Curriculum
Leadership · Management · Best Practices in Fundraising
Faculty
- Bruce W. Flessner, Principal, Bentz Whaley Flessner
- Rodney P. Kirsch, Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, Pennsylvania State University
- Lynette Marshall, President and CEO, The University of Iowa Foundation, special guest faculty
- Jerry May, Vice President for Development, University of Michigan, and Dean, BTFRI
- Rhea Turteltaub, Vice Chancellor, External Affairs, UCLA
Learn more about the BTFRI Faculty
Saturday, July 31—Arrival & Registration
- Conference Registration
- Opening Reception
- Group Photo
- Opening Banquet
Sunday, August 1—Leadership
- Welcome/Session 1
Presidential Leadership in Fundraising
University leaders discuss their process for establishing and driving fundraising goals through a university, school or college.
—Sally Mason, President, University of Iowa - Session 2
The Relationship Between the President and the Chief Development Officer
Discuss the keys to developing a successful relationship between the president and the chief development officer.
—Sally Mason and Lynette Marshall - Lunch
BTFRI Faculty host small-table discussions - Session 3
Securing 8 and 9 Figure Leadership Gifts
Learn about the process, trending, and other conditions necessary to run a successful mega-gift program.
—Jerry May - Session 4
Leading and Engaging Volunteers
Learn how to lead and mobilize high-performing volunteers.
—Rhea Turteltaub and Jerry May - Dinner
Monday, August 2—Management
- Welcome/Session 5
Strategies for Managing Development Programs in Complex Environments
Learn how to create strategies to successfully manage your program in a complex environment.
—Bruce Flessner and Rod Kirsch - Session 6
Talent Management—Recruiting, Retaining, and Growing Talent
Discover how leading institutions attract, retain and grow the very best professionals in our ever-changing profession.
—Chrissi Rawak and Rhea Turteltaub - Lunch BTFRI Faculty host small-table discussions
- Session 7 (Panel Discussion)
Greatest Management Learnings
A panel of seasoned development professionals share what they’ve learned about successful staffing and management.
- Session 8
Managing the Relationship of the Alumni Association and Development Offices (Centralized vs. De-centralized)
Understand how an institution’s alumni association and its development office can both work with the same constituencies while also achieving their individual goals.
—Rod Kirsch and Jerry May - Reception
Dinner
Tuesday, August 3—Best Practices/Innovation
- Welcome/Session 9
Analytics: Measuring Fundraising Success
Explore strategies for leveraging propensity ratings and predictive models, using analytics, and identifying opportunities for more effective prospect management and cultivation.
—Josh Birkholz, Bentz Whaley Flessner - Session 10 (Panel Discussion)
Measuring Gift Officer Performance
Discuss the expectations and practices of major gift management, especially around metrics and productivity. - Lunch BTFRI Faculty host small-table discussions
- Session 11
What Keeps You Awake At Night?
Engage in this unique discussion driven by attendees’ most significant questions and concerns, submitted in advance of the session. - Session 12
Creating a Culture of Philanthropy on Your Campus
Learn how you can create and cultivate a culture of philanthropy on campus.
—Lynette Marshall and Rhea Turteltaub - Closing Program and Dinner
Wednesday, August 4—Departure
