Breakout Sessions G

Day Two | Thursday, November 14, 2024

1G: Building Your Privacy-Forward Audience Pipeline

72% of people feel that almost everything they do online is being tracked. 81% of that group say the potential risks they face outweigh the benefits. Because of this, tech giants and regulatory bodies are making huge shifts in audience targeting, you're likely already seeing the impact. More than 30 U.S. state laws concerning data privacy are either being considered or were recently approved. More importantly, public expectation that you'll respect their growing awareness and concern for their privacy will only keep rising. This session will give you the state-of-play of the data privacy environment: how we got here, where we're going, and what you can do to stay ahead. You'll learn key considerations in building a consent-based marketing framework for your communications, technology, and fundraising strategies. This will help you future-proof your audience engagement, ensure your third-party partners are aligned with your vision, and initiate buy-in within your organization.

Elyse Wallnutt is a senior marketing and tech leader with 16+ years of experience driving results at the intersection of revenue, advocacy, brand, and policy objectives. After nearly two decades working in leadership roles for some of the largest nonprofit brands in the world — including Amnesty International, The Nature Conservancy, Center for American Progress, and World Food Program USA – she launched Agility Lab Consulting to help nonprofits and higher education institutes reach their audience engagement and fundraising objectives through strategies that stay ahead of shifts in technology, algorithms, consumer interest, and rising demand for privacy. Elyse specializes in strategic assessment and alignment of content strategy, financial projections, tech stack integration, media investments, and user experience design to better reach your target audiences.

Mark Koenig is the vice president for technology and chief innovation officer for the OSU Foundation. In this role, he serves as the Foundation's technology strategist, including oversight of relationship insights, pipeline development, analytics, data and CRM operations, and technology services .Mr. Koenig is the past chair of the Ellucian Advancement Executive Advisory Committee and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Service Award from CASE District VIII recognizing his many years of service to the organization and in 2018, he received the Ellucian "EllumiNation" Community Award recognizing his dedication to infusing innovation throughout the advancement profession. Mr. Koenig earned his bachelor's in history and economics from the University of Houston and a master's in adult education and organizational capacity from OSU.

2G: Optimizing Operations: Streamlining User Onboarding, Training, and Documentation through Automation

In this session, we'll present our efficient use of automation in streamlining user onboarding, training, and documentation processes. Leveraging accessible tools like PowerAutomate and DocuSign, we demonstrate how we improved the quality and accountability of creating new users. Our approach includes automating the signing of user agreements, tracking mandatory training completion before system access, and documenting new customizations and features. These automations not only enhance our processes but also enable easy reporting on key executive metrics.

S. Jefferson Davis IV brings nearly 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. He has successfully been a key person in implementing CRM systems at The Salvation Army Southern Territory and Georgia Tech, demonstrating his expertise in optimizing organizational efficiency. Passionate about error-free workflows, Jefferson has worked with various platforms including Great Plains Accounting, Blackbaud CRM, and GiveCampus. Beyond his professional endeavors, Jefferson finds joy in diverse interests. He is an avid investor and proficient brass instrumentalist, with a primary focus on the trombone. Additionally, he nurtures his artistic side through photography and explores the world through travel. His adventures have taken him to captivating destinations such as Iceland, Belize, China, and Mongolia. Jefferson cherishes quality time with his family, relishing moments with his wife Katy and daughter Eliana, which enrich his life outside of work.

Heather Kutzman, Manager of Strategic Operations and Learning, has been with the Georgia Tech Foundation Information Technology and Data Services team for three years. She creates and organizes documentation for team processes and new customizations developed by the Foundation's Development team for their BBCRM instance. Heather played a pivotal role in establishing comprehensive documentation and conducts training sessions for all new and existing BBCRM users. As a Georgia Tech alum, she appreciates the opportunity to work with the team to advance the mission of the Institute. Heather co-presented at a recent CASE conference, sharing insights on training and documentation. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and planning her next beach trip.

 3G: Beat the Burnout: A Case Study in Overcoming Workload Challenges

Calling all Advancement Service Teams! In the face of overwhelming workloads, it is crucial for leaders to set clear priorities and ensure resources are directed toward tasks that align with strategic goals and bring the most value. Join us for an insightful session where we delve into a compelling case study from the University of Colorado System Advancement Office. Discover how CU System Advancement utilized tailored Agile practices to balance limited resources with multiple demands, avoiding burnout, while improving partner relations and overall operational performance. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your strategic approach and drive impactful change within your organization.

Doug Huffman is a seasoned team and leadership coach fostering innovative solutions through team-centric structures, leveraging modern collaboration practices. Certified Agile software delivery practitioner leading large scale programs as well as diverse teams delivering business value across a variety of corporate functions. Notable experience performing a variety of delivery roles that include company-wide collaborative program management, cross functional team facilitation as Scrum Master and Lean/Kanban coach, and organizational change leader empowering communities of practice leveraging modern engineering techniques.

Abby Palsic, Higher Education Practice Director at Innovative Insights, offers over 20 years of experience in higher education advancement. She is skilled at building a strong rapport with internal and external partners. Throughout her career, Abby has blended her passion for the art and science of fundraising to produce breakthrough solutions and propel performance to the next level.

Annie Baccary serves as Vice President for Advancement Administration in the University of Colorado System Administration office. She serves as a leader and convenor, working closely with CU’s four campus Vice Chancellors for Advancement and the President of the CU Foundation to maximize constituent engagement and philanthropic support for CU. She provides management, coordination and leadership of key service areas designed to provide excellent customer service, strategy, expertise and efficiency to our partners on CU’s campuses and at the CU Foundation. These service areas include: constituent research, prospect development, data management, business intelligence, CRM management, annual giving, planned giving, marketing and communications, stewardship, IT, budget and finance, and more. Annie has always had a passion for higher education. She believes that the value higher education provides to society is immense and sees philanthropy as instrumental to achieving and enhancing that value

4G: Unlocking Fundraising Success: Powering Discovery and Referrals with Goal Motivation

The University of Central Florida Prospect Development Team and Annual Giving team has worked together to improve our Discovery outreach and process for measuring the impact of referrals through the pipeline. In partnership with Major giving, Alumni Engagement, and Marketing teams, we knew the ability to report the impact and return on investment of our work would be important to future conversations with our executive team. We have adopted a new tracking methodology that measures fundraiser activity for referrals with number of interactions, meetings, solicitations, dollars raised, and prospect management movement and implemented discovery goal metrics for both Annual Giving and Major Giving Officers to work through and track in real time. We will share examples on the impact of referrals and discovery work that can be implemented in a small or large shop. Hear from a Gift Officer their process for successful Discovery outreach and referrals.

Kim Sargent is the Associate Director, Prospect Management at the University of Central Florida Advancement and Partnerships. She has 6 years experience in tracking and reporting constituent activity, prospect pools and strategy development in the nonprofit sector and fundraising events and 10 years experience in non-credit and professional development programs and events. 

Joshua Goodridge is the Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving at UCF, supporting the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He leverages his strong UCF spirit and positive attitude to collaborate with alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university, to support annual giving and build the pipeline of philanthropy. Previous to this role, Joshua was a major part of the Alumni Engagement team for two years, leading the regional program through a rebrand to UCF Communities, managing 30 Communities and 200+ volunteers, helping UCF Alumni exceed engagement goals.

5G: Data Governance: Real Life Examples and Remedies from the Crypt

Data Governance is a popular phrase these days, but what does it really mean? Is it data quality, ownership, stewardship, access, accountability, security? It's all of the above and more. Come and participate in a presentation of real life examples and solutions ranging from CRM implementation to electronic marketing and more. We'll also view some artifacts that are helpful in implementation and key points to cover. Bring your questions for this interactive session.

Terry Callaghan is a seasoned advancement professional with over 20 years of experience. She is currently the Associate Vice President, Management Consulting at Zuri Group where she leads the Data Governance Practice. Terry consults on a wide-range of subject areas including CRM selection and implementation, data quality, technology governance and gift administration. Prior to Zuri Group, Terry was Associate Vice President, Information Technology, Analytics and Gift Processing for Rutgers University Foundation where she oversaw all IT needs for the foundation as well as gift and biographic data maintenance. Her prior experience includes leading data quality efforts at a Fortune 100 investment company. Terry is Director of Strategic Partnerships for the aasp Executive Board. She holds the Certified Information Management Professional (CIMP) – Data Governance designation.

6G: Innovation, Reliability, and Community: How Affinaquest is Driving the Advancement Technology Evolution

In advancement, staying ahead requires a blend of innovation, reliable technology, and a loyal, engaged community. At Affinaquest, we leverage these three pillars to ensure our clients are always ahead of the curve. This session will host an in-depth presentation exploring Affinaquest’s approach to shaping the future, ensuring security and dependability, and fostering an active user community across advancement.

Learn how Advancement RM’s unique architecture strikes the delicate balance between flexibility and scalability, particularly in critical areas like gift processing and data management. See how our commitment to regular, synchronized releases with Salesforce updates sets Affinaquest apart by providing a consistent, reliable, and robust user experience that yields tangible results. Discover how new feature developments will transform time consuming manual tasks into streamlined automations- saving time and resources. 

Join us to gain a deeper understanding of how Affinaquest and Advancement RM are shaping the future of advancement technology with strategies and innovations that set us apart. Whether you are a current client or new to Affinaquest, this session will provide valuable insights and practical takeaways to inform your advancement strategy.

Melissa Kwilosz focuses on technology capabilities for advancement, helping clients solve for complex requirements with solutions that drive the unique business of fundraising and alumni relations. With more nearly 25 years of experience in advancement – including positions in annual giving, major gifts, reporting and analytics, advancement services, and information systems – she has a deep understanding of the business of advancement and its important relationship to the broader institution. Prior to joining Affinaquest, Melissa led technology implementations with colleges and universities transitioning from legacy platforms into the Salesforce ecosystem. Melissa also served as Chief Information Officer at ASU Enterprise Partners (including the ASU Foundation), establishing and driving the execution of the roadmap for next-generation advancement solutions comprised of foundational platforms including Advancement RM, Marketing Cloud, and Commerce Cloud.