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From Vision to Action: Strategic Planning for a Lasting Impact

This two-day strategic planning workshop equips higher ed leaders with the tools to create actionable, sustainable strategies aligned with institutional goals. Using design thinking and collaboration, participants will turn broad visions into practical steps for lasting success. You’ll learn to build strategies that inspire buy-in, ensure alignment, and anticipate future challenges. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to translate their institutional visions into clear, actionable strategies that position them for lasting success.

Unlocking Donor Partnership Through Authentic Dialogue and Storytelling

Successful development officers understand that fostering lasting donor relationships and investment in transformative initiatives championed by your institution hinges on building trust and respect.  In this engaging conference, you will learn how to leverage the full potential of your institution during donor interactions by approaching conversations with curiosity, active listening, and bringing a collaborative spirit to enhance the donor experience. You’ll discover when to educate donors about projects that align with their values and how to amplify impactful stories that illustrate their potential contributions to societal change through your institution.  Through interactive group activities and collaborative sessions, you will practice how to:  By integrating this holistic, values-centered approach with your existing fundraising knowledge, you will elevate your strategic capabilities in donor engagement and reignite your own passion for advancing higher education philanthropy. 

Five Paths to Leadership® Self-Assessment Facilitation Certification Online Training

Thousands of faculty and staff across North America have benefited from The Five Paths to Leadership® Self-Assessment because it’s an intuitive and powerful tool that helps them to better understand their natural leadership style and how it changes under stress. By growing their self-awareness, they become more adaptive and responsive leaders, which positions them well for current or future leadership roles, whether in the classroom, in committees, or at the department/unit level.   In addition, insights gained through the Five Paths to Leadership® Self-Assessment can be used to improve interpersonal and team dynamics. For instance, the Five Paths model can help you and your teams to:   Please note that certification enables you to facilitate Five Paths workshops for as many audiences as you’d like, at the organization of your current employment. Facilitation of the Five Paths to Leadership® workshops outside of your organization is expressly prohibited.  Register early—space is limited to 30 attendees to preserve an intimate and productive experience for all.  Prefer to do this facilitator training in person? Check out our in-person programs here.  Hear More about the Assessment Earn Your Certificate Earn a certificate after attending this event. Here’s the process: Attend this event. Start delivering workshops on your […]

Developing a Foundation for Sustained Philanthropic Support: A Certificate Program for Deans and Academic Leaders – January Cohort

Alumni participation has steadily declined across institutions of higher education in the United States for several decades. And increasingly, donors are taking their philanthropic inclinations to organizations where they can give to specific purposes with targeted outcomes. The most successful deans and academic leaders are attuned to this reality and work in concert with their advancement colleagues to help alumni and donors see how the institution’s capabilities align with alumni and donor passions to make a significant, sustainable difference in society together. Understanding how to facilitate philanthropic engagement from alumni and donors by providing them with portals of purpose to give through your institution, rather than to it, can restore and sustain your student experience and alumni affinity for years to come.   Join us for a five-week certificate program designed to teach you how leadership, collaboration, and philanthropic vital signs can combine into a larger strategy to strengthen donor engagement with your unit. Specifically, you’ll learn:    As a culminating activity, you will create an action plan for the year ahead focused on improving collaboration and the health of your philanthropic vital signs, and you’ll discuss with your peers how to overcome any barriers you may face to implement it. 

Optimizing Your Fundraising Strategy: A Summit for Presidents and Advancement Vice Presidents

As a president or advancement vice president, you play a critical role in shaping the environment that attracts significant and sustained philanthropic investments. You’re also likely aware of the value of a lifelong donor and the importance of attracting entrepreneurial-minded donors, both of whom want to make a difference to society through your institution.  Join us in Denver for this two-day summit with fellow executive leaders, to learn how a strategic fundraising approach, paired with strong institutional leadership, can cultivate a thriving culture of philanthropy. Specifically, you will:  To preserve an intimate and productive experience, this workshop is capped at 30 attendees. 

Fundraising for Deans and Academic Leaders

As a dean or other academic leader, you hold numerous responsibilities, and fundraising is likely a critical part of your portfolio. You’re probably also finding the philanthropic landscape more competitive than ever, as donors are becoming more selective with their giving. To be a successful fundraiser, it is important to understand how to align your interests with those of donors seeking to make significant societal differences.  Join us for this one-and-a-half-day interactive workshop, led by renowned university advancement consultant Jim Langley. Academic leaders and their development counterparts will benefit from this workshop as you:   Join us for this workshop at our office in Denver to unlock new philanthropic strategies within your academic unit! To preserve an intimate and productive experience, this workshop is capped at 30 attendees. 

Fundraising for Deans and Academic Leaders

As a dean or other academic leader, you hold numerous responsibilities, and fundraising is likely a critical part of your portfolio. You’re probably also finding the philanthropic landscape more competitive than ever, as donors are becoming more selective with their giving. To be a successful fundraiser, it is important to understand how to align your interests with those of donors seeking to make significant societal differences.  Join us for this one-and-a-half-day interactive workshop, led by renowned university advancement consultant Jim Langley. Academic leaders and their development counterparts will benefit from this workshop as you:  

Rethink Campaign Leadership: A Workshop for Senior Fundraising Executives

Running a successful fundraising campaign isn’t just about following best practices or implementing the latest consultant-driven strategies. It’s about leading with purpose, aligning your team, and forging strong partnerships across campus—all while navigating complex and ever-changing challenges.   This two-day workshop is designed exclusively for senior fundraising leaders ready to move beyond conventional campaign playbooks. Here, the focus isn’t on crafting another set of strategic pillars—it’s about sharpening your leadership approach, strengthening team dynamics, and building the cross-campus support essential for long-term success.   If you’re working toward unprecedented fundraising goals and finding that some strategies are clicking while others fall short, this is the space to explore why. Through candid discussions, expert facilitation, and peer collaboration, you’ll gain deeper insight into your campaign’s key challenges and leave equipped with practical solutions and a personalized roadmap for driving transformative results.   Come prepared to challenge assumptions, rethink strategies, and redefine what’s possible for your campaign—and for your institution.   Why Attend?   This experience offers a rare opportunity to step back from the day-to-day and focus on big-picture strategies that will ensure your campaign’s success. Specifically, you’ll:   Enhance your leadership, ignite fresh ideas, and collaborate with peers who understand your challenges and share your vision.  […]

Creating a Service Excellence Training Program for Your Campus

Check back for new dates soon! With traditional-aged college enrollment declining and hybrid formats posing ongoing challenges, higher education leaders are facing unprecedented pressure. To tackle these issues, many institutions are adopting service excellence to create a campus-wide “culture of care” that enhances both student and employee experiences, driving retention. Join this conference to: Register 3 or more people and enjoy a team discount of more than $1000, automatically applied at checkout!Limited to just 30 attendees for a focused and productive experience.

Leading Your Development Officers: The Art and Science of Developing High-Performing Teams

Are you ready to lead your development officers with clarity, purpose, and confidence—empowering them to exceed fundraising goals while helping to support a positive culture of philanthropy at your institution? Development officer leaders play a pivotal role in driving institutional success through philanthropy, but many find themselves unprepared for the complexities of managing high-performing teams. Whether stepping into the role unexpectedly or grappling with the ever-evolving demands of their position, these leaders need the tools, strategies, and insights to lead with impact.  Why Attend? This workshop addresses the unique challenges facing leaders of development teams, equipping you with the strategies to: To preserve an intimate and productive experience, this workshop is capped at 30 attendees.