Welcome to the 2026 SEC Business School Development Conference
Welcome to Columbia, South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. We are honored to host colleagues from business schools across the Southeastern Conference for a few days of learning, collaboration, and connection. As development and advancement professionals, we share a common mission of strengthening our institutions through meaningful relationships and philanthropic impact. We hope this conference provides valuable ideas, practical takeaways, and new connections that continue well beyond your time in Columbia. On behalf of the Moore School and the Division of Development, thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy your visit, experience our renowned Southern hospitality, and leave inspired by the conversations, collaborations, and friendships built throughout the conference.
Conference Agenda
Registration and Check-In
Registration runs through 5:45 p.m. Arriving later? Let us know!
2:00 PM
Pre-Conference Tours
Shuttles will depart from the Hilton Columbia Center at 2:30 p.m. for Tours
3:00 PM
Welcome Social
5:30 PM
Dinner
Shuttle will depart from the Hilton Columbia Center at 5:45 p.m.
6:00 PM
Breakfast
8:00 AM
Conference Welcome
9:00 AM
Landing the Transformational Gift
9:15 AM
Many Paths, One Mission Panel
10:00 AM
Break
10:45 AM
From Spark to Strategy: Turning Ideas into Innovation
11:00 AM
Lunch and Team Photos
12:00 PM
BREAKOUT SESSION 1
Development Track:
Unlocking Opportunity: How Strategic Board Engagement Fueled New PhilanthropyAdvancement Track:
Alumni Programming: Driving Event Engagement with DataMarketing and Communications Track:
Building the Premier Social Brand in the SEC1:45 PM
Break
2:30 PM
BREAKOUT SESSION 2
Development Track:
Your Best Co-Solicitor Is the Expert: Engaging Faculty in “The Process”Advancement Track:
Saturdays in South Carolina: Leveraging Game Day for Donor StrategyMarketing and Communications Track:
The Future of Fundraising is Human: With Assistive Intelligence2:45 PM
Optional Break Out Sessions and Moore School Tour
3:30 PM
Social Hour and Dinner
5:30 PM
Breakfast
8:00 AM
Morning Welcome
9:00 AM
Always On, Not Always Well: Sustaining Yourself in Advancement Work
9:15 AM
AI in Advancement: Practical Tools for Engagement and Fundraising
10:00 AM
Conference Closing and Passing the Torch
10:45 AM
Box Lunches
11:00 AM
Contact Us
For any questions, contact Kendrick Reed
803-576-8022 | kendrick.reed@moore.sc.edu