Children’s Miracle Network’s (CMN) Ignite Peer-to-Peer Leadership Conference is more than just an annual gathering. It is an intentional investment in the future of Campus Programs leadership and fundraising success. Each year, Ignite brings together student leaders, campus advisors and hospital associates from more than 400 campus programs across the country for collaboration, education, relationship-building and strategic planning for the year ahead. Through hands-on learning, leadership development and access to experienced speakers in peer-to-peer fundraising, nonprofit strategy and management, Ignite equips attendees with practical tools and renewed purpose they can immediately take back to their campuses and hospitals. 

For our team at Children’s of Alabama, that investment has translated into measurable impact for our Dance Marathon program. Sending both student leaders and our Program Director to Ignite played a meaningful role in the success of the University of Alabama Dance Marathon this year, helping the program grow 76% year-over-year from $223,000 in 2025 to a program-record $394,000 in 2026. 

One of the biggest ways to maximize the impact of Ignite is through intentional preparation. Before the conference, our Dance Marathon Program Director meets with the student president to walk through each session and determine which ones best align with their role. This helps ensure students gain relevant, actionable insights rather than simply filling seats and allows them to return to campus feeling their time at Ignite was truly valuable. 

One session, in particular, the “Why” workshop at Ignite 2025, made a lasting impact on our students. They brought those concepts back to campus and intentionally incorporated them throughout the year within their broader organization. Re-centering their “why” helped ground the team’s work and, in our view, played a significant role in the overall program’s strength this year. 

We also prioritize creating meaningful touchpoints while at Ignite. Our hospital hosted a dedicated dinner for the students, complete with a personalized invitation from our Hospital Program Director. While small, that intentional effort helped students feel seen and valued, creating space to build relationships outside a typical meeting or Zoom environment. 

At the end of the day, we believe our success comes back to relationships. We value the “advisor trifecta” and the consistency it provides for student leaders throughout the year. From the moment a new president is elected, our hospital team and National Campus Programs Manager connect with them to offer support during the transition and reinforce that we are fully in their corner. Our approach is to operate as “#TeamPresident,” empowering students to lead, supporting their decisions, stepping in only when needed and remaining a steady sounding board when challenges arise. 

Our student leaders consistently share that they feel comfortable turning to both our Hospital Program Director and National Campus Programs Manager with questions, concerns or ideas throughout the year. We also emphasize that Dance Marathon is a training ground. These students are actively developing real-world leadership and professional skills, and investing in them as individuals matters. 

Whether it is taking the time to learn students’ goals, checking in during stressful moments like exams or simply giving them space when needed, we believe stronger relationships ultimately lead to stronger programs and, in turn, a greater impact for the kids and families we serve. 

By: Chandler Bibb, Chief Development Officer, Children’s of Alabama 

This year’s Ignite conference is set for July 16–19 in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information or questions, please reach out to your Campus Programs Manager.