Raising More Money Together: The President and Vice President as Leaders 

“How do I, as a college or university president, given my many other responsibilities and competing demands for my time, succeed in fundraising and ensure our institution has needed resources to achieve its potential?”

“How do I, as vice president of advancement, position the president to raise more money given these other demands?”

 “How does our leadership team maximize our partnership to lead the institution to achieve new heights?”

Fundamental to advancement success is building a strong leadership team between the president and vice president for advancement.  Whether you are new to your roles or seek to reenergize a longstanding team, this hands-on workshop is designed to help you enhance the effectiveness of your leadership team, build your relationship infrastructure, and position your institution to reach new levels of fundraising success.  

Topics we will cover include:

• Aligning fundraising priorities with the institution’s strategic plans
• The respective roles of the president and advancement vice president
• Strategic preparation for visits with prospective and current donors
• Realizing your institution’s vision through deep and impactful relationships and contributions
• Engaging trustees and other volunteers
• Preparing the advancement staff to represent the president
• Maximizing the president’s time invested in fund raising
• Enhancing communication and fostering a culture of philanthropy at your institution

Participants will spend time with their team planning for the coming 18 months as well as learn from other Presidents and Vice Presidents how to make the most of their talents.  Each relationship is unique and finding the most productive ways to work together will ensure that your institution achieves its goals and moves forward confidently.

Registration and Hotel Information:

Gonser Gerber Institute workshops cost $1890 per registration of a presidential/vice presidential team, and $995 for any president whose vice president cannot attend. Current clients of Gonser Gerber receive a discounted fee of $795 per registrant. This fee includes a reception on Sunday, breakfast both days of the workshop, lunch on Monday, and morning and afternoon snacks. The workshop will take place at the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach – A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A limited number of rooms have been secured at the rate of $189 a night. Reservations must be made by December 8, 2017. Check out our hotel fact sheet for more information and details.

Your Faculty

Nancy Oliver Gray, CFRE, joined the firm in 2017 as a Senior Consultant. Prior to joining Gonser Gerber, Nancy served as president of Hollins University from 2005-2017, retiring as president emerita in 2017.  Under her leadership, Hollins led two strategic planning processes, eliminated the institution’s debt, doubled the endowment, and raised of $300 million. She has also served as president of Converse College. Prior to her presidencies, Nancy served as vice president for external relations at Rider University and vice president for seminary relations at Princeton Theological Seminary.  She has also had development experience at Vanderbilt University, The University of Louisville, Oberlin College and The Lawrenceville School.  She is currently a member of the boards of Princeton Theological Seminary, Mill Mountain Theatre, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and the Advisory Board for the Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs.

Gonser Gerber is the nation’s first and most innovative advancement consulting firm serving a broad range of institutions, organizations, and agencies.  We have provided more than 700 clients with creative, customized, results-oriented advancement counsel and helped raise billions of dollars in the process.  Your results are how we define our success.  Services offered to clients include:  Comprehensive Advancement Counsel; Campaign Counsel; Campaign Readiness Studies; Advancement Audits; Executive Search; Marketing and Communications Counsel; Strategic Planning Facilitation; and Professional Development for boards, staff, and volunteers through Gonser Gerber Institute programs.

Gonser Gerber partners M. Jane Eaves and Chad Jolly, Ph.D., join this workshop as faculty members and speakers.

Jane is an active speaker and lecturer with more than 30 years of development experience, and has spoken on topics such as presidential leadership, campaigns, major gifts, trends in annual giving, development planning, and planned giving. Her professional experience prior to joining Gonser Gerber includes the University of the South, Darlington School, and Sheridan School.

Prior to his work at Gonser Gerber, Chad Jolly he served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement for William Jewell College (MO) where he led a highly successful advancement program and was responsible for development, alumni relations, public relations and marketing. His professional background also includes enrollment management. Dr. Jolly is a frequent presenter and speaker at conferences and professional meetings throughout the U.S.