Workshop: Increasing Alumni Participation

Wellesley, MA — October 3rd, 2019 (9am-5pm)

Overview

A growing number of advancement programs report that alumni participation is among their highest priorities. But limited resources, competing interests, and a twenty-year national decline in the percentage of alumni who donate to their alma maters annually offer many challenges for academic institutions who seek to buck the trend.

Join us on Thursday, October 3rd at the Babson Executive Conference Center in Wellesley, MA for a 1-day intensive workshop that will provide you and your colleagues with a framework for understanding the importance of alumni participation and empower you with ideas and strategies for increasing it at your own institution. Participants will have an opportunity to:

  • Learn from experts about the latest trends and best practices in alumni participation
  • Participate in focused, small-group strategy sessions
  • Network with peers to share ideas and experiences
  • Obtain workshop handouts and other materials
  • Receive a complimentary copy of Dan Allenby’s book on alumni participation
  • Earn up to 6 points of CFRE credit
  • And more!

This event is ideal for annual giving, alumni relations, and other advancement staff, as well as volunteers and colleagues from outside of advancement who wish to develop a plan for increasing alumni participation rates. Morning refreshments, a full buffet networking lunch, and ongoing snacks and beverages will be provided.

  • AGN Members save an additional 20%
  • Receive further discounts when registering multiple attendees from one institution

Program

AGN workshops bring together advancement professionals in a small group setting to learn about important topics and develop new skills. This event includes general sessions as well as interactive breakouts where participants can share challenges, exchange ideas, and discover best practices.

8:00am – Registration Begins / Morning Refreshments

9:00am – Welcome / Workshop Overview

9:15am – The Alumni Participation Crisis

10:15am – Small Group, Block 1

  • Calculating and Reporting Alumni Participation Rates
  • Leveraging Special Campaigns and Challenges to Boost Participation
  • Engaging Volunteers in Alumni Participation Efforts

11:30am – Small Group, Block 2

  • Developing Segmentation and Messages to Maximize Participation
  • Increasing Young Alumni and Student Engagement and Gift Participation
  • Maximizing Alumni Donor Stewardship and Retention

12:30pm – Networking Buffet Lunch

1:15pm – Small Group, Block 3

  • Calculating and Reporting Alumni Participation Rates
  • Leveraging Special Campaigns and Challenges to Boost Participation
  • Engaging Volunteers in Alumni Participation Efforts

2:30pm – Small Group, Block 4

  • Developing Segmentation and Messages to Maximize Participation
  • Increasing Young Alumni and Student Engagement and Gift Participation
  • Maximizing Alumni Donor Stewardship and Retention

3:45pm – Faculty Panel / Q&A

4:45pm – Workshop Wrap-up

5:00pm – Networking Reception

Faculty

Edward Chiu | Senior Vice President for Advancement at Babson College

Edward has more than two decades of experience in higher education advancement, and currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Advancement at Babson College. In this role, he is a member of the President’s Executive Leadership team and provides strategic vision for Babson’s Development, Alumni & Friends, Advancement Services, Events Management, and Communications teams. He has previously held advancement leadership positions at UMass Lowell, Providence College, and St. John's University. Ed has an MA in education and a BS in business from the University of Connecticut.

 

Gina Fiorillo | Senior Director of Annual Giving at The Rutgers University Foundation

Gina currently serves as the Senior Director of Annual Giving at the Rutgers University Foundation. With more than 20 years of experience in annual giving and development, she has previously worked at Kean University and Douglass College as well as several non-profits including Slow Food USA and the George Street Playhouse. Gina holds a BA in English from Rutgers University.

 

Skylar Beaver | Director of The Lawrenceville Fund at The Lawrenceville School

Skylar currently serves as the Director of The Lawrenceville Fund at The Lawrenceville School. In her decade of experience, she has also led annual giving efforts at The Spence School, Washington and Lee University, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Skylar holds an MPA in nonprofit management from SUNY Brockport and a BA in Sociology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

 

Anne Murphy | Director of Resource Development at AGN

Anne has over 10 years of experience in annual giving and volunteer engagement. Previously, she served as Director of Annual Giving at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, and held annual giving positions at St. Mark's School of Texas, University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, and at the Public Broadcasting Service. Anne holds an MPA from George Mason University and a BA from the University of Virginia.

 

Dan Allenby | Principal & Founder of AGN

Dan is an author, speaker, and consultant who has worked with academic institutions for over two decades to train their advancement staff and volunteers. A recipient of the prestigious CASE “Crystal Apple” award for teaching excellence, Dan is an internationally-recognized expert on annual giving and alumni engagement. He chaired CASE’s Institute for Senior Annual Giving Professionals and its Annual Giving Workshop for five collective terms and served on the faculty for CASE’s Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising. His book—Ideas for Annual Giving—offers the latest designs for helping institutions increase annual giving and boost alumni participation. Previously, he served as the Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving at Boston University, and also led annual giving and member marketing efforts at Tufts University, Georgetown University, and the National Geographic Society. Dan received an MBA from Boston College and a BA from James Madison University, and a certificate in the Management of Communication Organizations from Tufts University. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

 

Travel

AGN is pleased to host this event at the Babson Executive Conference Center in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Nestled within the picturesque campus of Babson College—home to business leaders pursuing new opportunities for growth and innovation—the conference center offers guests a secluded, interactive environment to collaborate, learn, and achieve results together.​​​​​​​​ Just a short ride from Boston and Logan Airport, the conference center is easily accessible.

Overnight Accommodations:

While the workshop is a single day event, out-of-town attendees have a variety of options for lodging. The following hotels are located less than 15 minutes from the conference center:

Driving:

There is ample complimentary parking at the conference center garage or the adjacent lots. It is recommended that you use the main entrance of Babson College (231 Forest Street, Babson Park, MA) for directions and GPS.

Alternative Transportation:

For those not driving, many public and private transportation alternatives are available, including:

  • MBTA Commuter Rail: The closest commuter rail stations are Wellesley Hills (1.9 miles) and Rte. 128/Westwood (10.4 miles). Private transportation is needed between the stations and the Babson Executive Conference Center.
  • MBTA Subway: The closest subway stations are Woodland (4.3 miles) and Riverside (4.3 miles) on the Green Line. Private transportation is needed between the stations and the Babson Executive Conference Center.
  • Amtrak: The closes Amtrak station is Framingham (10.4 miles). Private transportation is needed between the station and the Babson Executive Conference Center.
  • Uber and Lyft: Approximately $50 ride from Logan Airport (19.7 miles)
  • Wellesley Town Taxi (781.237.2201) and Veterans Taxi (617.527.0300).
  • Wellesley Carriage (800.836.0006): Providing sedan, van, or bus transportation to any location in the Greater Boston, Metrowest, Worcester areas, including Logan Airport, T.F. Green, and regional Amtrak stations.

For more information about this workshop, please contact us at 888.407.5064 or [email protected].