2025 Foundation Leadership Forum: Schedule

(generally smaller foundations operating as a closely integrated component of the institution)

(generally mid-sized foundations with more independent operations responsible for fundraising)

(operationally independent foundations that are not responsible for fundraising programs)

In an evolving fundraising landscape, institutions like the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation are embracing data-driven, cadence-based outreach to revolutionize donor engagement. Drawing on insights from EverTrue’s major giving research, based on 275,000 donors across 50 institutions, this session will showcase how technology tools go beyond the frontline to benefit the entire advancement shop—from prospect identification to stewardship. Discover actionable strategies to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), enhance efficiency, and optimize donor engagement across departments for long-term success in your 2025 campaign.

Speakers:
Brent Grinna, founder and CEO, EverTrue
Mike Hoffman, vice president, development, U.S. Naval Academy Foundation

Foundation boards can be among the most persuasive advocates on behalf of their institutions, representing community and business leaders who are often among the institutions’ most generous philanthropic investors. Leaders of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation and the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation will share the ways in which their boards are engaged in community, state, and federal advocacy; approaches to conducting and supporting that work through standing board committees; and examples illustrating the ways that foundation board advocacy have benefited their partner institutions.

We live in a differentiation-obsessed society.  The only remaining way to differentiate is through authenticity. With so many campaigns and efforts underway to raise funds for higher education, how do you break out of the mold to find something that’s compelling and bold for your foundation’s story? Leverage this session to assess the quality of your differentiators, consider what might help you best tell your compelling narrative, and plan to elevate conversations and experiences with donors and constituents.

• Participants will understand how to authentically identify their unique characteristics and differentiators.
• Participants will learn how to highlight differentiation in their unique story and institutional priorities.
• Participants will explore methods to share their story through branding, communications, events, and broad adoption among their team and advocates.

Speakers:
Mauria Brough, president, Advancement Resources
Chad Paris, president and CEO, Parisleaf

This session will explore the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, including the evolution of name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, the rise of the transfer portal, litigation impacting college athletics, and the potential for athlete revenue sharing and roster caps. Matt Banker, an attorney specializing in collegiate athletics, will provide an overview of emerging issues and facilitate a discussion with two foundation board leaders who have volunteer and professional experience in support of university athletic programs. The discussion will focus on how these changes might impact institutional priorities, athletic funding, athletic department operations, roles of foundations, and public perceptions of public higher education and college sports, with an eye toward understanding and adapting to these new realities.

Speakers:
Matt Banker, senior advisor, CCHA Collegiate Sports Law
Dan Garrison, vice chair, Clemson University Foundation

In the wake of the Federal Reserve’s pivot from aggressive rate hikes to a more cautious stance, investors face new challenges and opportunities in cash management. This session will explore how to reposition cash portfolios to capture attractive returns, even as the era of 5 percent cash returns draws to a close. We will also examine the implications of state funding cuts on college enrollment and the resulting impact on cash flows, as well as the importance of liquidity in long-term portfolios.

Speakers:
Kathryn Mawer, managing director, FEG Investment Advisors
Mary Jane (MJ) Bobyock, senior vice president/advisor, FEG Investment Advisors
Jason Ball, chief financial officer, Fort Hays State University Foundation

The literature on good governance for boards and investment committees is well worn. But with so much guidance, why do investment committees still struggle with its implementation? Often, it’s not for lack of will or effort. This session will explore common misperceptions and mistakes investment committees make in people, process, and behavior that can undermine even the most well-intentioned leaders. Drawing on best practices and case studies, attendees will gain insights into how a committee can foster a culture of good governance and actionable strategies to build and sustain a high-impact committee that supports long-term investment program success.

Speakers:
Alex Kocher, director, Client Portfolio Management Group, GEM
Hannah Rahill, associate director, Client Portfolio Management Group, GEM

In today’s challenging higher education landscape, annual giving provides the flexibility institutions need to navigate budget constraints. This presentation will explore how unrestricted dollars from annual giving serve as a financial lifeline for institutions and how you can effectively demonstrate their impact to donors. We’ll also cover how annual giving strengthens the donor pipeline, cultivates lasting relationships with alumni, and ensures ongoing support for your institution.

Speaker:
Jenny Jones, principal, Advancement Marketing Services, EAB

Fostering relationships with young alumni is increasingly challenging. Alumni’s sense of connection to their alma mater, their satisfaction with their student experience, and their likelihood to give to their alma mater have been on the decline for decades. This session will explore ways foundations (and partner associations) are working to engage younger alumni as advocates, mentors, and volunteers and in mutually beneficial ways to grow affinity and philanthropy.

Facilitator:
Jenny Cooke Smith, senior director, CASE Insights Solutions, CASE

Foundation boards and leadership teams are responsible for helping their organization navigate a wide range of legal issues.  Perennial challenges include unusual gifts and donor requests, maintaining an appropriate arms-length relationship with the institution, managing risks, safeguarding donor privacy, and supporting real estate ventures. The U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action and state prohibitions and institutional policies relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion are forcing many foundations to examine and update gift agreements. Heighted scrutiny of higher education will likely lead to new efforts to impose open records and meetings requirements on foundations. Come prepared with questions for two seasoned foundation legal counsel in this interactive discussion.

Speakers:
Margaret Jarrell-Cole, consultant, AGB
Jennifer Cerasa, general counsel and board secretary, University of Illinois Foundation
Abi Cahak, chief legal officer, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association

Declining alumni participation and an increasingly competitive attention economy make connecting with and engaging younger alumni critical for a sustainable advancement program. This session will feature a case study that illustrates how Montclair State University is beginning its journey to futureproof its fundraising. The session will demonstrate how focusing on data-driven insights, strategically deploying artificial intelligence (AI), and aligning people, processes, and tools can drive transformational change and enable an institution to remain relevant to the next generation of donors. This inspiring story demonstrates how embracing a growth mindset and being agile as an organization allow institutions to leverage technology and equip the foundation for sustainable, mission-driven growth.

Speakers:
Mark Hobbs, CEO, Fundmetric
Rita Walters, vice president for development and alumni engagement, Montclair State University

AGB invites participants in Sunday afternoon’s workshop for board chairs, vice chairs, and chairs-elect to reconvene over breakfast on the last day of the Forum to tap the collective wisdom of the group regarding innovative approaches to advance the top strategic priorities they may be addressing during their tenure as chairs.

“Strategic planning” may conjure images of a months-long process resulting in a massive plan full of tactics and goals that may or may not serve as a valuable guide for the work of board and staff leaders. While foundations may not need a comprehensive “strategic plan,” they definitely need a strategic compass: a roadmap to provide guidance and focus to boards working to enhance their own governance practice, strengthen the performance of key foundation functions, and elevate the foundation’s ability to serve as a strategic mission partner to the institution. This workshop will present a streamlined approach to developing foundation strategy that is closely aligned with that of the institution and will share sample tools to help boards execute and monitor progress on plans.

Speakers:
Jessica Burns, director of board relations, West Virginia University Foundation
Leslie Miele, associate vice president and chief strategy officer, West Virginia University, Health Sciences
Cynthia Roth, president and CEO, West Virginia University Foundation

Having succession plans in place can help ensure continuity and stability, mitigate risks stemming from unforeseen interruptions in leadership, and sustain relationships with institutional partners, donors, and other key constituents. Succession planning can, however, pose serious challenges for foundations that are staffed by university employees, have smaller staff counts and limited bench strength, and may not be engaged in the institution’s succession planning. This workshop will explore succession planning from the foundation perspectives, including:

• Developing a “ready now and ready next” foundation CEO plan
• Preparing for presidential transitions
• Board leadership succession planning

Speakers:
Lynnette Heard, senior consultant and senior fellow, AGB
Roderick McDavis, managing principal, AGB Search
Meg Nordale, chair, University of Alaska
Jane DiFolco Parker, consultant, AGB
Kimberly Templeton, principal, AGB Search

Regardless of the structure of the foundation-institution partnership, all foundation boards have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the foundation has a sustainable business model. This entails looking beyond annual budgets to understand the long-term implications of the revenue source and endowment management, with an eye toward mitigating financial risks, prudently stewarding endowments, and growing the foundation’s ability to support its partner institution.

This workshop will provide an overview of the factors that foundation boards and staff should take into consideration in developing a sustainable business model, the process of developing or recalibrating a business model, and examples of modeling and scenario planning tools that can help to manage downside risk and enhance the return on investment in fundraising.

The discussion will include:

• Factors informing foundation business models
• Forward-looking financial planning
• Funding sources
• Revenue sources and the endowment as an engine of growth
• Modeling and scenario planning

Speakers:
George Watt, senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB
Susan Rucker, chief financial officer, William & Mary Business School Foundation