The Advancement Partners annual summer seminar at the University of Notre Dame was a huge success! There were thirty-five participants, twenty-two schools and one religious order. The theme, ‘Philanthropy in Challenging Economic Times’, was most appropriate as the most critical advancement issues we are all facing at this unique point were covered.
Our seminars are smaller and more personalized so that the participants receive individual and focused attention. Accordingly, during the three-day summit, we spent individual time with participants discussing their unique challenges. Also, during the opening session, each participant conveyed a personal account of how the economy has affected their fundraising efforts during the past year. Since all participants had completed a pre-seminar survey, the presenters were able to customize their specific topics so that each key issue that was submitted was addressed.
The ‘hottest’ topics were: how to grow the annual fund, how to secure major gifts in this environment, and how to create an effective development plan. We also touched on solicitation by using a live action case study from one of the participants.
At the end of the seminar, after two days of presentations, discussions, dinner talks and late evening debates (in the hotel bar!), we summed up the conclusions of the summit:
Do not stop! Keep going. Do not use the economy as an excuse to stop, slow down, or postpone!
Implementation, not ideas, is the key to success.
Be disciplined and pay attention to fundamentals in your approach.
The external message during these economic times is different from the internal message.
Stay focused!
Have your best year yet!
