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Navigating a CRM Transition in Fundraising & Advancement
About
Join us for this CASE District III and District IV ToGather.

Fundraising and advancement CRMs are critical to an institution’s success, supporting donor relations, gift processing, engagement, and analytics. But transitioning to a new CRM can be a daunting task, impacting teams across advancement services, annual giving, major gifts, and alumni engagement. Join our expert panel to learn how they navigated the pathway to a successful CRM transition in higher education fundraising and advancement. Hear firsthand experiences, key lessons, and strategies to ensure your institution is prepared for a smooth implementation.


Brought to you by:
CASE District III

We support members located in:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennesee, Virginia
 Learn more about us. 

CASE District V

We support members located in:
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

 Learn more about us. 

Meet the Speakers
Moderator: Caroline Chang
Vice President, Advancement, Kindsight

With over 30 years in advancement services, Caroline has been a dedicated CASE volunteer, leading initiatives like the CASE Summer Institute on Advancement Services. Now at Kindsight, she applies her expertise in product development while staying deeply engaged in the advancement community. She received her CASE Crystal Apple in 2016 and currently serves on the CASE Industry Advisory Council.

Bob Rickards
Director of Information Services, College Advancement, St. Norbert College

With over 26 years in advancement services, Bob manages donor records for 95,000+ constituents and oversees the processing and reconciliation of $10-15MM in annual charitable contributions. He leads CRM and data system implementations to enhance fundraising efficiency.
Linda Hartfield
Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University of Iowa Center for Advancement

With over 30 years in IT leadership, Linda has spearheaded major CRM transitions in higher education fundraising, improving data management, analytics, and donor engagement. She specializes in technology-driven solutions that support advancement teams.
Emily Konisky
Executive Director of Gift Operations, Emory University

Emily oversees all gift processing and donor data management for Emory, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in fundraising operations. Her team plays a critical role in CRM implementation and optimization.
CASE Career Levels

Level 1 - Early Career (acquire knowledge about the common core of the advancement function for new professionals and mid-career professionals transitioning into advancement)

Level 2 - Emerging Early Career (develop technical, explicit knowledge in a chosen specialty and grow skills in the advancement competencies)

Level 3 - Practicing/maturing Mid-Career (work on achieving fluency in all aspects of advancement and grow leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of ethics)

Level 4 - Senior/experienced Mid-Career (develop deep expertise in your discipline and your understanding of other disciplines)

 

Level 5 - Expert Seasoned Professional (develop an understanding of the role advancement plays in executing higher-level institutional strategy)

 

Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional (contribute with work that is more strategic than managerial and maintain a multidisciplinary understanding and portfolio)

CASE Competencies
 

Global and Cultural Competence
Working effectively with and for people from different geographies and cultural perspectives (Cultural intelligence, understanding bias, creating a safe work environment for all)

 

Integrity and Professionalism
Excellence in conduct representing oneself and one’s institution and the profession (Builds and maintains trust, ethical conduct, personal accountability, storytelling, effective communicator, presenter and facilitator)

Business and Financial Acumen
Understands the business situation and financial factors and takes responsibility for the best course of action (Data based decision making, financial fluency, institutional business knowledge, industry business knowledge)

Industry/Sector Expertise
Focused upon knowledge and skills requisite to specific domains of practice within the profession (Fundraising, Constituent and Alumni Relations, Marketing and Communications, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Management, Advancement Services)

 

Relationship Building
Effectively utilizing interpersonal skills to build and maintain strong professional relationships between the organization and internal and external stakeholders (Effectively engage volunteers and stakeholders, consensus building, collaboration and teamwork, stewardship, negotiation, conflict resolution, proactive relationship development)

 

Emotional Intelligence
Recognizing emotions and understanding how they impact you and others to guide thinking and behavior (Active listening, self-awareness, empathy, social awareness, social skill)

Strategic Thinking
Employs methods and processes to view a situation, assess factors, and create effective implementation plans with measurable results (Align strategy with action, critical thinking, innovative problem solving, change management, adaptability to complexity, strategic planning, understanding data and context, strategic stakeholder engagement)

Leadership
Leading with vision and credibility, to effectively manage self, others and resources to achieve organizational impact.  The ability to define what the future should look like, align people with that vision, and influence others through authenticity and inspiration to make the vision happen despite obstacles. (Entrepreneurial, models’ engagement in advancement, manages ambiguity, future focused, executive presence, perseverance, courageous communicator, continuous learning)
Summary
Availability: Registration Required
Location: Online Meeting
Date / Time: Jun 11, 2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Credit Offered:
No Credit Offered
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