The Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of
Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies will feature Robert Friend, Sr. Enterprise Solutions
Executive at Eventgroove in its August virtual program titled “Practical AI for Nonprofits.” The
session will take place via Zoom on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. CST.
The one-hour program is free thanks to the generosity of the presenting sponsor, the Walker Area
Community Foundation. Registration is required and can be completed at: linktr.ee/carycenterau.
Robert Friend has spent more than thirty years as a transformational executive leader, expanding
commercial and nonprofit organizations through the innovative deployment of marketing, sales,
communication, and technology strategies that deliver measurable impact and success. He is a
Senior Enterprise Solutions Executive at Eventgroove, where he helps national associations and
service organizations leverage public-facing events and initiatives to build deeper constituent
relationships through authentic digital storytelling that drives engagement. He has presented on
artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector to Non-Profit Tech for Good, the International
Ticketing Association, the Montana Nonprofit Association, and the Association of Fundraising
Professionals, and taught graduate arts management at Brooklyn College for twenty years. He is
a past District Governor of Rotary International District 7980 in Southern Connecticut and
served sixteen years on the Board of Trustees of Emerson College, where he earned his degree.
The Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is an academic
center in Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences with a focus on financial wellness,
philanthropic engagement, and nonprofit studies. The Cary Center inspires participants to
discover their purpose through learning, giving, and growing—empowering all generations to
leave an enduring legacy.
The Community and Collegiate division of the Cary Center provides capacity-building resources
to nonprofits through educational programming, professional development, and networking
opportunities.
For more information, visit carycenter.auburn.edu or contact Brittany Spillman at
spillbl@auburn.edu or 334-844-3557.
