Welcome to Almabase Inc, brought to you by Almabase 🚀, a premier events channel dedicated to fostering thought leadership and facilitating learning through a series of webinars and spotlights. Our mission is to empower advancement leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively engage and expand their donor base.

💡 This isn’t your average webinar channel. Nope, it’s a place where the giants of the industry come down to mingle, share their secrets, and talk about what’s next. Think of it as your go-to spot for insider info, straight from the mouths of those who’ve been there, done that, and led the way.

Our webinars and spotlights are not just presentations but interactive sessions that encourage dialogue and collaboration among participants. 

Whether you're looking to dive deep into the latest trends, explore innovative fundraising strategies, or understand the future direction of advancement, Almabase Inc is your gateway to becoming a more effective and visionary leader. Join our community, grab your spot at our next event, and let’s make some magic happen! ✨

Almabase INC.

New year. New campaigns. Smarter Giving Day planning.

As institutions look ahead to 2026, advancement teams are facing a familiar challenge. While total dollars raised remain strong, donor participation continues to decline. So how do you plan a Giving Day that delivers results today and builds a stronger donor pipeline for the future?

This session is designed to help you use data and real-world experience to make smarter planning decisions early in the year.

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# **🎤Who’s presenting?**

**1. Dr. Liz Rothenberg, President, Rothenberg Research LLC**

Liz will share key trends from the latest Giving Day research and highlight what is changing across the sector and what should shape Giving Day planning for 2026.

**2. Jenny Cooke Smith, Executive Director, CASE Insights**

Jenny will add broader sector context and share how institutions are using data to plan more intentional and sustainable Giving Days.

**3. Brandon Sweeney, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville**

Brandon will share how SIUE approached their Giving Day and what they would do differently if they were planning their 2026 Giving Day today.

**4. Aaron Riley, VP of Sales, Almabase**

Aaron will bring industry perspective from working closely with advancement teams across institutions. He will share practical insights into what has worked well for peers and how technology can support Giving Day goals. 

Together, the speakers connect sector insights, peer experience, and practical execution.

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# **🔥What you’ll take away**

\- The Giving Day trends that matter most for 2026 planning

\- How to set goals that balance participation, dollars, and long-term impact

\- Practical lessons from SIUE on what worked and what did not

\- Key decisions to make early, and which ones can wait

**RSVP Now, and in case you miss it, we'll be sure to share the recording with you along with a quick recap!**


Supercharging Your Spring Giving Day: What the Data Says and How SIUE Is Planning for 2026

The nominations are in. The votes are tallied. The judges have spoken.

Now it’s time to meet the *Champions* shaping the future of Advancement.

From fundraising trailblazers to data wizards, from first-time innovators to seasoned leaders — this year’s 50 Champions represent the very best of our global community.

💫 Join us for a super special livestream, hosted by **award-winning Italian-American actor, Michael Bonini.**

Whether you’re here to cheer on your peers or get inspired by their journeys — this is one event you won’t want to miss.

👉 **Save Your Spot for the Livestream Reveal**

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P.S. There's a special giveaway for all the live attendees! 🎁


Almabase 50 Champions | The 2025 Awards Show

Is your advancement team struggling to grow alumni engagement and fundraising without expanding headcount?

With alumni making up over **50% of all donors** but fewer than **5% giving annually**, the challenge isn’t a shortage of donors—it’s participation.

To succeed today, advancement teams must go beyond transactional touchpoints and build **transformational relationships** through digital tools, personalized experiences, and proactive strategies.

Almabase, together with experts from **Blackbaud**, will show you how to make that shift possible. ✨

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💡 **Join our live Product Tour to learn how to:**

*   **Engage alumni beyond events** with digital programs like directories, job boards, and mentorship opportunities that deliver ongoing value
*   **Simplify event management** with mobile-friendly registration, QR code check-ins, and real-time reporting for reunions, regional meetups, and more
*   **Boost giving participation** with Giving Days and campaigns powered by leaderboards, challenges, dashboards, and matching gift incentives
*   **Keep data synced in real-time** with TrueSync, ensuring every gift, RSVP, and profile update flows seamlessly into your CRM

***

📅 **Reserve your spot now** and discover how to elevate alumni engagement with less effort.


From Transactional to Transformational: Boost Alumni Engagement Without Growing Your Team

We know the last few weeks have been uncertain for many teams using iModules (Encompass) after the recent Anthology Chapter 11 announcement. If you’ve been wondering what’s next or exploring what other options are out there, this session is for you.

After nearly a decade on iModules, the team at **New England College** often found themselves juggling multiple tools, dealing with manual data entry, and spending more time managing processes than engaging alumni.

🔥That all changed when they moved to **Almabase**.

Join **Anna Twombly**, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at New England College, as she shares how her team simplified workflows, improved the alumni experience, and—most importantly—made the transition smoother and less overwhelming than expected.

***

After hearing Anna’s story, stick around for a **live, 45-minute walkthrough of Almabase** — the modern advancement platform helping schools like **New England College, RISD, Illinois Tech, CSU Bakersfield, and Tennessee State University** simplify engagement and fundraising.

💡 **During the tour, we’ll show you how you can:**

*   Build a beautiful alumni site (no code needed)
*   Automate emails and multi-channel communications
*   Run directories, mentorship programs, and job boards
*   Host events and Giving Days that actually excite your community
*   Sync everything seamlessly with Raiser’s Edge NXT or other CRMs via TrueSync or FTPs

Not sure if you’re ready to switch yet? Totally fine.

This isn’t your typical sales demo — it’s a chance to see what’s possible, learn from peers, and ask anything while you’re at it. 🚀

Bring your teammates too — it’s always more fun (and useful) to explore new ideas together!


Inside New England College’s Future-Ready Advancement Strategy (Plus a Live Tour of Almabase)

Creating a modern alumni experience takes more than just new tools. It’s about simplifying workflows, connecting systems, and delivering digital experiences alumni actually enjoy using!

That’s exactly what the team at **Cornell College** set out to do. ✨

By bringing events, communications, giving, and alumni programs into one connected platform, they reduced manual steps and created a more intuitive experience for their community.

Their journey began with **Blackbaud NetCommunity**, where juggling multiple systems often meant spending more time coordinating than engaging.

After moving to **Almabase**, things changed. 🚀

From reunion weekends and Homecoming to fundraising efforts like Rams on the Rise, Cornell now runs key initiatives in one place, fully integrated with **Raiser’s Edge NXT**.

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# 🔥What you’ll learn in this case-study-style session:

*   Challenges with traditional systems
*   What changed after moving to one connected platform
*   What worked (and lessons learned)
*   How simplification improved efficiency
*   Live walkthrough of Almabase in action

Not ready to switch just yet? That’s okay, you’ll still leave with practical ideas you can apply right away.

***

**P.S. Even if you can’t attend live, register anyway, and you’ll get the recording straight to your inbox. 💡**


How Cornell College Built a Modern, Integrated Alumni Experience

🔥What you’ll learn in this case-study-style session:

Speakers

Taylor Petersen

Associate Director of Alumni and Annual Giving

Naomi Winder

Director of Alumni & Donor Relations

Alain Pierre

Senior Account Executive

Replays

Supercharging Your Spring Giving Day: What the Data Says and How SIUE Is Planning for 2026

Almabase 50 Champions | The 2025 Awards Show