Today marks the beginning of the in-person gathering for some of us. By Thursday, we will all gather in person at the Isabel to reflect on the year, celebrate colleagues, and share in the camaraderie of the year-end gathering and holiday season. This always puts me in a reflective mood.
It will not likely come as a surprise to anyone that I have conflicted thoughts about this past year.
Highlights of 2023 include making three significant gift announcements in three weeks in February, completing a comprehensive assessment of our campaign readiness touching on all aspects of our business in the summer, continuing groundbreaking alumni engagement activities such as A Mile in Their Shoes, and launching a new era for engineering education led by Smith Engineering in November. We have been busy, but our progress has been incredible.
2023 has also been exceptionally challenging. No one needs me to remind them that the university budget situation announced in the spring has had an impact on everyone. And Kelly’s passing this fall hit close to home as we mourned, and continue to mourn, her loss. Internationally, ongoing violence in the Middle East and other global conditions have added to the stress and the challenges we have had to navigate.
The reality is that the challenges we faced in 2023 will continue to impact us in the new year. But, just as the challenges we faced will come with us into 2024, we can also bring forward the incredible progress and accomplishments of 2023.
This is the last ALTogether Now newsletter for 2023. As we gather in person this week, take the time to celebrate our achievements, show your appreciation to one another, and spread accolades about your colleagues. 2023 was a year of highs and lows, but I hope we can all come out of the in-person gathering feeling good about our progress this year, connected to colleagues, and ready to tackle whatever the new year will bring.
Holiday closure and gift processing instruction
As we approach the holiday season and calendar year-end, the Gift Services Team has a few tips and suggestions to ensure our donors have a successful donation experience.
To learn more, please see Steve’s memo for information regarding our receipting process, guidelines for individuals who wish to donate via gift of cheques or securities, and information on Gift Services office hours.
‘Out of Office’ email template during the holiday closure
To maintain consistent and accurate messaging, an out of office automatic message has been created for Advancement staff that outlines how individuals can make a charitable donation during the holidays.
Donor Relations Guru 2024 Webinar Series
The Donor Relations team is pleased to offer Advancement staff complimentary access to the 2024 DRG Webinar Series!
Get ready to unlock the secrets of donor relations success on a year-long journey with Lynne Wester and the Donor Relations Guru (DRG) team. Whether you're an established pro or just getting started, this dual-track webinar series will meet you where you are and elevate your donor relations game.
This year's adventure includes two exciting tracks: one dedicated to laying the groundwork with the Fundamentals Series and the other focused on taking your efforts to the next level with the Excellence Series. Choose one, or dive into both for a comprehensive year-long training program covering best practices and the latest trends in donor relations.
With these keys in hand, you'll open the doors to meaningful connections, improved retention, generous donations, and lasting impact. Join Lynne and her industry experts for this exciting journey, unlocking your team's full potential and taking donor relations to new and exciting heights.
We have an easy-to-register link that will blanket-register you for all webinars. Even if you cannot attend a session you're interested in, register anyway! You will get the recording and slides directly to your inbox within 24 hours of the broadcast to enjoy at your convenience.
We invite you to review the catalogue of webinars for a taste of what will be offered over the coming year. A la carte registrations are also available by emailing Donor Relations with the name of the webinar(s) and date(s) you’d like to register for.
Happy learning!
The Donor Relations team
P.S. CFRE credits will apply for completed webinars.