Advancement Leadership Exchange: Key Takeaways for Driving Engagement and Fundraising Growth

A cross-industry exchange of ideas on strengthening donor relationships, leveraging data, and driving measurable Advancement and fundraising outcomes

Last week, Attain Partners had the privilege of hosting Advancement and Fundraising leaders from across the higher education, healthcare, and nonprofit industries for our Advancement Leadership Exchange in Baltimore. Designed to inspire collaboration and dialogue, the event brought together executives navigating many of the same challenges to share perspectives, test ideas, and learn from one another.

Hosting the event at Camden Yards brought an added layer of meaning to the experience. As one of Major League Baseball’s most iconic and historic ballparks, Camden Yards is known for a deep connection between community and the fan experience, as well as setting a new standard for connection and loyalty in sports. Surrounded by the stadium’s signature brick architecture and overlooking the field, the setting created a warm, exciting environment that naturally encouraged conversation and reflection.

What emerged over the course of the event was both energizing and clarifying: While the pressures facing philanthropy leaders continue to grow, so does the opportunity to rethink how we engage, inspire, and deliver impact. Read on to learn more about the key takeaways from the event.

Advancement sits at the intersection of emotion and analytics

Cross-industry perspectives set the tone early in the discussion. Mark Fine, Chief Marketing Officer of the Baltimore Orioles, shared how leading brands intentionally build loyalty by creating experiences that connect to identity, memory, and emotion. For fans, those moments are not transactional. They become part of who they are.

That insight resonated deeply with Advancement leaders. The same dynamic exists within hospitals, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Donors are not simply giving to an institution. They are investing in a relationship that reflects some of the most meaningful moments in their lives.

Mark described this balance as both art and science, a theme that Reshma Patel-Jackson, Managing Partner at Attain Partners, reinforced in her remarks, “Connection to your institution is not transactional. It is personal. It is emotional. It is part of who they are.”

“Connection to your institution is not transactional. It is personal. It is emotional. It is part of who they are.”

At the same time, leaders emphasized the growing importance of data. The challenge is no longer just collecting information, but using it to guide behavior, prioritize engagement, and ultimately drive outcomes.

Start with the why, not the technology

Across sessions, there was a clear call to be more intentional about how organizations approach innovation, particularly with AI and emerging technologies.

As one participant noted, “[The pressure to] use AI is often driven more by urgency than clarity. The more important question is: What problem are we trying to solve?”

“[The pressure to] use AI is often driven more by urgency than clarity. The more important question is: What problem are we trying to solve?”

Whether the challenge is low engagement, limited internal capacity, or fragmented systems, the path forward starts with defining the problem and aligning on outcomes. Only then can the right tools and the right investments be identified.

Engagement requires intentional, measurable, and human-centered approaches

Another key takeaway centered on engagement: How to create it, measure it, and connect it to conversion.

Leaders discussed the shift toward more “snackable,” humanized content and experiences that meet constituents where they are. But beyond tactics, the deeper challenge remains: How do you quantify engagement in a way that builds confidence with leadership and boards?

As Greg Baroni, Founder and CEO of Attain Partners, noted in his closing remarks, “Expectations around experience, data, and accountability will only continue to rise.”

“Expectations around experience, data, and accountability will only continue to rise.”

This means Advancement teams must not only engage effectively but also demonstrate how that engagement translates into a stronger, more resilient pipeline.

One size does not fit all for Advancement strategies, and that is the point

A consistent theme throughout the Exchange was that there is no single blueprint for success. Each organization faces a unique combination of constraints, opportunities, and cultural dynamics. However, there are shared questions:

What became clear is that progress comes from focusing on the few challenges that matter most, testing practical solutions, and scaling what works.

Progress starts with focused, short-term action

The final message of the Exchange was intentionally simple. We encouraged attendees to identify one thing to test—one practical step to take over the next 60 to 90 days to move their organizations forward.

That mindset—pragmatic, focused, and action-oriented—captures the spirit of the Advancement Leadership Exchange. It is not transformation for its own sake, but meaningful progress grounded in real-world constraints that will help accomplish our goals and support our missions.

Sustaining momentum through shared learning

The Advancement Leadership Exchange reinforced something we see every day in our work with clients: Advancement leaders are not standing still. They are navigating complexity, making thoughtful decisions, and pushing their organizations forward in meaningful ways.

As Kristi Phillips, Managing Director of Growth at Attain Partners, reflected, “The true success of the event was the level of engagement. Leaders were not just listening, but actively working through challenges together, sharing perspectives, and building actionable plans.” That level of candor and collaboration is what turns ideas into momentum.

“The true success of the event was the level of engagement. Leaders were not just listening, but actively working through challenges together, sharing perspectives, and building actionable plans.”

We are grateful to everyone who joined us in Baltimore and contributed to such a thoughtful and invigorating dialogue. This is just the beginning of the Exchange, and we look forward to continuing the conversation and hosting this valuable event again next year.

Connect with an Advancement expert

If these themes resonate with you, we invite you to connect with our team. Attain Partners works alongside Advancement leaders to translate strategy, data, and technology into measurable fundraising outcomes.

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About the Author

Maureen Goldman is Director of Marketing and Communications at Attain Partners. She leads the firm’s marketing strategy and execution across digital, content, events, and communications, with a focus on driving growth and elevating Attain Partners’ position as a trusted advisor to nonprofit, higher education, research, and healthcare organizations. Maureen brings deep expertise in translating complex ideas into compelling, results-driven marketing initiatives that resonate with executive audiences and support measurable business outcomes.