The Big Ten Fund Raisers Institute
Conference and Retreat
August 2-5, 2025
Grand Geneva Hotel
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
What is BTFRI?
The Big Ten Fund Raisers Institute (BTFRI) brings together leaders in higher education development for a multi-day immersive conference in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. With traditions founded upon sharing successes and thinking critically through challenges, the BTRFI forum remains a unique and valuable learning experience for those working in philanthropy within academia.
Each year, BTFRI welcomes 40 development leaders to engage in meaningful discussions about professional trends and challenges with esteemed peers.
To date, more than 2,000 alumni have participated in BTFRI, including 50 faculty members, some of whom currently hold leadership positions across the country.
Who should attend?
BTFRI will reignite your passion for higher education development.
If you’re a development leader in higher education seeking a unique opportunity to discuss the latest trends and challenges among your accomplished peers, we invite you to apply to attend our conference in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Historically, the 40 hand-selected attendees hold roles ranging from director to associate vice president, and each attendee is invited to participate only once.
What can you expect at BTFRI?
During this conference, BTRFI faculty, along with special guests, will lead sessions that explore emerging challenges and evolving trends in higher education philanthropy. These engaging, content-rich sessions foster open dialogue between attendees and BTFRI faculty.
However, what truly sets BTFRI apart are the evening social activities including a scenic boat cruise on Lake Geneva, an alfresco dinner on the golf course at the Grand Geneva Resort, and a memorable closing ceremony at Pier 290.
Previous attendees have noted that you will want to silence your phone and set aside email to fully embrace quality time spent with BTFRI faculty and peers in the higher education community.
For more than 50 years, BTFRI has been organized by a team of distinguished faculty leaders. BTFRI’s current faculty include senior leaders from several prominent institutions.
Access the registration page to determine whether BTFRI could be a good fit for you.
Already attending BTFRI? Find travel and accommodations information here.
Words from past attendees . . .
What an amazing experience. Not once during any of the sessions did I look at my watch or wonder when the session would end. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The time flew by, leaving me wanting more time with the faculty or peers at my table.
Michele S. Gregory
Executive Director, Medical Advancement, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Big Ten Fundraising Institute was a phenomenal opportunity for professional development. It was opportunity to meet similarly talented and motivated leaders who are looking to move our profession and respective institutions forward and maximize the impact our work has on students and higher education. Having these conversations with the BTFRI faculty – the absolute pinnacle of Sr. Leadership in higher education advancement leadership – proved invaluable and helped me reframe thinking and accelerate strategies we are rolling out. I would strongly recommend BTFRI for a motivated, talented leader looking to take their operation to the next level.
Shams Khan
Head of Institutional Advancement, Zatuyna College
My BTFRI experience tops all of my other conference experiences. The well-curated small group of development officers offers enough similarities to create a shared understanding, yet the differences within each team/institution offers new perspectives to familiar challenges. The faculty present a schedule of sessions and discussion that seamlessly addresses current realties while providing context, and encouragement, for one’s future leadership growth.
Matt Kuster
Executive Director of Development, Vision Program, University of Iowa Center for Advancement
BTFRI provides an intimate setting in which you can get to know fundraisers at peer institutions, while learning from exemplary faculty. The social opportunities are second to none and the faculty are accessible throughout the entire conference. Be ready to put your phone on silent and ignore emails for a couple days. It is totally worth it.
Justin Seno
Director of Gift Planning, University of Illinois Foundation
Attending the 2022 Big Ten Fundraisers Institute was an incredible opportunity to learn from the most accomplished fundraising professionals in the field alongside colleagues across the Big Ten who were genuinely interested in helping each other. We shared insights from our various roles, helped connect dots for each other, and gained valuable perspective that I still benefit from today. It was unforgettable and I would encourage anyone with an opportunity to join, to do so!
Divine Tabios
Senior Regional Director of Development, Major Gifts, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University
BTFRI is a one-of-a-kind professional learning and engagement opportunity. The sessions go beyond surface-level subjects, and really dive deep into a range of topics relevant to the advancement profession. The connections and quality time spent with BTFRI faculty and peers across higher ed was so meaningful— and not to mention, all of this takes place in beautiful Lake Geneva! It was an unforgettable experience.