This flagship program of the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence is the largest of its kind dedicated to education and professional development for fraternal foundation staff and volunteers. Seminar provides attendees with a forum to collaborate on advancing our organizations’ mission while also offering an opportunity to learn new strategies for our work, collaborate on shared business problems and network with peers. In addition, Seminar provides a chance to recognize outstanding achievements of FFE member organizations and individuals through Awards of Distinction.

Thanks for a great 2023 Seminar!

Save the date for 2024: August 19-21 in Indianapolis, Indiana!

SEMINAR REGISTRATION & COSTS

Registration includes educational content starting at 12:30 p.m. and lunch on on Monday, August 28, as well as all programming and meals on Tuesday, August 29, and individual access to digital resources from FFE educational programming following the conclusion of the program.

Seminar registration rates per person:
• Early-Bird Registration, May 1 – June 30: $500 per person
• Standard Registration, July 1 – July 31: $600 per person
• Late Registration, August 1 – 15: $700 per person

View the 2023 schedule!

Interested in registering 8-10 from your organization? If you would like information about bundle pricing ($4,000 for up to 10 organization registrants) for your group to attend the Seminar, contact Gretchen Foran and include the program your group plans to attend as well as number of attendees.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Seminar benefits fraternal organization staff in all functional areas, foundation and fraternity, as well as volunteer and board leadership.

This shared educational experience offers staff and volunteers a full slate of programming aimed toward expanded knowledge across the organization that drives greater benefit for each attendee and greater overall impact.

Educational sessions will engage the following areas of work or related roles within your organization: 
• Annual Giving 
• Capital Campaigns
• Communications 
• Data-driven Operations 
• Day of Giving 
• Donor Engagement
• Foundation Leadership 
• Impact Reporting
• Major Gifts 
• Scholarship and Grant Management 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Programming features a mix of keynote content, focused breakout sessions, small group discussions and networking over the agenda spanning two full days and a partial third day (if opting into add-on experiences).

The curriculum is designed to help participants advance our organizations’ missions while also offering an opportunity to learn new strategies and tools, dig into shared business problems and collaborate in a variety of settings. 

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Seminar content is curated specifically to cover a variety of curriculum areas for fraternal industry professionals and volunteers, including membership data, communications, engagement, fundraising, management and stewardship.

Attendees will leave Seminar with:
• Best practices from remarkable brands to equip you in building a brand that matters
• Increased resiliency skills and an understanding of why we need resiliency now more than ever
• And much more!

See 2023 keynote session & speaker information below!

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

While some attendees participate in the Dual Meeting experience, which includes both the NIC Annual Meeting of Members and FFE Seminar, there are a few add-on experiences designed to meet the specific needs of our fraternal organizations and making the most of your time in Indianapolis.

Consider registering for one of the following pre-con or post-con add-on experiences that supports your role:
NIC FGA Symposium
(FGA members only; Aug. 27)
FFE Women's Foundation Leadership Forum (Women’s foundation executives & board chairs; Aug. 28)
FFE Fraternal Foundation Fundraising Bootcamp (Aug. 30)

2023 KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

Building a Brand that Matters | Monday, Aug. 28, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

R. Ethan Braden, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Purdue University and Purdue Global
Great brands don’t just happen. Rather, they are intentionally and purposefully built over time on certain bedrocks, including a great story and position. And how well a brand is delivered externally depends on how well it is understood internally. As a member of Beta Theta Pi, former staffer, and dedicated volunteer, Ethan has developed a flourishing marketing expertise and career with a rare combination of leadership roles across critical and complex industries: the Federal Government, healthcare, consulting, public higher education, and non-profit. He has demonstrated that the keys to building remarkable brands transcend sectors, demographics, and unmet needs. Join us as he shares stories, lessons, and best practices from remarkable brands that have enchanted audiences and changed lives, leaving you inspired and better equipped to ensure your brand truly matters.

Resiliency Rewind: How to Restart your Foundation Work with More Bounce Back | Tuesday, Aug. 29, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Erin Fischer, Owner & CEO of The Leadership and Training Studio

Our goal is simple. We want to have a live dialogue about the things that really make an impact on foundation staff increasing their resiliency skills. Spoiler alert, two of the biggest tips are minding your own MOVIE and your brain recorder. We will open a conversation about why we need resiliency now more than ever. Then, we will dig into the most practical advice about how to get more of that gold! This presentation is full of intriguing and true stories about the journey to a place of authentic resiliency – for all of us.

Our State of the Industry - By the Numbers | Tuesday, Aug. 29, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Patrick Alderdice and Aaron Parker, Pennington & Company
Pennington and Company has researched, compiled and evaluated IRS Form 990 filings for Greek foundations for the last 20 years. They will deliver the findings of this year’s research and share identified trends from administrative and donor perspectives, while providing their analysis on the challenges and opportunities Greek foundations face in their operations and fundraising. This session provides baseline data on the state of the industry in regards to assets, dollars raised, dollars granted, and various expenses. It also provides comparisons to other philanthropic giving in higher education and public and private foundations for benchmarking purposes.

ABOUT THE 2023 DUAL MEETING

Seminar is a part of the Dual Meeting (inclusive of the NIC Annual Meeting of Members and FFE Seminar). Because of this FFE is able to offer an even greater opportunity for fraternal industry peers to grow together.

Interested in learning more about Dual Meeting registration and costs for your team? Read more on the Dual Meeting page.

Questions?