Building Tomorrow’s Major Gift Pipeline

Gift pipelines are under increasing pressure as donor expectations grow, staff capacity shrinks, and traditional cultivation strategies lose traction. To sustain growth, advancement leaders must make difficult choices about which practices to stop, which to adapt, and which to scale.

Drawing on EAB’s latest research, this session will highlight:

• Identifying and retiring low-ROI traditions, such as underperforming events and mass appeals, that drain staff capacity
• Reinvesting in higher-yield strategies like mid-level donor programs, parent engagement, and non-alumni cultivation
• Leveraging new staffing models and roles (e.g., pre-MGOs, directors of pipeline development) to strengthen donor journeys
• Harnessing data, automation, and AI to prioritize high-potential prospects and optimize portfolios

This discussion will equip advancement leaders with frameworks to balance short-term fundraising goals against long-term pipeline health, ensuring sustainable growth in a resource-constrained era.

Session

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Attendance is limited to chief advancement officers. Registration is limited to one attendee per institution.

• Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Check out our other topics

• Navigating Opportunities and Risks Ahead in Advancement
• How Modern Campaigns Build Relevance and Differentiation