Best Practices for Building a Strategic Development Office

Workshop Description

This workshop earns 30 credits towards your IACP credit requirements

New to Development?  New to your school?  What re the steps you need to take to get yourself and your office up and running so that you can focus on your donors and raising money? 
This workshop gives you the fundamentals of

• Development terminology
• Database management
• Private independent school finance
• Development Office staffing
• Development–Head of School relationships
• Development–Board relationships

Whether you are a new Development Director staffing a one-person office or a Development Associate in a large office and new to the job, this workshop will give you the fundamental s you need to “hit the ground running” when the new school year starts.

Who should attend: New and aspiring Development, Alumni, and Annual Fund Directors and Assistant Directors, support staff, Heads, Trustees, and Development Committee members

You cover these topics—and more:

Philanthropy, Development, and Fund Raising

• Values-based, donor-centered development
• The ISM Comprehensive Development Model™
• The Donor Cultivation Cycle

Database Management

• What you need to know about your donors
• How you get and store your donor information
• Software options

Private, Independent School Finance

• Fund accounting
• Budget management
• Business Office relations

Gift Recording and Receipting

• How to record and account for gifts
• What’s required and what’s good practice with gift receipts
• Establishing gift policies

The Development Office Staff

• Functions that are common to Development Offices
• How to staff those functions in a small or a large school

Development Relations

• Board
• Head
• Volunteers

Workshop Leader Bio

Michael Christopher, IAP-L

Assistant Headmaster—School Advancement, Lausanne Collegiate School, TN
ISM Adjunct Consultant

Michael began his career in school advancement in 1989, and is now the Assistant Headmaster—School Advancement for Lausanne Collegiate School (TN). Prior to this position, he was Director of Development at Holland Hall School (OK) for 10 years and at Greensboro Day School (NC) for seven. Prior to that, he was Director of Development and Associate Dean at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. During his tenure at each, Michael built comprehensive development offices which were characterized by solid operations, strong annual funds, proactive constituent cultivation, and robust communication and marketing programs. He has led several successful capital campaigns and established productive major gifts programs. At Lausanne, Michael has been charged with resurrecting a stalled fund-raising program and initiating a 10-year capital improvement effort that will top $40 million. Michael serves on the ISM Advancement Academy faculty and leads Best Practices for Building a Strategic Development Office  as well as Alumni are Forever: How to Keep Them in the Family at ISM Summer Institute. An adjunct consultant for ISM, Michael has authored and co-authored several articles with Paula, notably the three articles on the Comprehensive Development, Admission and Advancement Models published in Ideas & Perspectives. Michael has also presented at CASE/NAIS, APC, ISAS, NAIS, and NAES. He has an MA from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor of Music from Cornell College (IA).

Schedule

3-DAY WORKSHOP

First day:
3–3:30 p.m.: Pick up your nametag 
3:30–5:30 p.m.: Session 
5:45–6:30 p.m.: Social Hour
6:30–7:30 p.m.: Dinner with ISM 

Second and third days:
7:30–8:30 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8:30–10 a.m.: Session
10–10:15 a.m.: Break
10:15–12 p.m.: Session
12-1:30 p.m.: Lunch  with ISM
1:30–2:45 p.m.: Session
3–3:15 p.m.: Break
3:15–4:45 p.m.: Session 
5–6 p.m.: Social hour

Last day:
7:30–8:30 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8:30–10 a.m.: Session
9:45-10 a.m.: Break
10-12 p.m.: Session
(Salt Lake City concludes at 10 a.m.)

FAQ

1. What does my registration fee include?

All workshop costs, materials, continental breakfasts, dinners on Sunday and/or Wednesday; lunches on Monday, Tuesday, and/or Thursday and Friday; breaks, and social hours are included in your workshop fee.

2. What is not included in my registration fee?

Hotel accommodations, travel expenses, other meals, and sightseeing are not covered by your workshop fee.

3. Where am I going?

Marriott Salt Lake City Center
220 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 800-266-9432
Fax: 866-961-8704
Once you have registered for a workshop, please make your hotel reservation online here. Room rates are $149/night if booked before June 1, 2013.

The Marriott City Center is Salt Lake's only AAA Four Diamond Marriott. Among all its amenities, you receive complimentary high-speed wireless or hardwired Internet in guestrooms and complimentary wireless in the lobby areas, and complimentary 24-hour access to the Fitness Center and Business Center. 

The hotel is one block away from the newly opened City Creek Center, one of the country's largest urban projects. Nordstrom's Macy's. Tiffany's, Coach, Michael Kors, and Brooks Brothers anchor the mall, which includes a good variety of dining options for every appetite and taste. Check out the Web site:  www.citycreekcenter.com

4. How do I get there?

By plane: Salt Lake City Airport is 7 miles west of the hotel. Take I-80 East to the City Center/600 South exit. Continue on 600 South and turn left on State Street. Hotel is three blocks on left hand side. Take a legal u-turn into property. Express Shuttle service from the airport to the hotel is $7 each way. Call 800-397-0773 for reservations.

By train:The Amtrak station is 2 miles west of the hotel

By car: Click here and put in your starting address for driving directions. Self-parking for workshop participants is free at the hotel; valet parking is $12 a day.

5. What should I wear?

Temperatures in Salt Lake City can be warm (85-95) degrees, however, the classrooms and guest rooms are air-conditioned so bring a sweater in case the rooms are too cool. Dress is casual. Wear whatever is comfortable – jeans, shorts, etc. For current weather conditions, we recommend checking the Salt Lake report at http://www.weather.com/.

6. What will the workshop schedule be like?

The meals and social hours listed on this agenda are included as part of your workshop fee.

Start Day, Sunday or Wednesday:
3-3:30 p.m.: Check in
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Session 
5:30 p.m.: Social and Dinner with ISM

Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, Friday:
7-8 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8-10 a.m.: Session
10-10:15 a.m.: Break
10:15-12 p.m.: Session
12-1 p.m.: Lunch with ISM
1:30-3 p.m.: Session
3-3:15 a.m.: Break
3:15-5 p.m.: Session 
5-5:45: Social ISM

Last Day, Wednesday or Saturday:
7-8 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8:15-10 a.m.: Session

6-DAY WORKSHOP

Sunday:
3-3:30 p.m.: Check in
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Session 
5:30 p.m.: Social and Dinner with ISM 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
7-8 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8-10 a.m.: Session
10-10:15 a.m.: Break
10:15-12 p.m.: Session
12-1 p.m.: Lunch on your own
1:30-3 p.m.: Session
3-3:15 a.m.: Break
3:15-5 p.m.: Session 
5-5:45: Social ISM

Wednesday:
7-8 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8-10 a.m.: Session
10-10:15 a.m.: Break
10:15-12 p.m.: Session
12-1 p.m: Lunch on your own
1-3 p.m.: Optional session at the leader's discretion
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Session
5:30 p.m.: Social and Dinner with ISM

Saturday:
7-8 a.m.: Continental breakfast
8-10 a.m.: Session

7. What should I bring?

Each workshop is different. Your workshop leader will contact you about materials to bring. In general, though, our participants enjoy sharing information. If you have materials that you would like to share, please feel free to bring them along. (You will need about 24 copies to share with your classmates.)

8. Where can I work out?

The Marriott has a fitness room with cardio equipment and free weights, and an indoor pool and whirlpool. Nearby activities include hiking, biking, and jogging trails; miniature golf; sailing and water skiing; squash; volleyball; and tennis.

9. What about my special dietary requirements?

Whether for religious, health, or personal preference, your special needs can be accommodated. Contact Carla Spady at 302-656-4944 or carla@isminc.com.

10. How much free time will I have?

There are periods before, between, and after workshop sessions for relaxation, recreation, and socializing. For those attending six-day workshops, Wednesday afternoons are additional free time.

Many cultural sites are within a short walking distance from the Marriott in Salt Lake. Tennis courts, 12 golf courses, and hiking and canyon excursions are also nearby and accessible via Salt Lake’s light rail, bus and/or taxi service. For more dining, nightlife, shopping, activities, and attractions in Salt Lake City, visit www.visitsaltlake.com.

11. Should I need medical or dental attention, where should I go?

There are a number of medical and dental facilities in close proximity to the Marriott City Center in Salt Lake. Simply contact the front desk or concierge for a list, should the need arise.