Getting Off to a Strong Start
The event launched Sunday evening with a walk through the campus followed by a reception in the storied Geisenheim Unikeller, where Robert Lönarz, president of the Geisenheimer Alumni Association (VEG), and Dr. Franz-Josef Jung, chair of the Society for the Promotion of Hochschule Geisenheim University, were waiting to greet guests. The university's Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Mirjam Hey, was also in attendance to officially welcome guests on behalf of President Professor Hans Reiner Schultz.
Monday: Technical Inspiration
The firt day of the symposium offered a diverse program with first-rate talks and workshops:
Andreas Eckel (Goethe University Frankfurt) reported on the long-standing efforts to establish an endowed professorship, while Dr. Olaf Kaltenborn (ETH Zurich Foundation) highlighted the perspective of foundations on university fundraising. In the workshops, Petra Bölling (University of Münster) provided insights into ethics in fundraising, while Hermann Siedler (University of Witten/Herdecke) presented on the ‘Foundation Dinner’ format.
An Evening with Christian Ress – An Entrepreneurial Personality in the Spotlight
An evening event held at the wineBANK Rheingau, dubbed ‘Fundraising Meets Entrepreneurship’ proved to be a special highlight of the symposium. Christian Ress, Managing Director of wineBANK and winner of the National Entrepreneur of the Year Meininger Award 2025, captivated guests with an hour-long talk on innovative marketing strategies, internationalization, and combining wine with exclusive brand experiences. Ress is considered one of the most influential entrepreneurial figures in the Rheingau, and his keynote completely captivated the audience.
After his talk, Ress and his team invited participants to the manor house for a delightful evening, which included excellent cuisine and a carefully curated wine selection. For the attendees, the evening was the perfect combination of inspiration, networking, and an authentic Rheingau experience.
Tuesday: Strategies and Real-World Examples
The second day of the symposium was dedicated to practice-oriented tools:
Robert Lönarz presented on the Hochschule Geisenheim University's strategy for fundraising and alumni networking, while Astrid von Soosten (Brakeley Fundraising Consultants) introduced participants to the subject of ‘Major Donations and Donor Expectations’. She subsequently led the workshop on ‘Value Over Money – Conversation Techniques for Effective Asks’.
A special highlight was the PechaKucha session moderated by Petra Bölling, which featured concise inputs from Henning Karsten (TU Braunschweig), Christian Kramberg (alumni-clubs.net), Robert Lönarz, and Astrid von Soosten.
An Impressive Pool of Expertise
The gathering brought together leading figures in university fundraising: from ETH Zurich to the universities of Heidelberg, Freiburg, Münster, Frankfurt, and Göttingen, as well as the Technical Universities of Braunschweig, Berlin, and Hamburg. Representatives from university communications, the Germany Scholarship program, and alumni management further enriched the event, making it a unique forum for exchange and innovation.
Outlook and Conclusion
The fundraising team at Geisenheim University, comprising Robert Lönarz, Karina Klotz, and Heike Fuhrman, was delighted with the level of guest participation and organized the conference with palpable passion and expertise. The atmosphere was characterized by a warm and close-knit community spirit. Many participants expressed their anticipation for the next conferences in 2027 and 2029, which will take place during the Federal Garden Show (BUGA).
Especially in light of shrinking public budgets, universities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are expected to recognize fundraising even more strongly as a strategic field of action in the future.
