RING: The Silmarillion: An (Un)expected Journey of a Development Analytics Program

RING: The Silmarillion: An (Un)expected Journey of a Development Analytics Program

By the end of this RING, attendees will be able to:

1) Recall the different business life stages from start-up to maturation

2) Identify the life stage of their analytics programs by comparing and contrasting characteristics defining each business life stage

3) Share the components of their own analytics programs in terms of placement with the Development division, the internal components (i.e., team members) of the program itself, and the skill set/responsibilities of each component/team member

4) Compare and contrast different operational/ management models among the various development analytics programs, even if they are at the same or a similar business life stage.

[Note: Knowledge of Elvish and other Middle-Earth language not required.]

Facilitator:

James Cheng currently holds the position of Assistant Director of Prospect Identification & Analytics in Development Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Like many folks in development research, James' background is not directly related to philanthropy or fundraising. Other than resource development, he's made intellectual and professional forays into cell and development biology, secondary science education, as well as educational research, measurement, and evaluation. While finishing up a doctorate degree in applied statistics in education at Boston College, James' interest in development was piqued when he also took on the role of Prospect Data Mining and Modeling Specialist at MIT from 2006 to 2008. After spending time in the corporate world as a healthcare market researcher, James returned to the Light, working at Dana-Farber since January of 2011.

Location:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Division of Development & The Jimmy Fund

10 Brookline Place West

5th Floor Conference Room

Brookline, MA 02445

From the Massachusetts Turnpike:

Take Mass Pike east towards Boston to exit 14 for route 95/128. After toll, take route 95/128 south towards Attleboro/Providence. You'll be on route 95 for 5 minutes/2 exits. Continue until the intersection of Route 9 at exits 20 A&B.

Take Exit 20 (A) towards Boston. Drive approximately 6 miles from there. Not too long after you are on Rt. 9 you will see the Atrium Mall on your right immediately followed by the Chestnut Hill mall on the left. As you enter the town of Brookline about 5 miles later you will see a reservoir on your right. After passing the reservoir you will come over a hill and see the Boston skyline. You will come up on a Volkswagen dealership, then a U-Haul rental on your right followed by an old brick urban schoolhouse.

Within a block or two you will see a Dunkin' Donuts alongside a large firehouse with a clock tower. It will be right at an intersection. If you look to the left at that point you will see the college on the opposite side of the road. The sign will read The New England Institute of Art. If you look straight ahead you will see a pedestrian over pass. Proceed under the pedestrian overpass to the traffic light that immediately follows. Make a U-turn at the light and drive one block to the corner of Pearl St. & Rt. 9.

** You will see the marquee that says 10 Brookline Place West. Make a right onto Pearl St. and a left into the underground parking garage that is adjacent to our building. There are also 2 hr parking meters on Pearl Street. If parked in the underground lot, take the elevator to the first floor. When leaving the elevator walk out of the front door of the building towards the annex, directly across the plaza. Enter the Gallery & Admissions area.

Driving from Route 93:

Take Route 93 South or North and follow signs for Storrow Drive West. Take Storrow Drive West and proceed through tunnel. Stay in the middle lane (follow "CARS ONLY" signs). Get in the left lane after the Copley Square exit. Take Kenmore Square, Fenway 1S exit (on left). At fork in exit, bear left and follow Fenway 1S. Stay in right lane on exit ramp; bear right towards Boylston Street, Outbound, Riverway 1. Follow Boylston Street five blocks until you reach a major intersection. Follow the sign for Brookline/Worcester. This will bring you onto Brookline Ave. Follow Brookline Ave to end and then take RT 9 Worcester. Drive 1 1/2 blocks. 10 Brookline Place West, is on the corner of RT 9 & Pearl Street. SEE ABOVE ** for directions for parking.

By MBTA:

Take the MBTA's Green Line -- "Riverside" Branch/D Train -- to the Brookline Village stop. Our building is the large beige building immediately behind the T stop. Walk to the end of the platform following the contour of the building from Pearl St turning right on to Boylston St. Take the stairs opposite the bus stop up to the plaza and enter the building on the left. Take the stairs to the top and you will be at the main entrance of our building.