Recently, the 2024 CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Latin America Conference took place, celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The event, hosted at CETYS University’s International Campus in Ensenada, set a new attendance record, drawing university presidents, administrators, and professionals from various fields, including fundraising, institutional advancement, alumni relations, and communications.

CASE is an international association dedicated to fostering the development of educational institutions worldwide by training professionals in Institutional Advancement who work in areas such as alumni relations, fundraising, communications, marketing, and institutional partnerships.

This year’s conference coincided with CASE’s 50th Anniversary and kicked off with a session titled, “CASE: 50 Years of the Institutional Advancement Profession.” The session featured insights from Sue Cunningham, CEO and Global President of CASE; Fernando León-García, President of CETYS University System; Jim Harris, President of the University of San Diego; and Martha Aguilar, President of the University of Celaya. The speakers shared their experiences and discussed future directions for institutional advancement.

The university leaders emphasized the importance of recognizing donors and partners as strategic allies, as well as the critical need to invest in and professionalize institutional advancement. They also highlighted the significance of adapting to emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, which can offer deeper insights into donor profiles, references, and behavioral patterns.

“Comprehensive multi-year fundraising campaigns are now a reality. Even public universities need to consider establishing foundations or independent entities to integrate this dynamic into their operations,” noted Dr. Fernando León-García, President of CETYS University System.

Sue Cunningham, CEO and Global President of CASE underscored the significance of CASE’s international expansion, which began 15 years ago, to offer education, foster growth, and share knowledge globally. “Institutional advancement is not just about fundraising; it’s a synergy of functions that connect the university with its audiences, offering them information, building rapport, and aligning them with the goals the university aims to achieve,” she stated during the conference’s opening.

During the event, CETYS University was recognized for its 50 years of membership in CASE. Additionally, Dr. Carlos H. García-Alvarado, Director of Institutional Relations for the CETYS University System, received the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to institutional advancement and volunteerism within CASE.

The three-day conference featured a series of lectures, workshops, and thematic sessions on topics such as fundraising, university reputation, alumni relations, and more. The event concluded with the keynote address, “The Power of Connecting to Build Relationships,” delivered by Jorge Taboada, Head of Operations for Latin America at TikTok.