About
Part One: From Legacy to Leading Edge: The Future of Advancement Operations
1:00 - 2:00 PM ET | February 11, 2026
Speaker: Mark Koenig, Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President, Technology at Oregon State University Foundation
Advancement Services in higher-education Advancement is at a pivotal moment, with artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technologies reshaping the way institutions engage donors, manage data, and drive fundraising success. Gone are the days of manual processes, static data reports, and one-size-fits-all engagement strategies—today’s advancement operations must be dynamic, data-driven, and deeply personalized.
In this session, we’ll explore how AI, machine learning, and automation are revolutionizing advancement services, enhancing operational efficiency, and enabling hyper-personalized donor engagement. We’ll examine real-world applications of AI in predictive analytics, prospect identification, and automated stewardship, as well as the organizational shifts needed to maximize these innovations.
Join us for an engaging discussion on how institutions can embrace AI-powered transformation, break free from outdated models, and drive the future of higher education advancement. Whether you’re leading an advancement team or managing technology infrastructure, this session will provide actionable insights to ensure your institution is not just keeping up—but setting the pace.
Part Two: From Insight to Impact: How Relationship Insights and Pipeline Development Are Reshaping Advancement
1:00 - 2:00 PM ET | February 18, 2026
Speakers:
Matthew Smith, Senior Director of Relationship Insights & Analytics at the Oregon State University (OSU) Foundation
Drew Phillips, Director of Pipeline Development at the Oregon State University Foundation
In the wake of rapid technological evolution, the Relationship Insights and Pipeline Development teams at the OSU Foundation have redefined what it means to be data-driven in higher education advancement. This session builds on the foundational conversation around AI and automation in advancement services, diving deeper into how two specialized teams transformed their operations, skillsets, and strategic influence to meet the moment.
Attendees will explore how the Relationship Insights team pivoted from traditional prospect research to a more analytical, partnered-based model by leveraging tools like Tableau, SQL, and AI/ML to deliver actionable intelligence that drives fundraising decisions. Meanwhile, the Pipeline Development team took ownership of the donor pipeline’s technical architecture, enabling scalable, predictive analytics and real-time portfolio optimization.
This session will unpack the dual-track strategy that empowered both teams to thrive: one focused on building advanced analytical tools, and the other on translating data into strategic guidance for development officers. We’ll share lessons learned from upskilling staff, reimagining team structures, and embedding analytics and AI into everyday advancement workflows.
Whether you're leading a relationship management/research team, managing advancement operations, or navigating organizational change, this session offers a roadmap for harnessing technology to elevate your team’s impact. Join us to learn how the OSU Foundation’s Relationship Insights and Pipeline Development teams are not just adapting to change, they’re driving it.
Meet the Speakers
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Mark Koeing, Vice President, Technology, and Chief Innovation Officer
Mark Koenig is the vice president for technology and chief innovation officer for the OSU Foundation. In this role, he serves as the Foundation’s technology strategist, including oversight of relationship insights, pipeline development, analytics, data and CRM operations, and technology services. Mr. Koenig is the past chair of the Ellucian Advancement Executive Advisory Committee and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Service Award from CASE District VIII recognizing his many years of service to the organization and in 2018, he received the Ellucian ‘EllumiNation’ Community Award recognizing his dedication to infusing innovation throughout the advancement profession. Mr. Koenig earned his bachelor’s in history and economics from the University of Houston and a master's in adult education and organizational capacity from OSU.
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Matthew Smith, Senior Director of Relationship Insights & Analytics at the Oregon State University (OSU) Foundation
Matthew Smith is the Senior Director of Relationship Insights & Analytics at the Oregon State University (OSU) Foundation. With over 13 years of experience in philanthropy, Matt came to the OSU Foundation in 2019 from Baltimore, Maryland, where he was the Data Analytics Manager at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an international relief non-profit. Prior to CRS Matt worked in higher education and healthcare fundraising, focusing primarily on data analytics and relationship management. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He’s currently working on his second bachelor’s degree in computer science at Oregon State University.
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Drew Phillips, Director of Pipeline Development at the Oregon State University Foundation
Drew Phillips is the Director of Pipeline Development at the Oregon State University Foundation, where he is responsible for the overall orchestration of pipeline development efforts at OSUF. Drew's work includes driving lead generation, building and optimizing OSUF's discovery program, providing oversight and administration of its donor experience (DXO) program, and more. Drew started his career at OSUF in 2010, shortly after graduating from their heated rival, the University of Oregon. Having spent the last 15 years working his way from administrative assistant to his current role, he has been fortunate to fill a number of roles with increasing responsibility at OSUF. On the weekends you can find him regaling his wife with obscure NBA facts that no well-adjusted person could possibly find interesting. Sorry, Erin.
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