In today’s fast-paced world, fundraising executives face a unique challenge: capturing and maintaining their team’s attention in an era of shrinking attention spans and increasing complexity. With only 60 seconds to engage, how do you ensure your team stays focused on the tools and technology critical to your success? This session dives into the evolving fundraising landscape, where AI tools and advanced tech stacks are reshaping the way we connect with donors, manage campaigns, and drive results. Learn actionable strategies to foster tech adoption, streamline workflows, and empower your team to embrace innovation without feeling overwhelmed.

You’ll walk away with proven techniques to capture and sustain your team’s attention in a world of distractions, strategies to simplify complex tech stacks and drive adoption across your organization, insights into leveraging AI tools to enhance donor engagement and operational efficiency, and best practices for integrating technology into your fundraising strategy—without losing the human touch.

Speakers:
Cherian Koshy, VP, Kindsight
More speakers to be revealed soon…

In today’s dynamic fundraising landscape, understanding and engaging donors effectively is more critical than ever. This breakout session will explore how to create prospect development flows that not only identify potential donors but also cultivate meaningful connections that inspire generosity across all giving levels. We’ll dive into actionable strategies for leveraging data, storytelling, and personalized engagement to build a seamless donor journey—from initial identification to long-term stewardship.

Attendees will learn how to align prospect research with tailored outreach, ensuring that every interaction feels intentional and impactful. Whether you’re working with major gift prospects, mid-level donors, or first-time contributors, this session will equip you with the tools to design development flows that foster trust, deepen relationships, and drive sustainable support for your mission. Join us to unlock the power of informed generosity and take your prospect development strategy to the next level.

Speakers:
T. Clay Buck, Founder, Next River Fundraising Strategies
Julie M. Shaon, Interim Department Lead and Senior Director Operations, Advancement, INSEAD Business School

Tired of reacting to never-ending technology requests? This session brings together forward-thinking strategies from Colorado State University and UC San Francisco to help you transition from reactive problem-solving to proactive, strategic technology management. Learn how CSU established clear processes and transparent governance with a Technical Leadership Council and a cross-divisional Enhancement Request Committee—moving enhancement ideas smoothly from intake to deployment while engaging users every step of the way. Then, discover how UCSF builds actionable technology roadmaps that align stakeholders, capture true capacity, and provide intelligent buffers for the unexpected. You’ll leave equipped with practical tools to help your advancement office or nonprofit move further—faster—with technology resources.

Speakers:
Samantha Schwind, Associate Director, Business Solutions, Colorado State University
Rowena Montoya, Director, Central Development Services, University of California, San Francisco

Join Cherian Koshy, a leading expert in fundraising and behavioral science, for an engaging session inspired by his new book, Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making. Dive into the revolutionary insights of neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology to uncover the hidden motivations behind charitable giving and what truly drives people to give—and keep giving.

This session will challenge traditional fundraising tactics, shifting the focus from persuasion to understanding the innate generosity within donors. Learn how to craft clear, science-backed messaging and identify barriers that hinder giving, creating a frictionless path to philanthropy. Through real-world examples, cutting-edge research, and actionable strategies, you’ll gain practical tools to inspire meaningful connections and build lasting donor relationships. This session will give you the tools you need to revolutionize your approach—and elevate your fundraising game.

Speaker:
Cherian Koshy, VP, Kindsight

By operating at the intersection of data analytics and frontline fundraising, Portfolio Strategy Analysts serve as strategic advisors who help development officers make informed, timely, and impactful decisions grounded in both the art and science of development work. This session will present a proven model for enhancing fundraising effectiveness through strategic forecasting and data-driven portfolio management. We’ll outline a structured process that includes monthly portfolio check-ins, curated prospect referrals, and individualized portfolio reviews. These practices are supported by a robust forecasting framework that enables teams to anticipate pipeline gaps, identify high-potential prospects, and align solicitation timing with donor readiness. The result? Increased solicitation activity, improved donor engagement, and measurable growth in both the number and value of gift opportunities. In one fiscal year, this model contributed over $34.5 million to the fundraising pipeline and facilitated thousands of prospect referrals.

Attendees will leave this session with actionable strategies for implementing a similar model—enhancing collaboration, improving forecasting accuracy, and driving sustainable fundraising growth through a data-informed, relationship-centered approach.

Speaker:
Mattie Snell, Manager of Portfolio Strategy, Texas A&M
Chris Speier, VP and Chief Data Officer at Texas A&M Foundation

Going live with your new CRM isn’t the victory lap—it’s just the beginning. What follows can be even more critical to long-term success. The stabilization phase often brings surprises: new issues emerge, user expectations shift, and the real test of your implementation begins. In this candid panel, representatives from NC State, Northwestern, and Pomona will share their post-launch journeys with Kindsight Ascend—what went well, what they wish they’d known, and how they adapted in real time. We’ll explore practical strategies for managing competing demands, maintaining user engagement, and continuing to build trust while addressing bugs, fixes, and enhancement requests. Key topics will include expectation-setting with leadership and end users, transparent communication practices, governance structures, and techniques for managing change fatigue. We’ll also talk about how to keep momentum going after the spotlight fades, and how to foster a culture of patience, iteration, and continuous improvement. Whether you’re preparing to go live or already deep in the stabilization phase, this session will provide real-world insights, lessons learned, and actionable strategies to help your team stay grounded, aligned, and forward-focused during one of the most challenging—and important—stretches of your CRM journey.

Speakers:
Jeff Baynham, Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement Services, NC State University
Kate Maloney, Lead Project Manager, Northwestern University
Shalonda Martin, Executive Director for Advancement Services, Pomona College
Caroline Chang, VP, Advancement, Kindsight

Launching your CRM isn’t a sprint or even a marathon….it’s a triathlon, and all of us need to be prepared for the portion of the race after you are live. How do you accomplish this and see the ROI you had envisioned? First, expectation management is essential and things like good governance are required. Second, planning and prioritization are crucial elements; you need to handle the “big rocks” first. Third, leadership discipline and clarity are key. This panel session will draw from dozens of CRM launches so you can prepare in advance of your Go-Live or stabilize the team if things are bumpy.

Speakers:
Chris Cannon, Chief Strategy Officer, Zuri Group
More speakers to be revealed soon…

The world of philanthropy is undergoing a seismic transformation, driven by innovative trends and the rise of new generational perspectives. In this session, we’ll explore how emerging concepts like giving circles, multi-generational (G2/G3) engagement, and collaborative funding models are reshaping the way individuals and communities approach charitable giving. Discover how these trends are fostering inclusivity, amplifying impact, and empowering younger generations to take the reins in creating meaningful change. We’ll dive into the mechanics of these movements, share real-world success stories, and discuss how developers and changemakers can harness these shifts to build platforms, tools, and strategies that resonate with today’s philanthropists.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the philanthropic space, this session will equip you with actionable insights to navigate and contribute to the evolving landscape of giving. Join us to learn how to inspire the next wave of generosity and innovation in philanthropy.

Speakers:
Cherian Koshy, VP, Kindsight
More speakers to be revealed soon…

In many organizations, reporting lives in a centralized office, where every request funnels through a small team of specialists. While this model provides consistency and trust, it can become a bottleneck that slows decisions and limits innovation. This session tells the story of how Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association shifted from a centralized reporting model to a culture of empowerment—where staff across the organization now use Salesforce reporting, Apsona, and Power BI to leverage data in their day-to-day work. Join us to explore how building reporting communities of practice can unlock the potential of your teams. We’ll discuss how to create inclusive communities that blend staff from across advancement teams with data professionals; what technical resources are essential to supporting them; and how to provide the right balance of training and ongoing support to ensure lasting adoption. You’ll leave this session with practical steps to launch or strengthen your own reporting communities, helping your organization create efficiencies, expand data fluency, and accelerate fundraising impact.

Speaker:
Marianne Siess, Chief Information Officer, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association

Budgets: the unavoidable elephant in the room for fundraising executives. As financial landscapes grow increasingly complex, managing budgets has become a high-stakes challenge that demands strategic finesse. In this session, we’ll confront the realities of today’s intricate budgeting processes head-on. Join a panel of experts and seasoned leaders as they share actionable insights, innovative strategies, and real-world experiences to help you navigate the evolving financial maze. From prioritizing resources to aligning budgets with mission-driven goals, this session will equip you with the tools and confidence to tackle budget complexities and drive impactful results. Let’s turn the elephant into an opportunity for growth and success.

Facilitators:
Brian Flahaven, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
More facilitators to be revealed soon…

Ready to turn data into dependable revenue? This hands-on session shows you how to use research and analytics to grow giving with clarity and confidence. Lori Collins brings deep expertise leading enterprise analytics for national nonprofits, while strategist T. Clay Buck translates insights into practical fundraising moves you can execute right away.

You’ll learn to read the economic signals that matter for philanthropy in 2025 and model how they may affect your donor file and revenue mix. You’ll measure market awareness with simple, repeatable methods to understand how many people truly know your mission and where to invest to improve it. You’ll apply predictive models to real scenarios, such as identifying high-value prospects, setting right-sized ask strings, and building a stronger mid-level and major-gift pipeline. Finally, you’ll turn these findings into action plans, including quick wins for your next campaign, tests to run in the next 30–60 days, and metrics to track momentum over time.

Facilitators:
Lori Collins, EVP of Analytics, RKD Group
T. Clay Buck, Founder, Next River Fundraising Strategies

In a rapidly evolving landscape, staying innovative is critical for driving ROI and achieving long-term success. Whether your organization is just beginning its CRM journey or operating at a highly strategic level, there’s always room to iterate and grow—and make more for your mission as a result.

This workshop is the first step in the journey from reactive to proactive; from ad hoc to data-driven decision-making. Not an easy shift to make—but one that can transform your organization long-term.
This session is designed to empower you to not only adapt to change but to lead it with confidence, ensuring your organization remains ahead of the curve. Plus, you’ll connect with peers at various stages of their CRM journeys, gaining valuable perspectives to help you navigate your own path.

Attend this workshop to learn how to measure and maximize the impact of your CRM investments, no matter where you are on the maturity curve. Discover strategies to transition from reactive to proactive approaches by leveraging data and automation to stay ahead of trends. Build essential skills in data analytics and predictive modeling for smarter, more effective outcomes. Gain a deeper understanding of how to integrate CRM with finance, marketing, and stewardship systems, transforming it into a fully operational, strategic asset. And finally, share insights and draw inspiration from others navigating similar challenges, whether you’re in the ad hoc or strategic stages of CRM development.

Facilitators:
To be revealed soon…