CASE xChange

We hear from Associate Professor Wendy Scaife, Director of The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at the Queensland University of Technology in this episode. Wendy shares what defines a culture of philanthropy and the evolution of Australian donors. Listen in for unexpected results from some of Wendy's major research projects and future ACPNS projects that you can look forward to. Research papers referenced in this episode can be found here.

In this episode, Heather and Brad chat with Sharon Yao, Assistant Director of Data Analytics at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, about how Sharon's background in mechatronics engineering led her to prospect analysis in the education sector. Find out more about NTU's 2022 Circle of Excellence Awards entry “Empowering Alumni Giving by ML-Driven Targeting” which won a Grand Gold, and how the ability to predict the probability and capacity of alumni donation will impact the institution's future fundraising efforts.

This week, we are joined by Soha Hmaidan, Chief Advancement Officer at King's Academy, a boarding and day school in Jordan. Soha shares her career journey, which includes over 22 years of experience in advancement. Hear about the history of King's Academy, its mission, and how Jordan's philanthropic trends affect the school's fundraising efforts.

Our guest for this episode is Fiona Menzies, CEO of Creative Partnerships based in Melbourne, Australia. Fiona shares about the work that Creative Partnerships do, including why government support and philanthropic funding are important for Australian artists. Listen in as Fiona discusses how the emergence of corporate social responsibility has transformed the ways businesses sponsor the art sector, and why fundraising should be at the core of any non-profit organisation's activities.

This episode, we welcome back Serge Sych, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Career Services and Alumni Relations at Central European University in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary. Serge shares the lessons he has learnt through experiencing political unrest and forced relocation of Central European University, including how to best manage a crisis, and why engaging with your alumni and stakeholders is vital during challenging times. Also, find out why a crisis communications plan is not enough and how you can best prepare your institution for the unpredictable.

Our voice from the field is Gustavo Segui, Director of Marketing & Advancement at International School of Curitiba in Brazil and Group Leader–Admissions, Marketing & Communications and Advancement at American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA), a non-profit association. Gustavo shares how he became passionate about education, why fighting against the status quo in the education sector is important, and how design thinking as an approach to challenge our assumptions and solve problems can lead to the creation of innovative solutions. Also, find out what he hopes to leave as his legacy and what the next 12 months looks like for him and his team.

We welcome another voice from the field, Mikaeli Costello, Chief Community Engagement Officer at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. Mikaeli shares her passion for delivering authentic value to UQ's alumni community and how her team meets the needs of their international alumni, including bringing together alumni and partners through their award-winning alumni campaign ChangeMakers. Also, find out how UQ provides a platform for researchers to tackle world issues on Doomscroll Remedy, a podcast series launched earlier this year.

Our voice from the field this episode is Mark Phillips, Owner and Managing Director at Bluefrog Fundraising Limited in London, United Kingdom. Mark shares the findings of his latest study on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on fundraising, as well as on giving tendencies and whether it is possible to predict post-pandemic donor trends. Also, hear how giving is combating feelings of hopelessness and injustice.

Our guest this episode is Sue Birch, Principal Consultant at Sue Birch Consulting, specialising in fundraising operations and advancement services. Sue shares what to consider when implementing technology to support your institution's advancement services, including whether your issue is truly grounded in technology deficits. Listen in to hear her insights on the importance of succession planning and how the solution to challenges facing advancement services requires a commitment from the whole industry.   More information on the CASE Global Reporting Standards referenced in this episode can be found here.

Our voice from the field this episode is Jan Abernathy, Chief Communications Officer at The Browning School in New York City and conference chair for CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference 2022. Jan shares what the advancement sector looks like through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Listen in to hear how opinions on DEIB differ between generations, the impact this has on your institution, and how you can overcome pushback through uncomfortable conversations.

This episode, we are joined by Anna Rottenecker, Executive Director at Chapel & York Hong Kong Foundation. Anna shares about her career journey and how she first encountered the challenges of international fundraising during her time with the Association for the Prevention of Torture. Also, learn about the intricacies involved in an organisation setting up an international foundation compared to utilising a pre-existing foundation, and hear her insights on the philanthropy landscape in Hong Kong, including how the legacy of giving is evolving through the generations.

Our voice from the field this episode is Beth Smith, CASE Executive Director, United States and Canada. Listen in to get to know Beth including how she was lured out of retirement by CASE, how she is tackling current challenges shared by millions, and what she is looking forward to this year. Stay tuned for the occasional episode with Beth joining Brad as co-host for CASE xChange.

This episode we are joined by John Gough, Senior Executive Director for Advancement Data Operations, The University of Texas at Austin, United States and conference chair for CASE DRIVE/ 2022. Listen in to hear why collecting and analysing data is so important for all areas of an institution, including leadership. John gives us a sneak peek into what attendees can expect at DRIVE/ 2022 and provides recommendations for advancement professionals who want to utilise emerging cloud-based solutions and AI technology.

In this episode, we welcome Ani Sharma, Director of Communications & Strategic Relations at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. Reflecting on his 22 years of experience in advancement, Ani shares how working across India, the Middle East, and Singapore has developed his cultural understanding and how he uses this knowledge in his current role. Listen in to hear his insights on measuring impact and outcomes in communications and why communication leaders should have a seat at the table.

Robert Heather, Executive Director at the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales in Australia, is this episode's voice from the field. With over 30 years of experience across three capital cities at art galleries, museums, libraries, and a university, Robert shares the trends he's witnessed during his career and why philanthropic funding for the arts is critical. Listen in to hear his insights on the similarities and differences between the arts and higher education sectors, including which principles are fundamental to both sectors.

Our guest for this episode is Stephanie Flemming, Advancement Coordinator at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Toowoomba, Australia. Stephanie reflects on her journey into advancement, which started with no knowledge of advancement and five filing cabinets filled with loose donor information. Now an expert in cultivating donor relationships and developing philanthropic programmes, she shares how multimillion-dollar endowments and bursaries are helping USQ's rural and regional students.

Our voice from the field this episode is Peter Hayashida, former Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, University of California, Riverside (UCR) and former President, UCR Foundation. In Peter's 25 years with the university, he has had many career highlights including helping to raise over $300 million in the most recent campaign Living the Promise: The Campaign for UC Riverside. Listen in as he reflects on the fundraising trends that have contributed to developing the art and science of advancement and why he believes a diverse workforce and dynamism is important for the future of fundraising.

Joining us for our first episode of 2022 is Nick Blinco, Vice President (Advancement) at The University of Melbourne in Australia. Upon the conclusion of the University's Believe campaign in 2021, Nick shares some campaign successes and his outlook for the coming year. As the conference chair for CASE's upcoming Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference, he also shares his vision for the conference, ensuring cross country and multisectoral content.

Joining us for our last episode of 2021 is Mike Richey, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, United States. In Mike's 50 years with the university, he was a pioneer of advancement and has had many career highlights, including helping to raise over $2.5 billion. Listen in to hear about the University of Kentucky's current fundraising campaign called Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign, his views around giving trends that will continue well into the future, and why he believes student philanthropy is important.

Kade Hamalainen, Philanthropy Executive at Bush Heritage Australia joins us in this episode. Hear about his experience in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme, where he was hosted at the University of Sydney, and his current role focusing on partnering with Indigenous communities to protect the Australian landscape and native species. Discover how the Bush Heritage Australia story began in Tasmania with a doctor, deposit of prize money, and a national fundraising campaign to support the purchase of the founding property, as well as how the next decade will be a critical time for the organisation and the Australian environment.

Our guest for this episode is CASE's own Ann Snyder, who is the Director of Independent and International Schools. Ann shares what an integrated advancement model can look like in schools, highlighting that both flexible thinking and getting support from the Head of School are what will ultimately predict the success of any institutional change. Also, hear insights on the latest annual giving trends from the recent CASE schools survey, including her advice on how your institution can sustain these positive trends.

Patrice Maher, Major Gifts Officer at Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Australia, joins us to share her experience in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme with her host institution, Monash University, and her current role with a not-for-profit medical research institute. Listen in to hear about the four research focus areas of Telethon Kids Institute and how the Channel 7 Perth Telethon supports Telethon Kids, along with 65 other independent children's health not-for-profits in creating a community of happy, healthy kids. 

Our guest for this episode is CASE's own Rob Henry, Vice President, Development, Culture, and Talent. Through explaining what diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are, Rob highlights their importance to an organisation's values and net income. Listen in to hear how understanding systemic issues and leadership buy-in are key in successfully integrating a DEIB strategy into an organisation's culture. For all DEIB resources referenced in this episode, visit the CASE Opportunity and Inclusion Center.

Our guest for this episode is Daniel Martin, Director of Foundation and Executive Officer at St Aloysius' College in Sydney, Australia. With over 20 years of experience in philanthropy and engagement in the higher education, medical research, and not-for-profit sectors, hear how Daniel is applying his learnings to a school setting. Listen in as he shares elements of St Aloysius' College's upcoming philanthropic campaign, the advantages to a school having a foundation, and philanthropic trends in the schools' sector we can expect.

Our guest for this episode is Natasha Tan, Assistant Director, Major Gifts at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Heather and Brad congratulate Natasha on her new role with NTU and discuss the differences between Australian and Singaporean cultures of giving back. Also, hear how her experience in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme shaped her decision around wanting to make an impact, including ensuring every student gets equal opportunities in educational endeavours.

Our guest for this episode is Fiona Johnston, Principal of St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Perth, Western Australia and a member of the CASE Council for Asia-Pacific. Celebrating St Hilda's 125 years, Fiona shares how reflecting on the school's history during the process of developing their strategic plan St Hilda's Reimagined is ensuring graduates are well prepared for the workforce. Listen in to learn about St Hilda's targeted programmes that aim to inspire women in leadership, as well as how they went about securing philanthropic and corporate partnerships to support their Indigenous students and students interested in science, technology, and engineering.

In this episode, Mark Sollis, Strategist and Creative for the global advancement consulting company, D3 Advancement Studio, shares his passion for personalisation and the reason your stakeholders expect a tailored experience. Hear why disruptive thinking, such as asking ‘what if' will protect you against behavioural phenomena such as confirmation bias, groupthink, and power dynamics. Listen in to learn about static and dynamic stability in data systems, and how digital engagement should be a feature in any engagement strategy, even in a post-pandemic environment.

Our guest for this episode is Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang and author of Robots Make Bad Fundraisers: How Nonprofits Can Maintain the Heart in the Digital Age. Steven shares how technology can help build relationships with donors and supporters, and if used incorrectly, can stunt the progression of these relationships and hinder the donor experience. Also, listen in to hear if giving days are effective as a fundraising strategy and what personally donating to your institution can teach you.  

Our guest for this episode is Tracy Chalk, Chief Marketing Officer at The University of Newcastle, Australia. Hear about the three campaigns that earned the university one Gold Award, three Silver Awards and one Bronze Award in the 2021 Circle of Excellence Awards. Tracy shares how these campaigns utilised storytelling to connect with their future students, alumni, and the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as how the university intends to support the advancement of Indigenous education and culture.

Our voice from the field this episode is Maggy Liu, Associate Director of Development at The University of Sydney, Australia. Maggy takes us on her journey of discovering her passion for advancement which was confirmed through her experience with the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme. She also shares her thoughts around what it takes to be an advancement professional during the current pandemic (hint: a passion for making an impact partnered with tenacity and resilience).

Our guest for this episode is Liz Allen, Director of Communications and Marketing at Seoul Foreign School in South Korea. Backed by her global career and expertise in digital marketing, Liz shares her insights around social media, including which platforms are best for an institution to connect with current students, alumni, and their community. Furthermore, discover how Seoul Foreign School is showcasing their tradition and history in a modern era using digital media. Lastly, Liz recommends resources that can assist in taking your career global.

Our guest for this episode is Sam Wu, Associate Director of Alumni Giving at Singapore Management University (SMU). Through the efforts of Sam and his team, SMU was awarded Grand Gold in the 2021 Circle of Excellence Awards for their virtual fundraising campaign, SMOO Challenge. Sam shares about the campaign and how it has provided support for students in financial need. Hear his insights on what makes a fundraising campaign successful and what's new about the SMOO Challenge coming in September 2021.

For this episode we are joined by Freya Harding, Development Coordinator at ClimateWorks Australia. As a participant and then institution mentor for the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme (GTP), Freya shares about her experience that includes a secondment in Mexico, as well as recommendations for future GTP trainees and host institutions. Also, listen in for insights on the relationship between climate change and philanthropy, and the key challenges for environmental charities in Australia.

Our guest for this episode is Cheng Feng, Secretary General at Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Foundation and Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at DKU in Kunshan, China. Cheng shares how she went from working in marketing with the world's largest cosmetic company L'Oréal, to a university that is eight years young. Hear about the general advancement landscape in China and DKU's vision around educating future leaders to embrace creativity, innovation, and respecting the diverse cultures of the world.

In this episode, Brendan Schneider, Director of Advancement at Sewickley Academy and the Founder and CEO of SchneiderB Media Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, shares about the importance of media marketing in schools. Listen in to learn about inbound versus outbound marketing, and the book that Brendan believes all marketing professionals in educational institutions should have on their shelves. Hear recommendations on social media and digital advertising for schools and where marketing and communications professionals can come together as a community. If you would like to learn more about inbound marketing, click here.

Nuzhat Kamran, Director, Office of Advancement at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan is our voice from the field for this episode. Heather and Brad congratulate Nuzhat on the LUMS national outreach programme Changing Destinies that won the 2021 CASE Platinum Awards - Best Practices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category. She shares how this programme is positively impacting the Pakistani community and her vision, including institutional partnerships. Listen in to hear her insights into the  philanthropic landscape of Pakistan and how LUMS navigates this to encourage donors to give.

Toni Lawrence, Director of Advancement at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Australia joins us for this episode. Listen in to find out how Toni took her learnings from her early career work at Wendy Finerman Productions (producers of Forrest Gump and The Devil Wears Prada) and applied them to her roles in advancement. Hear about her experience when moving from a role at a large university in the United States to a smaller Australian institution, and the exciting things to come at JCU.

Our voice from the field this episode is Nick Jaffer, President & CEO (Asia Pacific) at Global Philanthropic in Sydney, Australia. Listen in to hear how Nick went from backpacking in Europe to a stint in banking on his way to a 30-year (and counting) career in fundraising. Nick shares the key themes from Global Philanthropic’s recent annual worldwide forum ‘Talking Philanthropy’ which focused on the philanthropic ecosystem in Asia. With a culturally deep-seated notion of giving, hear how a more intentional approach to philanthropy is taking root in the region and why the government is a critical partner in driving this change—in Asia and across the globe.

Adam Ruble, Associate Director of Development – Student Affairs at Illinois State University, discusses his experience as a participant in the CASE Graduate Trainee Programme and being a fundraiser in both the United States and Australia. Listen in to find out why young advancement professionals are assets and what motivates them to stay within any one institution. Also hear Adam’s insights into the world of e-sports and its untapped potential for educational fundraising.

We welcome Lea Sublett, Manager of Alumni Affairs at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in this episode. With a career that has taken her from Australia to Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, Lea shares how a global career enriched with different cultural experiences has been achievable by working within advancement. Also, hear Lea’s advice for advancement professionals who want broaden their international experience.

Our guest for this episode is Jay Goulart, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Gulliver Prep in Miami Florida, USA and now the founder of Big Philanthropy, and a recipient of the prestigious CASE Crystal Apple Award. During this episode, Jay shares his first encounter with cryptocurrency and how he received a philanthropic gift in Bitcoin. Hear his insights on how the relationship between cryptocurrency and fundraising is a natural progression for streamlining the transfer of value from donors to institutions.

Welcome to our fourth episode in Spanish from Latin America of Voces y Café (Voices in the field). In this episode, we invited Adriana Buiton to talk about the importance of data in education. Adriana is the Director of Advancement Services from S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, USA.   ,          

Our guest for this episode is CASE’s own Cara Giacomini, Chief Research & Data Officer and leads the CASE AMAtlas team. Cara takes us back to basics in discussing why the capturing and analyses of data is critical for institutions of any size, as well as the ‘where’ and ‘how’ to begin in incorporating data to understand your institution. Through explaining the resources and support that AMAtlas provides, Cara highlights how the recently released Global Reporting Standards is creating a foundation for global benchmarking and what it means to be working in an ethical manner within the educational advancement community. 

In this episode, Joel Terwilliger, Alumni Relations Manager at The University of Auckland shares about the university’s campaign on the advocacy and awareness of volunteerism – Volunteer Impact Week, which was a regional finalist in the 2020 CASE Platinum Awards. Listen in to find out how encouraging alumni to donate an hour of their time per week can have a positive impact for students, society, and the environment. Hear Joel’s insights on how any institution can implement a volunteer-centric campaign in both a face-to-face and digital environment to inspire the next generation of change-makers. 

Our guest for this episode is Bervyn Lee, Director of Alumni Relations at Singapore Management University (SMU). Bervyn shares how the words of a past Singapore Prime Minister triggered a shift in his outlook on life and legacy giving. Also, listen in to find out how Bervyn has initiated alumni and community surveys that will better enable SMU’s understanding of their community’s interests and affinity.

Join us for this episode with hosts Heather Hamilton and Brad Entwistle, along with guest Emma Silva, Director of Advancement at United Nations International School (UNIS) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hear how Emma began her career in journalism and what led her to where she is now, working as an advancement leader in an international school. Also, hear her views on a new way of thinking around strategic planning and how the Vietnamese culture has helped to shape the goals and achievements of UNIS Hanoi.

In this episode, Jayasudha Bandi, Senior Manager of Alumni Career Services at Indian School of Business (ISB) shares her extensive experience in human resources prior to joining ISB. Listen in to find out how ISB works with alumni and recruiters and manages their programmes; the alumni and graduate recruitment landscape in India; as well as ISB's CASE Platinum Award entries for best practices in alumni relations.

Ovidia Lim-Rajaram, Chief Communications Officer at National University of Singapore, explores pertinent topics in communications and marketing with hosts Heather and Brad. Listen in to find out what the letters M-O-B-I-L-E mean in reference to her thoughts around future trends and challenges in communications and marketing. Also, hear from Ovidia her top three tips for communications and marketing professionals and what she values in being a part of the CASE community, both regionally and globally, and the 2021 Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference (APAC). Ovidia also shares about the importance of having a 'living' strategy for your institution, and what she looks forward to in 2021.

For the first time, the educational advancement profession worldwide has a global set of standards for its work. Founded in the CASE Statement on Ethics and the Principles of Practice for Professionals in Educational Fundraising, Alumni Relations and Communications and Marketing, the recently published CASE Global Reporting Standards usher in a new era for transparency in educational philanthropy. The CASE Global Reporting Standards set the stage for benchmarking across other advancement disciplines in future editions. This conversation with the fearless co-chairs of the Standards Working Group, Matthew Eynon, Vice President for College Advancement, Franklin & Marshall College, and Brian Hastings, President and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation, provides insight into this work and why the Standards are important for every advancement professional, trustee, and institutional leader. 

How does Sinéad Collins, who started off as performing musician and teacher in London, end up as the Director of Engagement and External Relations at United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA) in Singapore? In addition, hear what Sinéad thinks international schools can do to cultivate diverse perspectives, and to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion is ingrained in the schools' values. Sinéad also shares why she took up the role of co-chair for 2021 Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference (APAC), what this mean to her, and how advancement professionals in international schools can benefit from attending APAC. Sinéad and the hosts then explored the differences and similarities between higher education and schools in the advancement space, and how they impact her work. Finally, hear what’s coming up for UWCSEA in 2021, including organising a forum on learning to shape the future as a part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

In this episode, Rime Sun, Director of Development at New York University, Shanghai, shares about her work at NYU Shanghai and an overview of the advancement landscape in China. Listen in for Rime’s career path and how she built NYU Shanghai’s development team from scratch. Rime also shares the strategies that have worked well for NYU Shanghai to engage with NYU Alumni in Asia-Pacific, including the Pan-Asia Alumni Conference held annually; what she values in CASE; and projects that she and her team will be working on in 2021, leading up to the 10th anniversary celebration of NYU Shanghai and a move to a new campus in 2022.