Pre-conference sessions run concurrently from 8am-12pm and then from 1pm-5pm on Sunday, October 18th at the conference hotel. Conference attendees are encouraged to register for a morning and afternoon session. Please read each description carefully before making a selection.
MORNING OPTION: Best Practices in Fundraising for TRIO Programs
Sunday, October 18th: 8:00am-12:00pm
Presenter: Amy Verlanic - ALV Consulting
Cost: Members: $175, Non-Members $225
As federal funding landscapes continue to evolve, successful TRIO programs are increasingly exploring strategic fundraising and partnership development to expand opportunities for students.
This engaging session will introduce best practices in fundraising specifically tailored to the unique mission and compliance considerations of TRIO programs. Participants will explore how to identify potential funding sources, cultivate community and institutional partnerships, engage alumni and donors, and develop fundraising activities that align with federal regulations and institutional policies.
The session will also highlight strategies for leveraging storytelling, student success outcomes, workforce alignment, and community impact data to build compelling cases for support. Whether your program is new to fundraising or looking to strengthen existing efforts, this session will provide actionable ideas and scalable approaches that can help increase program capacity and student impact.
Participants will leave with practical tools, sample strategies, and new ideas for creating sustainable partnerships and diversified support systems that enhance — not replace — the federal investment in TRIO.
AFTERNOON OPTION 1: Best Practices for Leveraging Federal Investments in Your Upward Bound Program
Sunday, October 18th: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Presenter: Amy Verlanic - ALV Consulting
Cost Members: $175, Non-Members $225
Federal TRIO funding represents a transformative investment in educational opportunity, student success, and economic mobility. High-performing Upward Bound programs understand that maximizing this investment requires strategic planning, intentional partnerships, and a deep understanding of allowable program design.
This highly practical session will focus on innovative strategies for leveraging federal investments to deepen impact and create enriched experiences for Upward Bound participants. Participants will examine ways to braid institutional, community, workforce, philanthropic, and in-kind resources alongside federal TRIO funds to strengthen programming without compromising compliance.
The session will highlight examples of successful approaches to integrating federal initiatives and priorities into your Upward Bound plan of operation.
Participants will also engage in discussions surrounding researching community needs, setting realistic objectives, developing support, and methods for staffing within budget constraints. Let’s discover how to align Upward Bound services with institutional priorities and workforce initiatives in ways that strengthen both student outcomes and program positioning.
AFTERNOON OPTION 2: Unlocking Your Strengths: Leading with Confidence in Times of Uncertainty
Sunday, October 18th: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Presenter: Meghan Carranza
Cost Members: $175, Non-Members $225
Presenter
Morning Option &
Afternoon Option 1
Amy L. Verlanic
Amy L. Verlanic is the sole proprietor of ALV Consulting, which offers project management, strategic planning, and grant writing services to nonprofit associations and educational institutions. Ms. Verlanic’s educational grant-writing skills have garnered millions in public and private funding.
In 2023, Amy retired from a full-time career as the Executive Director of the Institute for Educational Opportunities at Montana Tech, where she worked for 30 years to provide teachers and students with college-based programs that enrich statewide science, engineering, and technology education. She now focuses her energy on supporting the broader TRIO community through consulting and training.
Ms. Verlanic has held elected office at the local, state, regional, and national levels. In 2013, she was the Board Chair for the Council for Opportunity in Education, where she was charged with representing the needs of 2,900 federally funded TRIO programs serving 840,000 Americans.
She is most proud of her family, which includes two beautiful granddaughters, four daughters, and a spoiled golden retriever; being acknowledged by both ASPIRE as the Art Quinn Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and COE as the Walter O Mason Lifetime Achievement Awardee; and most recently, being entrusted as the Sonoma State University TRIO Training Director.
Presenter
Afternoon Option 2
Meghan Carranza
