Pre-Conference Sessions

All pre-conference sessions will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Elevate

Leading the Evolution: Mastering Innovation and Change Management in Advancement Services | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | $100 per person

Led by Jessica LaBorde, Mark Longo, and Jeff Beynham

Advancement Services serves as the backbone of philanthropy, yet leaders often struggle to implement transformative changes within established institutional cultures. Please join Jessica LaBorde, Mark Longo, and Jeff Beynham for this interactive preconference session, designed specifically for senior leaders and directors looking to move beyond routine operations and drive meaningful innovation. Participants will explore the dual necessity of fostering a culture of creative problem-solving while applying rigorous change management frameworks to ensure lasting success.

The session moves past theoretical discussion into practical application. Through a series of collaborative workshops, attendees will:

• Analyze the psychological and structural barriers to change within advancement teams.
• Develop tailored communication strategies to gain stakeholder buy-in across the institution.
• Architect a roadmap for navigating the "messy middle" of organizational transitions.  

Data Analytics

From Data to Decisions: Strengthening Data Management in Advancement | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | $100 per person

Strong data management is the foundation of effective advancement—and this interactive workshop is designed to help you build it with confidence. Join fellow advancement professionals for a practical, engaging exploration of the key components of modern data management, including data quality, governance, security, and privacy. The session also features a focused discussion on governance considerations for artificial intelligence, helping you navigate emerging risks and opportunities with clarity.

Led by experienced data management practitioners, this workshop brings concepts to life through real-world examples drawn from higher education and nonprofit advancement. You’ll participate in roundtable discussions and hands-on activities that encourage peer learning, idea sharing, and candid conversation across institutions.

Come ready to think, explore, and contribute. You’ll leave with concrete samples, practical takeaways, and fresh ideas you can immediately apply within your advancement services team. Whether you’re new to data management or looking to refine and mature your practices, this session offers valuable insights for practitioners at all levels.

Gift Agreements

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | $100 per person

This interactive pre-conference session will bring gift administration professionals together to explore some of the most complex and evolving challenges in the field, from interpreting donor intent and managing amendments to navigating donor notifications, negative confirmation processes, and fund stewardship. Through facilitated table discussions and real-world case studies, participants will engage with “sticky” scenarios involving incomplete information, donor control considerations, audit issues, and cross-campus collaboration with partners such as finance, treasury, legal and development teams. The session will also highlight strategies for communicating policy, training staff, and aligning risk tolerance across units, equipping attendees with practical tools they can take back to their institutions. Designed to be highly participatory, this session emphasizes shared learning, peer exchange, and actionable insights for strengthening gift administration practices.

Key Topics Covered:

• Collaborations
• Budget Office, Treasury, General Counsel/Legal & Accounting
• Stewardship & Donor Relations
• Risk tolerance
• Donor Control
• Interpretation of terms
• Amendments & Revisions
• Implementation of Administration
• Audits
• Training
• Usage of AI