DAY 1: Tuesday, June 16
9:30 a.m. Tour // 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. Conference // 5:30 p.m. Happy Hour
Location: Rackham Graduate School Assembly Hall
unless otherwise noted
OPTIONAL:
Library Tour
10:00 a.m.
Tour Location: William L. Clements Library, 909 S. University Avenue
Meeting Location: Front steps of the Clements Library
Join us for a guided tour of the historic Clements Library. A library staff member will share selected collection materials related to philanthropy, followed by a visit to the beautiful Avenir Foundation Reading Room to view the current exhibit, Up, Up, and Away, which explores the history of hot air ballooning.
Check In & Networking
Rackham Graduate School, Assembly Hall
Say hello to FORUM friends, new and old!
12:00 p.m.
Welcome, Expectations,
& Fireside Chat
Craig Leonard, Executive Director, Pipeline Development & Strategic Initiatives,
with Tom Baird, Vice President for Development, University of Michigan.
​
1:00 p.m.
Tour of
Michigan Stadium
2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Taking you behind-the-scenes of the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere!
2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Load Buses
2:45 - 3:15 p.m. Ride to Stadium
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Stadium Tour
5:00 - 5:30 p.m. Buses back to Rackham​​
DAY 2: Wednesday, June 17
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conference // 5:15 p.m. Happy Hour
Location: Rackham Graduate School Assembly Hall
unless otherwise noted
Coffee & Networking
Coffee will be provided.
8:30 a.m.
Welcome & Overview
9:00 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
​Session 1: Choose one of the following -
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Optimization @ ND: Downsizing 100 Portfolios in 90 Days, Assembly Hall
Jonathan Retartha and Annabelle Hilson, University of Notre Dame
​
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Age of the Builder - Why the Best is Ahead of Us, East Room
Corbin Smith and Michael Pawlus, The Ohio State University
​
-
Developing Development’s Partnership with the Portfolio Management Team, West Room
Kari Stokosa, Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association
15 minute break
Guest Speaker:
Karen T. Isble
10:30 a.m.
Karen T. Isble, Vice President for College Advancement, Kalamazoo College
Karen Isble joined Kalamazoo College in September 2020 as vice president for College Advancement, where she guides the College’s fundraising, alumni engagement, and marketing and communications efforts. The College successfully concluded its six-year comprehensive Brighter Light Campaign in September 2024 having raised $203.24 million in private support (135% of the goal).
Karen previously served as associate vice chancellor and campaign director for the University of California, Irvine, leading the planning and execution of the university’s $2 billion comprehensive campaign; and as assistant vice president for development at the University of Michigan, overseeing fundraising operations and prospect development for all 3 campuses and the academic medical center.
Karen began her career in arts administration and fundraising in roles with the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Goodman Theatre. She currently serves as board chair for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.
Karen is a former board member of the fundraising professional association Apra, having served as president in 2013-14. She was honored when Apra awarded her with its Visionary Award in 2024, one of just six recipients in the past 40 years. Karen holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree from the University of Michigan.
​
From Prospect Development to...Well, Anywhere!
I've had many forks and diversions along my career path over the past several decades, and each one was vital to teaching me something I needed to know to take the next step. None, however, has been so fundamental and foundational as the years I spent in the evolving (yet evergreen) field of prospect development.
LUNCH BREAK
11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch not provided. Use this time to explore Ann Arbor and connect with colleagues!
​
THEMED LUNCH & LEARNS: Looking for a more structured lunch discussion? Bring your lunch back to Assembly Hall and join one of our themed tables. Please save your spot in advance. Sign up sheets will be available at registration.
​
Check out some of our favorite spots.
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11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Lunch Pick-Up
12:15 - 1:30 p.m. - Eat & Conversation
Breakout Sessions
1:30 p.m.
​Session 2: Choose one of the following -
​
-
Nothing and Everything to Lose: Moonshot Prospect, Assembly Hall
Mike Hilliard and Heather McPhail, University of Michigan
​​
-
From Leads to Legacy: Connecting Data, Marketing, and Planned Giving Success, East Room
Laura Reiner, University of Nebraska Foundation​
​
-
Portfolio Optimization, West Room
Matt Phelan and Chet Hodges, Michigan State University
​​​​​​​
15 minute break
Breakout Sessions
2:45 p.m.
​Session 3: Choose one of the following -
​
-
More Than Metrics: Moving Beyond Just Numbers, Assembly Hall
Candace Olley, University of Cincinnati, and Joey Cuevas, Virginia Commonwealth University
​​
-
Constituent News Insights, East Room
Viv Chappell, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association​
​
-
Leading Through the Mess: A Middle Management Discussion, West Room
Emily Kelley and Sarah Luckey, The Ohio State University
​​​​​​​
15 minute break
Show & Tell
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Assembly Hall
​
-
Up and Away: DonorSearch Integration at WFAA
Tesha Pittenger, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association​
​​
-
Angel Trackers: Finding and Referring your Institution's Entrepreneurs
Jane Cronkhite, Michael Stevens, and Dana Vollmer, University of Illinois Foundation​
​​
-
Notes to Self (But Never to the CRM): AI-Powered Bio Updates from Contact Reports
Jeremy Sheiko and Devika Angamuthu, Purdue for Life Foundation
​
East Room
​
-
AI Workflow Revisited
Kylie Cain, University of Nebraska Foundation​
​
-
From Clean‑Up to Clarity: How Enhanced Dashboards Power Strategic Consults
Kristin Kuhrasch, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association
​
West Room
​
-
MyFundraiser+2.0
Paul Wiklanski, Michelle Lin, and Tyler Lefler, University of Michigan
​
-
Pipeline Performance
Danilyn Wilce and Craig Leonard, University of Michigan
Day 2 Wrap Up
5:00 p.m.
Happy Hour
5:15 p.m.
A2SF Culinary Row and Beer Garden, Top of the Park, 915 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI
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DAY 3: Thursday, June 18
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Rackham Graduate School Assembly Hall
unless otherwise noted
Coffee & Networking
Coffee will be provided.
8:30 a.m.
Conference
9 to 11:55 a.m.
​
FORUM Closing
11:55 a.m.
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