Building a Culture of Collegiate Giving presented by Carly Loth, Karen Marchese, and Lori Goede from Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation Collegiate donors are tomorrow’s foundation champions, yet many organizations struggle to understand what motivates students to give—or how to cultivate lifelong engagement. This session will share how a dedicated committee examined the “why” behind giving to the foundation—through direct conversations with students and alumnae, surveys, and listening sessions—and how Cygnus research and benchmarking with other sororities and fraternal organizations informed their approach. Panelists will highlight how the committee used these insights to design strategies that educate, engage, and retain collegiate students in support of long-term philanthropic goals, moving from one ask to intentional relationship building. Participants will leave with practical questions to ask their collegians, ideas for using research and stories to guide decisions, and examples of scalable tactics that build a sustainable culture of collegiate giving on their own campuses. People Not Tasks: A Leader’s Guide to Building Solid Employee Relationships presented by Jeremy York, InvigorateHR Here’s a fundamental truth: people do the work, yet most leaders spend their time managing tasks instead of leading people. This session explores the five essential pillars that transform workplace relationships and unlock extraordinary performance through genuine human connection. Based on extensive research and real-world application, participants will discover how Trust, Transparency, Empathy, Respect, and Kindness create the foundation for high-performing teams. Through compelling case studies and practical frameworks, leaders will learn to build the solid employee relationships that drive engagement, retention, and business results. Enterprise Thinking in Action: Aligning Structures, Strategy, and Philanthropy presented by Jill Carrel and Julie Molior, Pi Beta Phi Foundation This session introduces enterprise thinking as a practical way to help fraternities, sororities, and foundations see how their work fits together from a member’s point of view. Rather than positioning philanthropy as a separate function, the session reframes it as a shared enterprise responsibility shaped by aligned strategy, structure, and communication. Drawing on leadership experience across both the membership organization and foundation, the presenters offer a rare, cross-entity perspective on how alignment improves clarity, trust, and the overall member experience. By addressing common points of confusion openly, the session challenges participants to reconsider collaboration not as an added task, but as a core leadership practice. Getting Through the Noise – Resonating as a National Foundation presented by Jenna Hollinden, Pennington & Company and Kyle Yarawsky, Pennington & Company As donor expectations evolve and competition for philanthropic attention increases, national foundations must be more strategic, data-informed, and brand-conscious than ever before. This session explores how leading organizations are aligning their investments, programs, and messaging to resonate more effectively on a national scale. Grounded in data from our ten most recent client groups, we will highlight emerging trends in resource allocation—representing millions of dollars invested in scholarships, programs, and mission-driven initiatives. These insights reveal where the field is heading and how peer organizations are prioritizing long-term impact. To strengthen this perspective, we will also incorporate findings from a targeted survey of current national clients to address gaps in available data. Beyond the numbers, this session will examine how foundations are building “ever-green” programs that sustain engagement across the donor lifecycle. Drawing on insights from the Cygnus alumnae survey, we will identify the key qualities high-performing organizations demonstrate—from initial donor connection to long-term stewardship and loyalty. |
| 4:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | Break |
| 5:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | FFE Awards of Distinction Reception Held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom |
| 6:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | FFE Awards of Distinction Dinner & Seminar Closing Session Held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom |
