Navigating Opportunities and Risks Ahead in Advancement

Advancement leaders are navigating one of the most turbulent decades higher education has faced. Financial strain, political volatility, shifting demographics, and rapid technological change are rewriting the rules for institutions and reshaping the practice of advancement. To build resilient strategies, leaders must understand the forces driving sector disruption and adapt their shops accordingly.

Join us for the two-part State of the Sector:

Session One: State of Higher Education – Navigating Disruption
Higher education is undergoing dramatic change as external pressures reshape its financial model and social contract. This session will provide advancement leaders with a sector-wide perspective to contextualize the challenges presidents, boards, and donors are grappling with. Discussion topics will include:

• Political, financial, and demographic forces transforming higher ed’s operating environment
• Implications of policy shocks, public skepticism, and funding cuts on institutional stability
• The impact of AI adoption and demographic headwinds on student demand and workforce outcomes
• Financial sustainability and challenges on the horizon

Session Two: State of Advancement – Building Resilient Strategies
Even as external turbulence intensifies, advancement divisions must deliver ambitious fundraising goals and safeguard long-term revenue streams. This session will focus on advancement-specific opportunities and risks, including:

• Shifts in donor behavior, participation, and expectations for measurable impact
• The role of demographic change, generational wealth transfer, and skepticism in shaping future pipelines
• Strategies to grow revenue through principal gifts, campaigns, and corporate engagement
• How tools like AI and new staffing models can strengthen advancement’s ability to adapt

Together, these sessions will equip leaders with both the sector-wide context and advancement-specific strategies needed to chart a course through the decade ahead.

EAB’s State of the Sector originally debuted at the 2025 Advancement Roundtable and is best suited for Chief Advancement Officers. Limited to one attendee per institution.

Sessions

Select your sessions and click Register to sign up.

Attendance is limited to Chief Advancement Officers. Registration is limited to one attendee per institution.

• Monday, February 2, 2026 | 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
• Monday, February 9, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

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