fundraising

The 2022 Advancement Innovation Summit will Bring New Insights, and Challenge the Norm in Donor Engagement

Brian GaworVice President of ResearchAugust 3, 2022

We’re gearing up for two days of insights on how to maximize donor engagement, increase fundraising results, and provide a better experience for our supporters at the 2022 Advancement Innovation Summit, Sept. 14-15. This annual, online event has brought together fundraisers across annual giving, alumni relations, engagement, and major/planned gifts for the past three years. And we’re excited about the 2022 program.

This conference is much more than ‘show and tell.’ At this data-driven and action-focused event, you’ll get real insights and strategy you can use immediately to maximize your fundraising results.

Two great keynote speakers will get us thinking about how to engage donors in a challenging time.

Jonah Berger, New York Times Bestselling Author, and AIS keynote

Jonah Berger is a marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and internationally bestselling author of Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. Dr. Berger is a world-renowned expert on change, word of mouth, influence, consumer behavior, and how products, ideas, and behaviors catch on. He has published over 50 articles in top‐tier academic journals, teaches Wharton’s highest-rated online course, and popular outlets like The New York Times and Harvard Business Review often cover his work. Dr. Berger will share with us how new research can inform the way we engage and convince donors to take action.

Here are some examples of stories about Dr. Berger’s research: NPR’s Marketplace, CBS This Morning, CNBC, USA Today, Fast Company Profile, Harvard Business Review, and The New York Times.

Louis Diez, Founder of the Donor Participation Project

Louis Diez is an expert in annual fund development, digital fundraising, and engagement strategies. He recently served as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College and hosts the Donor Participation Project (DPP).

The DPP convenes fundraising professionals who are concerned about the nationwide decline in donor participation (20 million US households lost between 2000-2016), and who believe this can be reversed by changing our fundraising practices. Louis will engage us to challenge the norm and provide a better donor experience to maximize our donor pipeline.

The 2022 AIS will feature a full suite of sessions to maximize your donor engagement.

We’re finalizing the agenda right now, but here’s a taste of planned topics:

  • Donor Engagement in the New Normal
  • Engaging Donors in A Tough Economy
  • Major and Planned Giving Pipeline Amplification
  • The Future of Giving Days
  • Students as Ambassadors: Success with Digital Engagement Centers
  • Crowdfunding Success
  • Making the Case For Long-Term ROI
  • Using Texting to Amplify Engagement
  • How to use CASE AmAtlas, the VSE and Alumni Engagement Metrics to Inform Your Strategy
  • Using AI to Personalize the Donor Experience
  • The Power of Personalized Video for Donor Engagement
  • The Future of Donor Engagement: Integrated Omnichannel Outreach
  • The Future of Donor Engagement: Young Alumni

Plus, optional morning interactive sessions will have us Spin the “Wheel of Fundraising,” join a conversation on key trends, and answer five tough fundraising questions like: “Is unrestricted giving over?”

Join us for the Advancement Innovation Summit, and transform your fundraising results

We’ll have a ton of information that’s actionable, and can immediately improve your donor engagement across multiple channels. Over 30 institutions and charities will join the RNL team to lead interactive sessions, and we look forward to seeing you online in September!

Bring your whole team! Group registration discounts are available. Please contact Greta Daniels for more information.


About the Author

Brian Gawor

Brian Gawor’s focus is research and strategy to help propel both alumni engagement and fundraising results of RNL clients. Brian has 25 years of higher education experience in student affairs, enrollment management, alumni engagement and...

Read more about Brian's experience and expertise

Reach Brian by e-mail at Brian.Gawor@RuffaloNL.com.


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