Breakfast Series

This signature series features a monthly talk by a prominent professional on a timely and relevant advancement topic. The Breakfast Series offers a convenient and affordable opportunity to learn about trends and best practices and network with colleagues from other institutions.

Events are held at various locations throughout the region and include a continental breakfast.  Program announcements are sent via email for each program. Please email casedi@camihq.com with any questions.

Most programs run from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.

The registration fee for each program is $45 per CASE member and $60 per non-member.

All attendees will receive a registration confirmation one week prior to the program, including directions and parking information.

Upcoming Programs

September 10, 2010
"A View from the Top, Part II"
Location: Lasell College, Newton, MA
Time: 8:30-10:00 am (Registration and networking begin at 8:00 am)
Cost: $45 CASE District I members; $60 nonmembers

Click here to Register!

About this program:
In November 2008, a group of esteemed chief advancement officers addressed our colleagues on the harsh realities from the top, an insider’s view. At that time, the economy had tanked, many of our donors lost their wealth, and others were skeptical about providing philanthropic support to any of our institutions. They offered advice and counsel. Were they right?

Today, we will revisit the economy, donors and philanthropy. What has changed in the past two years and what might we expect in the coming few years? Will campaigns change? What’s happening with annual and major giving? What are the key strategies to keep donors engaged? Are donors less skeptical? What trends do these panelists suggest?

Join us for a lively, informative and even controversial perspective on the “world of philanthropy” as viewed from the top!

Our Panelists:
Trish Jackson, Vice President for Advancement, Smith College
Scott Nichols, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, Boston University
Peter Ramsey, Secretary of the Academy, Phillips Academy

About Our Panelists:

Trish Jackson directs all fundraising initiatives at the college, and serves as an ex officio member of the Alumnae Association of Smith College board of directors. She manages professional staff and volunteer committees focused on soliciting support for the college from alumnae, parents, friends, foundations, corporations and government agencies. She is also responsible for Smith Executive Education programs.

Ms. Jackson has been in advancement positions for over 25 years. She comes to Smith from Dartmouth College, where she served as Associate Vice President for Development from 2001 to 2005. Previously, she was director of major and leadership gifts at Mount Holyoke College and director of development at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. She is active in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), having held a variety of leadership positions. Jackson also serves as an Alumna Trustee of Scripps College, and served as President of the Scripps Alumnae Association.

Ms. Jackson earned her B.A. in psychology from Scripps College and completed an M.B.A. with an emphasis on the economics of nonprofits at the Drucker School of Management at The Claremont Graduate University.

Scott Nichols joined Boston University in May 2006 as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations overseeing a staff of 200. He is responsible for all areas of advancement. Formerly, he was chief advancement officer and Associate Dean at the Harvard Law School for 20 years. During his tenure at Harvard, which consolidated all advancement functions, he helped to engineer two long-range planning processes that both led to successful campaigns. The first was the $150 million Campaign for Harvard Law School, an unprecedented effort that was five times larger than any previous capital campaign in legal education. Nichols also spearheaded Setting the Standard: The Harvard Law School Campaign that raised $480 million. Nichols served DePaul University from 1980-86, initially as Director of Development then as Associate Vice President. He was also Director of Annual Giving at Northwestern University and held a variety of advancement positions at Bucknell University, including Director of Alumni Relations. He began his career teaching in Morocco as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Holding an undergraduate degree in economics from Bucknell, he obtained masters and doctorate degrees in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Active in the profession, Nichols is a co-author of 5 books on advancement and was a longstanding trustee of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), chairing the International Committee of the Board and the At-Large Nominating Committee. He was also a trustee of CASE Europe and Vice Chair of the CASE Commission on Philanthropy. Nichols has also served as a trustee of Bucknell University for over 17 years and is on the Executive Committee. At Boston College, he serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy. In addition, he has taught the philanthropy module for many years in the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents, the Management Development Program, and the Institute for Educational Management. He is currently in the planning stage for a $1 billion campaign for Boston University.

Peter R. Ramsey, secretary of the academy, returned to Andover in 2006 following two years as vice president for development and alumni relations at Babson College. He is responsible for the Office of Academy Resources (OAR), including fund raising, alumni affairs, and communications. The OAR staff of over 50 manages programs and activities serving approximately 25,000 alumni and parents of Phillips and Abbot academies. During his previous nine-year tenure as secretary of the academy (1995–2004), he managed Campaign Andover, a six-year $209 million initiative that, at that time, represented a fund-raising record for independent schools. From 1985 to 1995, Mr. Ramsey worked at Wellesley College, first as vice president for resources and then as vice president for resources and public affairs. Prior to Wellesley, Mr. Ramsey was director of development at Harvard Business School (1983–1985) and, before that, he was a campaign director for the consulting firm Community Counseling Service Company, Inc., in New York. Mr. Ramsey is a graduate of South Kent School in Connecticut, and he earned a BA degree with a major in music from St. Lawrence University.

Host a Program
If you are interested in hosting a CASE DI breakfast program at your institution, please contact Eileen Healy at the DI office at 781-647-8151 or casedi@camihq.com.

Suggest a Topic or Speaker
If you would like suggest a topic or speaker for a future CASE DI breakfast program, please email Eileen Healy at the DI office casedi@camihq.com.

Cancellation/Refund Policy
All cancellations must be sent in writing to the CASE DI office (casedi@camihq.com) by the Monday prior to the meeting in order to receive a refund.

Registrations cannot be carried over to a future meeting. If unable to attend, you must cancel by the Monday prior to the meeting in order to receive a refund.

Inclement Weather and Snow Policy for Regional Events (not the annual conference)
If the Mayor or Governor has declared a state of emergency in the host city, state or province, or if the host institution is closed, the program will be rescheduled for a later date. If the meeting is cancelled/rescheduled an alert will be posted on the website (www.casei.org) and the CASE DI office will record a voicemail message at 781-647-8151.