Schedule subject to change.
Click on the date below to view each day’s schedule of events.
| Start Time | End Time | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | FGA Symposium FGA members only; view more information here. |
| 10:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | CSO-Board Chair Symposium Mark Engle, Principal, Association Management Center and Debbie Trueblood, Senior Consultant, Association Management Center Open to all fraternity and sorority membership, foundation and housing chief staff officers and board members. View more information. Lunch is included in registration costs. |
| 5:00 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | NIC Governing Council Meeting Invitation only |
| 6:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | FSPAC Reception This event will be hosted by the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. For questions contact Kitty deKieffer. |
| Start Time | End Time | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. | FFE Board of Directors and Seminar Planning Committee Breakfast Invitation only |
| 7:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Event Registration Open |
| 7:00 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Alliance Partner Exhibit Hall Open |
| 9:00 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. | NIC Meeting of Members Voting delegates will conduct annual business for NIC. Contact Jud Horras for questions about NIC governance and the Meeting of Members. |
| 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | FFE Women’s Research Symposium FFE is excited to host the Women’s Research Symposium in 2024. This pre-Seminar experience offers sorority staff members and volunteers the opportunity to learn about what motivates high-capacity donors and gain insight into Amplifying Sorority Campaign research projects. View more information. Decoding the motivations and strategies of high-capacity philanthropists Dianne Chipps Bailey, Managing Director, National Philanthropic Strategy Executive, Philanthropic Solutions at Bank of America With the number of Americans giving to charity on the decline, nonprofits increasingly rely on a smaller and more affluent circle of supporters to meet their fundraising goals. The importance and influence of these high-capacity donors has only increased during recent years. The Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, the ninth in a series of reports on giving by wealthy households in the United States, illuminates many expressions of generosity by affluent Americans. The series offers practical insights into distinct donor demographics including the rising generation, ethnically-diverse donors and women. During this interactive conversation, we will explore what motivates affluent donors to give and stop giving, which organizations affluent Americans currently support and how they are (and could be) structuring gifts. This data will create pathways for fraternal foundation staff and board members to engage high-capacity donors, secure transformational gifts and achieve their mission goals. Amplifying Sorority Campaign (ASC) Presentation & Panel Discussion Marsha Grady, ASC Campaign Committee Chair and Chief Development Officer at Alpha Chi Omega Foundation; Leslie Martin*, Executive Director of Delta Gamma Foundation; Heather Matthews*, Director of Marketing and Communications at Kappa Delta; Meghan Parker, ASC Research Committee Chair and Executive Director of Zeta Tau Alpha; Ashley VanDewark, Executive Director of Foundation for Fraternal Excellence; and Jen Webb*, Executive Director of Alpha Delta Pi Foundation (*Indicates ASC Research or Campaign Committee members) |
| 10:15 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 10:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | NIC Educational Symposium I iGen: Guiding the smartphone generation and understanding the challenges of high school and college men today. Dr. Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and Owner of Generation Me | Meet the presenter Traditional-age college students are members of Gen Z (born after 1995), the first generation to spend their adolescence with smartphones. National surveys of teens and college students show that Gen Z students are growing up more slowly as adolescents, spend more time with technology and less time with each other in person, and are more likely to experience unhappiness, anxiety, and depression. We'll discuss the implications of these generational shifts for guiding this generation. |
| 11:30 a.m. | 11:45 a.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 11:45 a.m. | 12:45 p.m. | NIC Alliance Partner-Executive Speed Dating Speed dating offers intentional, focused time between Alliance Partners and key decision-makers from inter/national fraternities. 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. |
| 12:00 p.m. | 12:45 p.m. | FFE Newcomer Networking |
| 12:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | FFE Content Corner Open The Seminar Planning Committee is excited to offer attendees the opportunity to view recent foundation collateral featured in the Content Corner — a showcase-style space that will display the great work of our fraternal foundations. |
| 12:45 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. | NIC/FFE Welcome Luncheon with Alliance Partner Recognition Join NIC and FFE attendees for a luncheon where we will recognize the Alliance Partners who do so much for our organizations! Lunch is included in registration costs. |
| 12:45 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | NIC & Campus Partner Lunch Invitation only |
| 1:30 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | FFE Opening Keynote/NIC Educational Symposium II Every Generation Wins: Why Building Multi-Generational Teams is the Future Lindsay Boccardo | Meet the presenter Generations misunderstanding each other is not a new problem. Every generation thinks the one that comes after them is less competent, more entitled, or harder to work with in an organization. The good news is that no one generation is broken. According to a 2019 study, multi-generational teams with a range of 25 years or more from youngest to oldest meet or exceed expectations 73% of the time. Those with a narrow range of less than 10 years did so only 35% of the time. The future of collaborative work is truly about inclusion. In this interactive session, Lindsay will facilitate a dialogue on generational differences and their impact on relationships within membership and volunteer engagement. Participants will explore their individual experiences growing up and how these directly shape their interactions within organizational settings. In this session, attendees will: • Understand the origins of generational divides within membership and volunteer engagement. • Identify the key factors contributing to generational tension within organizations. • Anticipate the cultural expectations of future young employees and volunteers within organizational cultures. • Discover strategies to enhance the positive influence of multi-generational membership and volunteer teams. |
| 2:30 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 2:15 p.m. | 4:15 p.m. | NIC Meeting of Members Voting delegates will conduct annual business for NIC. Contact Jud Horras for questions about NIC governance and the Meeting of Members. |
| 3:00 p.m. | 4:15 p.m. | NIC/FFE Coffee Chats and Ignite Sessions |
| 4:15 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 4:30 p.m. | 5:15 p.m. | FFE Business Meeting Voting delegates will conduct annual business for FFE. Contact Ashley VanDewark for questions about FFE governance and business meeting. |
| 5:15 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | NIC/FFE Networking Reception with Alliance Partners |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner on Your Own |
| Start Time | End Time | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | 9:15 a.m. | FFE Breakfast & Keynote Our State of the Industry — By the Numbers Patrick Alderdice and Aaron Parker, Pennington & Company | Meet the presenters Eager to know how your foundation compares to its peers across the interfraternal community? Pennington and Company has researched, compiled, and interpreted IRS Form 990 filings for fraternity and sorority foundations for the last 21 years. In this State of the Industry session, Patrick and Aaron will team up once more to present information from this year’s IRS Form 990 data and compare it to two decades of previous trends. The 990 data is a vast repository of non-profit information such as value of assets, donation dollars raised, grant amounts, and spending on program services. Each year, Pennington and Company analyzes this data for our foundations, allowing them to assess progress and benchmark themselves against fraternity and sorority industry averages. Patrick and Aaron will use their industry insights to identify opportunities and challenges while providing tips and recommendations for sustaining and growing our industry. |
| 7:30 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Alliance Partner Exhibit Hall Open |
| 7:30 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | FFE Content Corner Open |
| 9:15 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | FFE Breakout Sessions I Traditional breakout sessions with expert presenters and panelists. |
| Building a Lasting Legacy: The Power of Planned Giving Tiana Ronstadt, Board Vice President, Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation Planned giving, also known as legacy giving or gift planning, involves thoughtful consideration and strategic planning to support charitable causes beyond one's lifetime. Unlike immediate donations, planned gifts are typically arranged during the donor's lifetime and realized upon passing. How to develop relationships with donors, how to have the talk and how to close the deal. Learning Objectives: - Why to consider planned giving? - Learn common methods of planned giving. - Leave empowered to ask. |
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| Speak Their Language: Tailoring Strategies for Different Generations Allison Foster, CFRE, Director of Donor Relations, Alpha Chi Omega Foundation; Michael McPhee, Director of Development, Gamma Phi Beta Foundation Serving as a team member in fundraising means knowing and understanding your donors. In the fraternal world that certainly means their chapter and campus experience; and a critical part of understanding a donor is their generation and what mutual experiences the generation has had and how that will impact your work as a fundraising professional. This session will provide attendees with an understanding of the current generations (silent, baby boomers, gen X, millennials, and gen z) and the impact on our work; how to utilize this knowledge in building relationships and intentionally asking; and how to apply the information not only individually but at the aggregate level for your organization. Learning Objectives: - Identify current generations and communication trends associated with generations - Differentiate between various generations and how they considering giving to non-profit organizations - Implement two new tools to communicate and ask effectively with their donors |
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| Organizational Competencies for Hiring, Training and Performance Management Ryan Collett, Chief Development Officer, Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation; Erin Fischer, CEO, The Leadership & Training Studio How to identify and utilize Competencies to assist with your staff hiring, training, performance management and career trajectory tracking. These skills will help you hire the right staff for the right roles, help you better manage your team in an individualistic way and provide staff with the vision for career development and their opportunities for self development and growth. Learning Objectives: - How to identify competencies for your various positions on staff - How to implement competencies in the hiring and ongoing management process - How to build a culture of self development and employee retention |
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| How AI and Predictive Analytics Will Transform Your Next Campaign Nick Bratvold, CFRE, Vice President, Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation; Andy Canada, Senior Consultant and Director of Data Analyticst, JGA; Dan Hartmann, CFRE, President & CEO, Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation; Brian Gawor, CFRE, Consultant, JGA Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, but what do they really mean for fundraisers? The next generation of successful campaigns will be amplified by these tools, helping us identify our most engaged sisters and brothers and helping understand their individual world views with things like AI-driven personality profiles. And, if your team isn’t already using AI tools to help craft communications, you probably will be soon. Excited? Confused? Wondering what to do next? That’s what this action-driven session is all about. We’ll review the latest innovations in real human terms so you can explore how they can help you. Then, hear how the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation has utilized some of these tools in practice to help focus efforts, and what they’re doing next. We’ll even try some of the tech out with an activity using data-driven personas to personalize giving strategy. It’s time to go past the buzz, and talk about how we can actually use these tools to improve fundraising outreach and create a better donor experience. Learning Objectives: - Understand how AI and predictive analytics can be utilized in donor outreach and member communications, going past the hype to action-oriented application. - Understand how predictive analytics can help focus on the best, most ready potential donors (regardless of platform utilized). - Craft a communication using actionable donor personas based on predictive data. |
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| Committee Member Contracts and Board Member Contracts Scott Sikes, CFRE, Partner, Columns Fundraising We often ask people to serve as volunteers on Committees or Boards for a fraternity or a foundation, but we often don't specify the parameters of what we are asking them to do in those roles and how we'll support their work. A Committee Member Contract or a Board Member Contract specifies what a board member will do for the organization during the year and what the organization will do for the board member. Learning Objectives: - Understand why a contract with a volunteer is a national "best practice." - Draft your own Committee Member Contract or Board Member Contract. - Learn why and how to renew the Contracts annually. |
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| (Re)tooling Your Annual Leadership Giving Program from Design to Dollars in the Door! Allison Rickels, CFRE, Executive Director & CEO, FarmHouse Foundation; Christian Wiggins, Principal, Lumen Leadership Strategies Join us as we discuss how to create or redevelop your annual leadership giving program. Branding, support systems, people, stewardship and recognition and value add are all drivers of success in annual leadership giving. We will discuss what the national research shows for leadership level giving, as well as examine our shared and individual successes at FarmHouse and beyond. Learning Objectives: - Develop a stronger understanding of the relationship between fraternity and foundation and how the two can work together to grow support. - Develop strategies for the growth of your annual leadership giving. - Understanding how to right-size your operation for optimal success. - Creating your own benchmarking and measurements of program success. |
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| Preparing for a Successful Campaign Steve Vincent, CEO, Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation; Kyle Yarawsky, Senior Vice President, Pennington & Company Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. When considering a capital campaign, preparation is key. Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity launched a campaign in 2023 but their preparation began years prior. We will discuss lessons learned and best practices to understand the needs of the organization, crafting a unifying vision, getting buy in from key stakeholders, and cultivating major donor prospects. Learning Objectives: - Understand the importance of a unified vision for the goals for the campaign and how to get there. - Identify investments you can make today to prepare you for a campaign. - Discover tools to determine the needs of your organization. |
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| 10:30 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 10:30 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | FFE Volunteer Interest Meeting |
| 11:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | FFE Breakout Sessions II Traditional breakout sessions with expert presenters and panelists. |
| The Secrets Behind a Successful College Chapter Giving Program Rachel Soll, Assistant Director of Advancement, Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation; Justine Thomas, CFRE, Director of Advancement, Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation Faced with often competing philanthropic priorities, Theta Foundation established a college chapter giving program which provides chapters the opportunity to support local nonprofits while also supporting Theta Foundation. Due to the implementation of the program, operational and giving processes were streamlined and the organization can better capture the philanthropic impact of Theta’s college chapters. Since its inception, the Theta for Good college chapter giving program has seen an increase by over 100% in Foundation giving. Theta may finally have cracked the code of getting college students to respond to email communications! Come prepared with questions for this interactive session to review and discuss best practices and all things college chapter giving! Learning Objectives: - Understand how to streamline chapter giving processes. - Identify outstanding opportunities to capture the philanthropic impact of college chapters to better illustrate the philanthropic of organization. - Learn strategies to creatively reach out to and connect with college chapters in order to build strong relationships to ensure continued fundraising success. |
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| Turning Engagement Into Donations: How to Leverage AI to Reach Alumnae & Drive More Gifts Marsha Grady, Chief Development Officer, Alpha Chi Omega Foundation; Joe McClanahan, Assistant Director, Enterprise Sales, Gravyty As Alpha Chi Omega prepared for the public launch of their campaign, “Common Bond. Uncommon Impact,” it knew that engaging more alumnae with the organization at the local and national levels was critically important to identifying and engaging new campaign prospects beyond the silent phase. But how could fundraisers find and engage donors with not only high capacity, but high affinity, to give with limited resources and time? Enter AI. This session will cover how AXΩ fundraisers tapped into the power AI to create a holistic engagement to fundraising strategy. Marsha Grady, CFRE, Chief Development Officer, will cover how technology allowed the team to make smart decisions on donor portfolios and outreach, resulting in record-breaking dollars raised. Learning Objectives: - Understand the importance of engaging alumnae in new and accessible ways to achieve success in fundraising campaigns. - Learn how AI technology can be effectively used to both identify and engage high affinity donors with limited resources and time. - Learn practical ways to scale prospect identification, cultivation, portfolio management and stewardship and drive measurable impact. |
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| Building Trust and Effective Onboarding: Keys to Team Development Dr. Tony Vukusich, CFRE, Vice President & Chief Experience Officer, Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation; Chris Woods, Partner, Plaid, LLC Join us for an interactive and engaging session focused on enhancing team dynamics through the cultivation of trust and effective employee onboarding practices. In today's rapidly evolving workplace, building strong relationships and integrating new team members seamlessly are essential for fostering collaboration, productivity, and morale. This program is designed to provide participants with actionable strategies and insights to strengthen team cohesion and optimize the onboarding process for sustained success. Learning Objectives: - Explore methods for building trust amongst team members - Examine proven practices for effective employee onboarding |
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| Beyond the File Cabinet: Financial Tech Hacks for Thriving Orgs Darryl Gecelter, CRO and Co-Founder, Crowded; Blaine van Buskirk, Director of Finance & Insurance, Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation Demonstrating through multiple use cases on how to tackle and thrive in today's complicated financial and compliance landscape by adoption of technology. How technology can simplify what was once, time-consuming, antiquated processes and systems. Learning Objectives: - Learn how adopting technology can streamline operations and help reduce costs. - Understand complicated compliance made simple. |
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| Extending the Team - Engaging Enthusiastic Volunteers for Mission Impact Katie Kowalski, Vice President & Chief Experience Officer, Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation; Kevin Prout, Director of Partnerships, GivaGrant “I will absolutely help out!” There are many ways for members, caregivers, and friends to support the work of our Foundation besides making a donation. They can (and do) give of their time as well, whether it’s on the local, regional or national level, as part of a directive or without even being asked. In this session, we will talk about how to involve and engage volunteers (who give a resounding YES!) in your day-to-day mission and operations, using effective strategies, tools and timelines. Examples include long and short-term committee and volunteer work that has volunteers exclaiming how easy is to connect with and impact the mission of your organization. Learning Objectives: - Identify strategies for involving volunteers in their mission in various capacities. - Understand the short- and long-term impact of a successful volunteer engagement plan and experience. |
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| Conquering the Climb: What Lies Beyond a Successful Campaign Kelly Wesley Taylor, Partner, Taylor Bell Consulting; Kristin Tofanelli, Executive Director, Phi Mu Foundation You crushed your fundraising goals! Now what? This presentation explores the crucial steps to take after a triumphant fundraising effort. We'll delve into: - Capitalizing on Momentum: Discover how to leverage your campaign's success to cultivate lasting donor relationships and how to manage challenges and obstacles that can make you lose steam. - Stewarding Your Gifts Wisely: Learn strategies for transparent communication about how donations are being invested and used as well as the importance of on-going stewardship and celebration. - Planning for the Future: Assess and own what worked well and what didn't work well in the last campaign effort. Create a plan to overcome obstacles in order to identify new fundraising opportunities and chart a sustainable course for the future. Don't let the momentum stop, even when obstacles come up! This presentation will equip you with the perspectives and strategies to ensure your past success is a springboard for an even brighter future. Learning Objectives: - Develop a structure to address relationship management strategies to foster trust and loyalty with donors. - Measure and communicate the impact of your campaign (specifically endowment impact) on your mission. - Identify future fundraising goals that align with your foundation's evolving needs. |
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| Leveraging AI to Enhance Connections and Resources for the Future of Fraternity and Sorority Life Ben Gold, Speaker and Consultant, Greek University; Michael Ayalon, CEO, Greek University As fraternities and sororities navigate an evolving landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful tool to enhance connections, optimize resources, and support the long-term success of our organizations. In this workshop, AI consultant and thought leader Ben Gold will guide participants through practical applications of AI tailored to the unique needs of fraternity and sorority headquarters and introduce tools such as ChatGPT, DALLE -3, and Claude. Discover how applying generative AI can improve: - Donor outreach - Generational communication - Organizational efficiency - Alumni marketing - Attracting and retaining the right staff Ben will also touch upon best practices and considerations regarding AI solutions that include data privacy, security, price and efficiency. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, attendees will gain actionable insights into leveraging AI to create a more secure, connected, and efficient organizational infrastructure. Leave this session with a roadmap for integrating AI into your headquarters' strategies, strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, and positioning your organization for success in the digital age. Key Takeaways: - Learn how to utilize AI tools for personalized donor outreach, tailoring communication to high-level donors and maximizing fundraising efforts. - Explore practical ways to leverage AI for targeted, generation-specific alumni communication and marketing strategies. Learning Objectives: - Discover how AI can streamline organizational efficiency through content creation, project planning and data analysis. - Develop an action plan for implementing AI solutions within your organization, considering the unique needs, goals, and culture of your fraternity or sorority. |
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| Yep, we have it all figured out… Higher Ed Trends & Trials: From Giving Day to Principal Gifts Rebekah Cheney, MBA, Director of Annual Giving, Western Carolina University; Ben Pendry, CFRE, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development, Western Carolina University Yeah, we know, you're up to your eyeballs. You're wearing 6 hats and three headbands. We're not here to tell anyone how the grass is so greener in higher ed. We're here to talk about some of the weeds we've pulled and when we've brought out the Round-up. WCU is in the leadership / silent phase of a comprehensive capital campaign and the response thus far has been extraordinary with a side of "get out of my house". A renewed focus on individual and even (GASP) unrestricted giving has been met with a strong response from our donors. Not without our hurdles, we have tried to balance a digital and "one day" strategy with a focus on major gift development. Join Rebekah and Ben as we chat about some of the larger trends in higher ED, an update on WCU's college-development model, and a heavy does of annual giving lessons learned. Learning Objectives: - Identify trends in higher education fundraising which will help attendee consider new renewed ways of conducting their work. - Understand how a regional comprehensive university is depolying a nonprofit approach to supporting the various university colleges. |
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| 12:00 p.m. | 12:15 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 12:15 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. | FFE Lunch & Closing Keynote Overcoming the Competition for Connection Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE, Chief AI Officer at DonorSearch AI, Co-Founder of Fundraising.AI Collaboration | Meet the presenter Connection is the currency of the attention economy. With fewer American household’s giving to charitable organizations annually, coupled with an increased demand for philanthropic dollars, the modern nonprofit dig-deep to understand the forces at play, and learn how to win the competition for connection. This keynote highlights the changing definition of generosity, shedding light on the unprecedented competition for connection facing modern nonprofit organizations. To this end, nonprofits must develop a renewed appreciation for radical connection and learn to leverage technology once only used by for-profit organizations. Using current data and analysis, attendees will learn the importance of measuring and prioritizing connection as well as which technologies can help them to work smarter, not harder. |
| 1:30 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | FFE Alliance Partner-Executive Speed Dating Speed dating offers intentional, focused time between Alliance Partners and key decision-makers from fraternal foundation. 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. |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | FFE Coffee Chats and Ignite Sessions |
| 3:00 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | Networking Break with Alliance Partners |
| 3:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | FFE Breakout Sessions III Traditional breakout sessions with expert presenters and panelists. |
| Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: Recontextualizing the Donor Experience Sean FitzGerald, MA, CFRE, Director of Development, Delta Upsilon Educational Foundation; Justine Thomas, CFRE, Director of Advancement, Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation Most fundraising professional are familiar with the donor pyramid, a relatively clear and simple framework that provides clear stages that can accommodate donors. As you ascend the pyramid, you have fewer donors as the corresponding gift size increases. In this session, we will present an alternative framework and discuss how it can shape and allow for more mindful approaches to your development offices operations and programs. By utilizing the framework of a donor wheel where donors at different stages of their life can connect to the organization as they want, a different set of challenges and opportunities are highlighted during the donor journey. You’ll leave with a better understanding of these fundraising frameworks and concrete examples of ways to utilize the donor wheel model with fraternity and sorority donors at their varying life stages. Learning Objectives: - Reflect thoughtfully on areas of improvement for reaching donor audiences. - Strengthen programs that allow lifestages/lifestyles of donors to jump back in easily. - Adopt new frameworks to the work of the development office and how it approaches lapsed donors. |
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| Navigating Your AI Transformation Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE, Chief AI Officer, DonorSearch “Navigating your AI Transformation” offers a deep dive into the ongoing journey of AI integration within organizations, particularly focusing on its implications and opportunities in the fundraising sector. It discusses the evolution of AI technologies like predictive and generative AI, emphasizing their potential to enhance donor experiences through precision, personalization, and efficiency. Additionally, it addresses common concerns and questions regarding AI, such as privacy, ethical considerations, and the fear of job displacement, reassuring attendees that AI's role is to augment rather than replace human capabilities. The session aims to equip attendees with practical insights on leveraging AI responsibly to optimize and innovate in their operational and strategic endeavors, ultimately driving more informed and effective fundraising practices. |
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| Parent and Family Giving Panel: Four Fraternal Foundations’ Approach to Soliciting Parent and Families Sarah Cone, Senior Director of Development Operations, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation; Cecily Hurt, Senior Director of Annual Giving, Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation; Travis Robinson, Director of Annual Giving, Beta Theta Pi Foundation; Neil Stanglein, Director of Development, Delta Zeta Foundation; Dr. Tony Vukusich, Vice President and Chief Experience Oficer, Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation; Moderated by Alicia Favata, CFRE, Chief Advancement Officer, Delta Zeta Foundation Alpha Delta Pi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Zeta, and Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation staff members will each explain their parent and family giving programs, including statistics, ROI and what they have learned along the way. Staff members will share type of appeal (written or digital), types of segmentation, the time of year they solicit parents and families and what incentives work (and don't work!) to encourage parents and families to support the foundation. Some of these foundations have been soliciting parents and familes since 2016 and will discuss lessons learned from the years of doing this type of appeal. The panel will be moderated by Alicia Favata, CFRE, Chief Advancement Officer for the Delta Zeta Foundation and will have prepared questions for the panel and will also field questions from the participants. Learning Objectives: - Learn about four fraternal foundations' parent and family solicitation methods: USPS or digital, segmentation, time of year and if there are gifts or incentives for giving to the campaign. Campaign and ROI data may date back to 2016 for some of these foundations. - Identify the strengths and areas for growth of their own parent and family solicitations, or gain knowledge about what their own future parent and family giving should include based on the successes, and areas of improvement, of the four foundations on the panel. - Ask fraternity and sorority foundation staff members about the success of their parent and family solicitations, what they would do differently and how the programs will grow in the future. |
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| Stop the Revolving Door: Retention Strategies for Nonprofit Fundraising Talent Beth Bell, Partner, Taylor Bell Consulting; Lindsey Gale, Associate, Taylor Bell Consulting Why are talented fundraisers leaving your organization? This presentation dives deep into the reasons behind high turnover in the nonprofit sector, unveiling insights from a recruiter's perspective. We'll explore factors like workplace culture, workload, lack of resources and support, and unclear goals that push valuable staff towards the exit. But fear not! The presentation doesn't stop at the problem. We'll equip you with actionable solutions to build and retain a thriving fundraising team. Learn how to establish clear expectations, foster a positive work environment, and offer competitive compensation and professional development opportunities. By the end, you'll have a roadmap to keep your top fundraising talent engaged and making a difference. Learning Objectives: - Identify common reasons why talented fundraisers leave nonprofit organizations. - Develop strategies to create a positive and supportive work environment for fundraising staff. - Learn how to implement effective retention strategies. |
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| Utilizing Volunteers in Your Campaign Aleesa Ross, Senior Director of Development, Delta Gamma Foundation Join us during this session as we share best practices for utilizing volunteers in your campaign efforts. The Delta Gamma Foundation recently concluded a five-year, multifaceted campaign that included a capital component. Throughout our campaign, we utilized volunteers in all aspects of our campaign to help us identify new donors, to connect with existing donors, to rally alumnae participation across the United States and Canada, and to ensure we were successful in meeting our campaign goals. In this session we will share what worked well for us, what didn’t work so well, what we learned, and what we would do differently in the future! Learning Objectives: - Identify a campaign volunteer structure to utilize withing your organization - Develop a volunteer campaign strategy that meets the needs of your organization and fits with your campaign goals - Create a campaign volunteer plan for your organization |
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| Unlocking Alumni Connection: Localized Communication Strategies for Fraternal Engagement Rod Barleen, Executive Vice President, Pennington & Company; Heather Matthews, Director of Marketing and Communications, Kappa Delta Foundation The holy grail of marketing: delivering the right message to the right audience at the right time using the right channel. But what about the messenger? The findings from the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Alumni & Donor Engagement Survey report loud and clear that alumni feel that they hear enough from the national organization; but only 30% are satisfied with the amount of communication from their local chapter. When affinity for fraternity is often rooted locally, meaning alumni relate their experience to their chapter, their house, their brothers and sisters, this is a tremendous concern. Join us as fraternal industry communications leaders participate in a lively panel discussion about strategies and tactics to reinvigorate alumni engagement, opportunities to deliver more local content in an efficient and scalable manner, and look into the potential ROI when successful in implementing an effective program. Learning Objectives: - Learn what recent research says about alumni/ae communication preferences. - Construct a plan to build and strengthen lifelong connection with generational target audiences. |
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| Planned Giving Program Results: Before, During and After Your Capital Campaign Sally Kimball, Executive Vice President, Chi Omega Foundation; Wes Wicker, Principal & Partner, Columns Fundraising Estate gifts can play a prominent role in building your Foundation's endowment, and periodic capital campaigns often serve as a way to communicate with donors about how to leave their legacy. This session will look at specific examples of how planned gifts committed during a capital campaign are only the beginning of your program's growth, and the gifts will keep coming well after the capital campaign is declared a success! Our panel will discuss how to build your program before, during, and after the campaign. Learning Objectives: - You will learn the different messaging necessary for planned gift prospects when starting a campaign, during the silent and public phases of the campaign, and after the campaign is completed. - You will learn ways to help prospects make more than one planned gift to your foundation. Estate gifts are contagious! - You will learn how to use your campaign planned gifts as leverage to encourage even more gifts for your next campaign. |
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| 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 |
| Start Time | End Time | Session Description |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | Fraternal Foundation Fundraising Bootcamp Post-conference registration required. View more information here. If you've already completed your Dual Meeting/Seminar registration but want to add this bootcamp, contact Experience Support Manage Gretchen Foran. |
Key:
NIC & FFE Educational Programming & Events
NIC-focused Educational Programming & Events
FFE-focused Educational Programming & Events
View NIC/FFE Dual Meeting Information | View NIC/FFE Alliance Partner Information
View NIC Meeting of Members Information | View FFE Seminar Information
Pre/Post-Conference Add-On Experiences:
CSO-Board Chair Symposium | Sunday, August 18, 2024
The Fraternity Executives Association (FEA) and Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) are partnering to host an executive leadership and governance-focused symposium. This event will connect leaders from the fraternity, foundation and housing arms in one space with a focus on partnership and best practices with programming provided by the Association Management Center (AMC).
The 2024 CSO-Board Chair Symposium will be held in person at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m and includes a working lunch. View registration costs through button below.
FGA Symposium | Sunday, August 18, 2024
The FGA Symposium is a $60 add-on opportunity for all FGA organizations to meet and collaborate on common topics for members of the Fraternal Growth Accelerator. All FGA members are welcome to attend the Symposium which is held in conjunction with the NIC Annual Meeting of Members and FFE Seminar.
The 2024 Symposium will be held in person at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and includes lunch and programming from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Women’s Research Symposium | Monday, August 19, 2024
After great success in hosting the Women’s Foundation Leadership Forum in 2023 alongside Seminar, FFE is excited to host the Women’s Research Symposium in 2024. This pre-Seminar experience offers sorority staff members and volunteers the opportunity to learn about what motivates high-capacity donors and gain insight into Amplifying Sorority Campaign research projects.
The 2024 Women’s Research Symposium will be held in person at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Fraternal Foundation Fundraising Bootcamp | Wednesday, August 21, 2024
The Fraternal Foundation Fundraising Bootcamp, post-con workshop option is available through the standard event registration form as an additional $60 add-on. The bootcamp includes a morning of programming with a strong emphasis on collaboration, action planning and dedicated time spent with content experts in the areas of annual giving, communications, major gifts and mid-level management. With detailed information about how to incorporate recent and relevant fraternal industry research into your work, as well as hands-on activities, participants will walk away with tactical (and practical!) skills to better support their foundation’s fundraising operations.
The 2024 bootcamp will be held in person at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and includes breakfast and programming from 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Schedule subject to change.
View NIC/FFE Dual Meeting Information | View NIC/FFE Alliance Partner Information
View NIC Meeting of Members Information | View FFE Seminar Information
