The ARC Collaborative

ARCC is super excited to be the Key Sponsor of the 2026 Council for Advancement and Support of Education Special Events in Advancement Conference and can’t wait to connect with so many talented advancement professionals in Chicago!

𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚: The ARCC booth may contain:
• Oversized event ideas
• Storytelling nerds
• Donor psychology conversations
• Immersive experience inspiration
• Enthusiastic hand gestures from Seth
• At least one person saying, “What if…”

Come visit us, explore our brand-new website, and add your voice to The ARC Files—our ongoing collection of insights from some of the most creative professionals we know.

See you soon in the WIndy City!

A predictable run-of-show. A lineup of talking heads. Another “and now we’ll roll the video…” moment. That’s not enough anymore.

There’s a difference between a program people sit through and an experience that drives real engagement and philanthropic commitment.

The most powerful events go beyond describing a vision—they create moments where guests can experience it.

The shift happens when people stop thinking: “What are they trying to do?”…and start asking: “How do I become part of this?”

At ARCC, we connect people through different kinds of moments:

Spoken word.
Music.
Dance.
Hands-on experiences.
Unexpected conversation.

The best programs feel effortless to the audience, even though every moment has been thoughtfully designed, scripted, and rehearsed behind the scenes. Every cue, every entrance, every story beat matters.

No hard transitions.
No awkward introductions.
No breaking the emotional momentum.

Just a continuous flow of human connection that moves people from passive attendees to active believers.

That kind of engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from listening carefully, understanding what matters most to an organization, and creating an event that feels unmistakably true to who they are.

No two organizations are the same.
Their events shouldn’t be either.

Last month, ARCC packed up and headed west to Omaha to continue our nearly two-decade partnership with the University of Nebraska Foundation—collaborating once again on their latest Celebration of Nebraska event.

This reimagined trustees gathering debuted in 2024. Rather than a traditional “state of the university system,” the goal was to create an immersive experience—one that not only showcases each campus, but allows guests to truly feel the impact of their support and generosity.

This year, we built a dynamic landscape of experiential centers, each one alive with the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the university’s future. For this event, we created an environment where impact could be felt, explored, and experienced firsthand.

Guests had the opportunity to:

• Try their hand at roping a steer
• Interact with both a robotic dog and a live Labrador mascot
• Meet student entrepreneurs behind a college choice app
• Experience the ISTARI cube, designed to protect healthcare workers and patients from infectious disease transmission
• Connect with students whose lives have been transformed through scholarship support

When people gather, the experience should matter. This is what it looks like when it does.

A simple “thank you” is powerful, but a meaningful “thank you?” That’s transformational.

When we created this video to honor Sister Judith Ann at OSF HealthCare, the goal was simple: express gratitude for an extraordinary leader.

But look a little closer at the trailer.

The smiles.
The laughter.
The energy in the room.

That’s what happens when you invite people into the act of saying thank you.

Leaders, donors, and colleagues weren’t just featured in the story—they became part of the gratitude behind it.

At ARCC, that’s how we think about the power of this medium—as a shared experience that strengthens relationships in the process.

What’s the most meaningful thank-you you’ve ever given or received? Let us help shape the arc of gratitude for your team.