The Roundtable Topic Series is an open discussion format, bring your own lunch, opportunity to visit with colleagues on relevant development topics and challenges we may be facing. Two co-hosts will lead the discussions, but these are not presentations. The idea is to create dialogue from each of our own experiences and learn from one another. Please feel free to bring additional challenges/topics/questions that we can get to if time allows.
Time:
Noon-1PM
Location:
Hybrid-UTSA Main Campus AET 2.316 and on Microsoft Teams
Tuesday, February 11, 2025| 12:00 to 1:00 pm
- Topic: Be Heard, Storytelling & Communication Strategies
- Co-Hosts: Jennilee Garza, Senior Director of Strategic Communications, and Taylor Phelps, Executive Director of Development - Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design
Description
This session will help you, BE HEARD, by enhancing communication skills essential for advancement professionals to build impactful relationships with donors, faculty, and staff. By focusing on effective, personalized communication strategies, we’ll explore methods to foster genuine donor engagement while leveraging modern tools.
Objectives
- Develop Effective Communication Techniques: Understand the value of authenticity in donor interactions and how to communicate in a personable, targeted way that inspires trust and fosters meaningful relationships.
- Hone Messaging Skills: Focus on crafting clear, compelling, and concise messages to maximize engagement while balancing data with storytelling, allowing donors to grasp the human impact behind the numbers.
- Build a Supportive Toolkit for Communication: Access practical resources, including templates and best practices for securing donor visits and building engagement.
- Engage Faculty and Staff as Fundraising Partners: Develop strategies to coach faculty and staff on effective donor communication, helping them articulate their programs’ impact in ways that resonate with donors and build university-wide support for fundraising.
