Our News
As the world's leading resource for annual giving programs, AGN helps educational institutions develop sustainable sources of philanthropic support. We’re proud to have served thousands of colleges, universities, and independent schools through our research, training, and consulting services, as well as our membership program, which provides ongoing access to professional development.
Read below for our latest news, upcoming events, and more!
Workshop: Prospect Research
October 1, 2026 11:30am–4:00pm ETOne of the most important skills a fundraiser can possess is knowing how to assess the capacity and inclination of individual prospects. Whether you work in frontline fundraising, prospect management or direct marketing, it’s important to approach your research in a thorough and systematic way. Doing so will help ensure that you’re focused on the right prospects and allocating your time and energy efficiently. Register now.
Featured Job: Executive Director
of Annual Giving
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is seeking an Executive Director of Annual Giving to serve as a visionary advancement leader responsible for architecting and executing a high-impact, data-driven annual giving program. This leader is charged with securing foundational and leadership-level support from alumni, students, parents, and friends of the Institute. Learn more.
FY'26 Annual Giving
Performance Survey
Do you work in annual giving at a college, university or independent school? If so, then AGN invites you to participate in its FY’26 Annual Giving Performance Survey. This important research study collects and analyzes data from hundreds of colleges, universities, and independent schools to create a National Annual Giving Performance Index. Every organization that participates in the survey will receive access to the index. We will keep all collected information confidential. Submit Data.
Featured Job: Director, Leadership
Annual Giving
Augusta University is seeking a Director, Leadership Annual Giving to drive the strategic engagement across the collaborative Augusta University landscape, leveraging strong partnership and relationship-building skills to cultivate and secure philanthropic support from key mid-level prospects. Success requires strategic relationship-building, an understanding of donor motivations, and personalized, meaningful donor experiences. Learn more.
Live Event: “Best in Annual Giving”
Sample Showcase
October, 8 2026 12:00pm–1:00pm ET
AGN’s “Best in Annual Giving” (BAG) Awards recognizes the great work of annual giving programs at educational institutions across the industry. Hundreds of sample entries each year include direct mail appeals, emails, scripts, stewardship pieces, volunteer materials, advertisements, giving day and crowdfunding campaigns, challenges, videos, and more. Winners are selected based on their quality, innovation, and/or overall effectiveness.
Register now.
Workshop: Writing Appeals
October, 15 2026 11:00pm–4:30pm ETWriting is one of the most important skills a fundraiser can possess. And while you don’t need to be an award-winning author to write strong appeals, you do need to be able to make the case for support in a clear and compelling way. Developing messages that resonate and selecting words that motivate can make all the difference. By refining your writing skills, your prospects are more likely to read your appeals and respond with a gift. Register now.
Featured Job: Director of Annual Giving
McDaniel College is seeking a Director of Annual Giving to provide strategic leadership for annual fundraising efforts, managing a team of two staff members and overseeing a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program designed to raise $2 million each year. The Director is responsible for cultivating and soliciting donors through personalized campaigns, reunion giving programs, athletic fundraising initiatives, and college-wide giving days, while creating engagement opportunities tied to alumni and donor affiliations. Learn more.
Live Webinar: Sharpening Email Appeals
October 22, 2026 12:00pm–1:30pm ETEmail has become an essential tool for today’s annual giving programs. But as prospect inboxes fill up, it’s become even more difficult to make email appeals stand out and get opened. Understanding the key principles and current best practices in email marketing will help you make sure that your institution’s email campaigns resonate with donors and remain an important aspect of its overall fundraising strategy. Register now.
Become an AGN Member Today!
This is a great time to invest in professional development for your team. AGN Membership provides advancement staff and volunteers with ongoing access to the training and tools that they’ll need to be successful. Learn more or become a member today!