aasp Hot Topics
Join aasp and participate in our monthly Hot Topics sessions. Your voice matters, your ideas inspire, and together we build a stronger community. All are welcome to participate. Check out the topics below and join the conversation!
RSVP through Zoom to join all or some of the meetings.
2026 Topics
02.06 - Establishing Effective Gift Levels for Funds to Support Strategic Fundraising
We will explore how to develop gift minimums that effectively support strategic fundraising goals. Participants will examine both endowment and current-use giving levels, learn best practices for crafting clear and compelling fund descriptions, and discuss common pitfalls and loopholes to avoid when establishing giving thresholds. We will also cover how these elements fit within broader campaign planning and donor engagement strategies, ensuring consistency, transparency, and long-term sustainability across fundraising initiatives.
03.06 - Doing a Lot with a Little: Strategies for Success in Times of Limited Resources
In an era marked by budget cuts, hiring freezes, furloughs, and limited resources, institutions and organizations are being challenged to adapt while maintaining excellence. This session will explore strategic and creative approaches to sustaining operations, engaging teams, and continuing progress even when financial and human resources are stretched thin.
Participants will discuss how peers across the sector are rethinking priorities, reallocating resources, and leveraging internal talent to meet ongoing needs. The session will address how leaders are working to prevent staff burnout, retain key employees, and foster resilience within their teams.
We’ll also examine current hiring and retention dynamics, including the challenges of recruiting top-level talent amid relocation hesitancy and a limited qualified candidate pool for higher-level positions, contrasted with the surge in applicants for entry- and mid-level positions. Additionally, we’ll share insights on how organizations are getting creative—from cross-training staff and reimagining workflows to finding low-cost or no-cost technology solutions that still drive impact.
By the end of the session, attendees will gain practical ideas, shared experiences, and actionable strategies for doing more with less, while keeping teams motivated, supported, and mission-focused.
04.03 - Preparing for Campaign Success: Compliance, Donor Relations, and Stewardship
05.01 - Understanding and Working with Complex Gift Agreements: Navigating the Challenges
06.05 - Developing Gift Minimums for Naming Opportunities: From Positions to Facilities
07.10 (Second Week of July) - Measuring What Matters: Metrics for Compliance, Gift Processing, and Stewardship/ Donor Relations
08.07 - The Art of Saying "No": Saying "No."
09.04 - Building Strong Advancement Services and Donor Relations/Stewardship Teams: Structure, Alignment, and Change
10.02 - Establishing and Managing Current-Use Funds
We will explore the key considerations and best practices for establishing current-use funds. We will discuss when and how and when to use gift agreements to formalize these funds, as well as the essential documentation needed to ensure clarity and compliance. Participants will learn strategies for amending or modifying existing current-use funds, and examine common pain points associated with promoting or advertising these funds to donors. We will also explore current use policies.
We will also address questions surrounding donor-initiated current-use funds, the coordination of current-use and endowment funds within a single gift, and innovative approaches such as using current-use funds for crowdfunding initiatives. By the end of the session, attendees will have a comprehensive understanding of how to structure, manage, and sustain current-use funds that align with institutional and donor goals.
11.06 - Show Me Your Tech! Exploring the Tools Powering Advancement
12.04 - Effective Stewardship Strategies for Planned Giving, Scholarship, Corporate, and Current-Use Fund Donors
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