9:00-11:30 a.m. Pre-Conference Workshops
Pre-conference workshops are free, but space is limited and registration is required.
You can only register for one of the workshops and you must also be registered for the full conference.
An Introduction to Annual Giving and the “Meeting of the Minds” Conference
Bob Burdenski, Robert Burdenski Annual Giving
Mountain Vista Room
New to the profession? New to the conference? Join CASE Laureate and long-time MOTM host Bob Burdenski for an overview of today’s annual giving fundraising. We’ll talk about the evolving goals, methods, channels, messages, metrics — and the very idea of “annual giving” itself. Ideal for “newbies” (or you “oldbies” in need of a refresh) and also get some ideas for maximizing your “Minds” conference experience in Pomona.
Pre-Conference Workshop:
Advancement Services Fundamentals: Accepting Weird and Bizarre Gifts
John Taylor, John H. Taylor Consulting
Valley Vista Room
This workshop will address key gift acceptance topics. The initial emphasis attempts to address how donors are attempting to donate unique, and not always desired, forms of non-cash gifts. The workshop will focus on the establishment of protocol and policy to facilitate acceptance or rejection of these gifts. Part of this will address the importance of Gift Acceptance Policies and the associated Gift Acceptance Committee. The participants will learn how CASE addresses these topics, providing valuable insights for all nonprofit organizations regardless of type. This will include a look at gifts of securities, as well as the IRS’s concern regarding related versus unrelated gifts of property. Accompanying these discussions will be a discussion of counting versus valuing and the numerous IRS forms and documents required when accepting and processing various forms of property gifts. The workshop will conclude a lightning round covering a dozen or so forms of non-standard gifts – including cryptocurrency!
12:00-1:00 p.m. Registration Open
Registration and Networking in the Sponsor Lounge
1:00-1:45 p.m. Opening Session
Be Mindful: All The Sessions You Don’t Want To Miss… Welcome, Introductions and the Beginning of the 2026 “Meeting of the Minds“
Bob Burdenski and John Taylor, Conference co-Chairs
With a Special Welcome from Frances Teves, Vice President for University Advancement, Cal Poly Pomona
Auditorium Room
Well-known Crystal Apple teachers, CASE Laureates, authors, listserv moderators, and fundraising curmudgeons Bob Burdenski and John Taylor launch the 2026 Meeting of the Minds Conference with a festive welcome and a rapid-fire rundown of their favorite advancement services and annual giving conference sessions and speakers to follow. Often in sync, lovingly in conflict, and always working in support of philanthropic goals, annual giving and advancement services offices play a critical role in advancement success. Join Bob and John as they provide a preview of the great conference sessions to come, and hear a special welcome from our sponsors. And let’s see what they misspelled this year!
1:45-2:15 p.m. Plenary Session
Opening Plenary:
Your Crowdsourced AI Update for Annual Giving and Advancement Services
Bob Burdenski with Rodger Devine, Pomona College
You’re the contributors for an instant inventory and discussion about who’s using AI in their work for exactly what at this moment. Using open-ended Menti questions on the various uses of AI, we’ll compile and discuss the uses of AI in the room for:
◾ Your First “Gateway” Use of AI in Your Personal and Professional Life
◾ Writing “First Drafts” of Content or Messages?
◾ As a Search Engine to Find Answers to Questions?
◾ To Create Graphics, Video or Designs?
◾ To Review Your Work For Clarity, Voice, Biases, Etc.?
◾ For Summarizing Content or Notes – Meeting Recording Minutes, or Groups of Messages?
◾ For Automation/Coding/Programming?
◾ Other Ways You Use AI Today?
◾ And What Tools Are You Talking About When You Say “AI”?
We will also give the floor to the non-adopters (including those with environmental concerns) and welcome their thoughts and comments too. Join us for a real-time look at who’s incorporated AI into their work – and how.
2:15 – 2:45 p.m. Gourmet Popcorn Break in the Sponsor Lounge
Compliments of Kindsight. Join us for a gourmet popcorn buffet and a great opportunity to get your sponsor bingo cards stamped!
2:45-3:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions
A Resources Reality Forum: Doing More with Less
Derrick Fang, Cal Poly Pomona
Auditorium Room
Session description to follow.
Ghosted by Gold: Recent Graduates and Philanthropy
Haven Watts, Alexa Finn and Megan Fesolovich, Claremont McKenna College
Mountain Vista Room
It’s a discussion on engaging the hardest-to-reach alumni. Young alumni—passionate, connected, and full of potential—are also among the most elusive when it comes to giving. In this interactive roundtable, we’ll explore why GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) donors so often disappear after graduation—and how we might bring them back. Join Claremont McKenna College as they share insights from their latest GOLD Challenge, featuring creative “Mini-Carlo” events, and connect with peers to swap strategies, challenges, and success stories. Whether you’ve been ghosted or cracked the code, come ready to share and learn from others in the same pursuit.
Task Management for Well-Being in Advancement Services
Chelsey Morrison, Harvey Mudd College
Valley Vista Room
Advancement Services professionals are often the quiet problem-solvers behind the scenes, managing constant requests, shifting priorities, and invisible workloads. At Harvey Mudd College, it was realized that to support colleagues effectively — from Major Gift Officers to leadership — we first needed to support ourselves. In 2023, the team adopted Teamwork and Teamwork Desk as our task management and ticketing tools. What began as a way to handle requests has become a form of self-care: a framework that reduces burnout, clarifies priorities, and provides the data needed to advocate for the team. By shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach, utilizing automations, and capturing metrics with Tags, they’ve transformed the workflow, enhanced collaboration, and gained the ability to demonstrate value in tangible ways. This session will share the HMC journey, the lessons learned, and practical strategies that other teams can adapt to foster efficiency, collaboration, and well-being, regardless of the platform they use.
Key Takeaways
◾ Investing in Ourselves Strengthens the Organization: How structured workflows protect staff time, prevent burnout, and improve service to colleagues.
◾ Technology as Self-Care: Practical ways task management and ticketing systems help teams shift from reactive to proactive.
◾ Metrics for Advocacy: How reporting from task systems can demonstrate impact, justify resources, and elevate the visibility of Advancement Services.
The Eight Principles of Annual Giving
Clark Gafke, LEAD Philanthropy
Campus Vista Room
Discover the science behind donor motivation in this engaging and insightful session! Principles of Ethically Influencing Annual Giving will equip you with eight proven principles—Authority, Consistency, Contrast, Liking, Reciprocity, Scarcity, Social Proof, and Unity—that inspire donors to make meaningful gifts to their university. Rooted in the groundbreaking research of the Cialdini Institute, these principles provide a framework for authentic and ethical donor engagement. Clark Gafke, a Cialdini Certified Professional and Ethical Influence Practitioner, will guide you through the subtle yet powerful elements of everyday communication that drive generosity. With practical examples and actionable takeaways, this session will empower you to build stronger connections with donors and achieve sustainable results in annual giving. Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, this session will improve the way you approach donor engagement!
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI tips for Development & Alumni Relations
Akhil Nambiar and Lauren Daley, Almabase
Hillside West
Tired of AI buzzwords? In this session, we cut through the noise to give you a grounded, research-backed tour of how you, as a development and alumni relations professional, can actually use AI right now to work smarter, not just harder. We’ve tested today’s most impactful and affordable AI tools, from ChatGPT to Perplexity and beyond, for use cases that are relevant to you. We’ll walk you step-by-step through approachable, high-value use cases: prospect research, automating admin, personalizing communication at scale, and more. You’ll see live demos using sector-relevant scenarios, so you can judge for yourself which tools fit your needs (no technical background required!). Whether you’re AI-curious or ready to level up, skip the generic slides and product pitches. Leave with a practical shortlist of AI solutions (many free or low-cost) and simple frameworks to help your team save time, increase impact, and build stronger alumni relationships – starting tomorrow. You don’t have to do all the research; we’ve done it for you. Come for the “aha” moments, stay for the toolkit.
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Gourmet Popcorn Break in the Sponsor Lounge
Compliments of Kindsight. Join us for a gourmet popcorn buffet and a great opportunity to get your sponsor bingo cards stamped!
4:00-5:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Women in Leadership in Advancement
Kalyn Rose Miller, Pomona College, Gizel Richardson, Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University, moderators, with Laura Gallardo, Pilgrim Place, Kim Greenhall, Whittier College, and Luz Takahashi, Pomona College
Auditorium Room
Women make up the majority of nonprofit employees, yet they are underrepresented in leadership positions across nonprofit organizations. In this panel, we bring together women leaders and aspiring women leaders of nonprofits to engage in discussion about relevant issues and foster meaningful relationships. How can we understand both the challenges and the opportunities presented by women’s leadership? How do issues like gender roles, work-life balance, and mentorship shape women’s leadership?
Stewardship from Scratch: Building a Sustainable Donor Relations Program
Brooke Fessler Owens and Romney Ellis, Cal Poly Pomona
Mountain Vista Room
When your “stewardship program” starts as a thank-you paragraph on a gift receipt, how do you grow into a meaningful, year-round stewardship strategy? This session offers a practical look at building a donor relations program from the ground up without big budgets or complex systems. Attendees will explore a three-year progression of how one institution evolved its stewardship approach from reactive to strategic, expanding from basic acknowledgments to a multi-channel, multi-tier engagement plan. The session will share scalable templates, timelines and impact touchpoints that can be adapted to fit any size team or resource level. Leave with a clear roadmap on how to create a sustainable, consistent gratitude practice that drives donor retention.
Shaping and Sustaining Relationships with Development Officers
Ryan Frank, UC Irvine
Valley Vista Room
Prospect Development professionals, especially those responsible for Relationship Management, play a pivotal and integral part in building relationships with Development Officers. In creating these relationships, we invest a significant amount of time, energy, and effort in maintaining them. This session will delve into the world of forming and maintaining strong bonds with Development Officers through truthfulness, relatability, and shared accountability.
Direct Mail Still Delivers
Matt Sulzer and Sara Pond, MCR
Campus Vista Room
Direct mail remains the primary driver of donors and dollars for most annual giving programs. Join MCR for an interactive session that explores classic best direct mail performers, as well as cutting-edge ideas to get your mail opened, read and churning results. Together we’ll dive into:
◾ Audience Styling – unique campaign packaging, creative marketing, as well as eye-popping designs and copy for your core segments
– Leadership
– Renewal/Retention
– Acquisition
◾ Priming & Timing – connect your message with other channel
– Giving Days
– Donor Journeys
◾ Ask Strategies – when, where and how much to ask
Personalization at Scale: How Advancement Teams Meet Donor Expectations Without Adding Extra Work
Elisabeth Walker, MBA, EverTrue
Personalization is no longer optional; it’s the expectation. Donors want outreach that reflects who they are, what they care about, and their capacity to give. The challenge for advancement teams is delivering that level of relevance at scale without increasing workload or operational complexity. In this session, we’ll explore how advancement teams are connecting donor intelligence with personalized outreach across channels, including direct mail and video, to create experiences that feel one-to-one while remaining efficient. Learn how philanthropic and capacity insights can drive smarter segmentation, how personalized messaging can be automated without feeling generic, and how intentional data flow between systems allows teams to meet modern donor expectations without burning out staff. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for turning insight into action — aligning data, messaging, and execution to deliver personalization at scale.
5:00-6:30 p.m. Conference Opening Reception
Join your fellow Minds for some complimentary nibbles and drinks on the patio just outside the sponsor lounge area. Sponsored by MCR!