To illustrate the power of the Advancement Academy experience, we're sharing case studies from previous attendees. Hear what they learned and how the action plans they created at Academy have yielded tangible results for their schools. 

Crescent School

All boys school for grades 3-12 in Midtown Toronto

Why They Came

When Jamie Lougheed joined Crescent School’s advancement team two years ago, staff turnover had disrupted consistency and alignment. Encouraged by the head of school, who had previously attended the Advancement Academy, Jamie prioritized sending team members each year. 

When assessing professional development options, the team found the Academy to be the clear choice. Its strategic framework paired well with Crescent’s internal planning, making it a natural fit for goal-setting and team alignment.

What They Hoped to Gain 

Crescent School’s advancement team sought to:

• Strengthen team cohesion and align with the school's strategic planning framework.
• Apply the Academy’s structured approach, setting short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
• Take advantage of mentorship and networking opportunities.

Connecting with industry experts and peers from other schools, they saw the Academy as a valuable opportunity to gain fresh insights and bring back practical solutions they could implement immediately.

Why Attend as a Team?

One of the most valuable aspects of attending the Academy, the team said, was participating as a group. Jamie emphasized how this experience became a powerful team-building opportunity, especially for a relatively new team. Attending together ensured alignment in their thinking and laid the groundwork for future planning.

"I attended the academy with team members I support in my role, which was great because their goals directly impacted mine. Understanding their perspectives helped me set my own goals more effectively."

— Claire van Nostrand, Development Coordinator

Key Takeaways and Highlights

The Advancement Academy provided invaluable insights and practical strategies. Some of the team’s most impactful takeaways included:

• Mentorship Matters: One-on-one guidance from experienced mentors helped the Crescent School team refine their goals and strategies through personalized feedback.

"Our mentor, Michael Christopher, was excellent. He guided the conversation effectively and asked all the right questions. We were able to focus on the goals we were working on at our school, and his third-party, objective feedback was incredibly valuable.”

— Richard Vissers, Director of Enrolment and Financial Aid

• Collaboration is Key: Interacting with other schools and hearing their experiences broadened the team’s perspectives and introduced them to new ideas. The blend of formal sessions and more casual gatherings allowed ample time to connect with experienced colleagues and new friends.
• Structured Goal-Setting: The Academy reinforced the importance of alignment and strategic planning, enabling the Crescent School team to create cohesive, actionable plans.
• Hands-On Learning: Engaging in case studies and practical exercises made it easier to apply concepts in real-world settings.

"My expectation for any conference is to leave with one or two valuable takeaways, but this conference exceeded that. I walked away with a whole bag full of gems. The speakers were incredibly generous in sharing their knowledge and recommending resources.”

— Merrick David, Assistant Director of Enrolment

Applying Academy Insights

Learnings from the Academy didn’t stay in the conference room — they became a core part of the school’s strategic planning. Jamie emphasized that their school plans to use the ISM framework to structure goals over the next four years, expanding beyond the advancement team to influence the entire institution.

"I went in with a clear plan of what I wanted to accomplish, and our mentor, Phil, was incredibly helpful in providing the additional information I needed. My goal was to develop a short- and long-term planned giving strategy, but since I didn’t have a background in the independent school sector, I needed guidance on adapting my experience to this industry. Phil helped bridge that gap, translating my previous knowledge into a strategy that made sense for our school. Now, we’re actively applying the plan I developed at the Academy."

— Leslie Belzak, Associate Director of Development

Final Thoughts

For any school looking to bring clarity, alignment, and strategy to their advancement efforts, the Advancement Academy is a game-changer.

"The Academy stood out from other conferences for its variety and flexibility. It offered a wide range of options, allowing us to choose the roadmap that best suited our needs. After 30 years in the industry, I still learned a great deal from the Academy. The people and presenters were exceptional."

— Jamie Lougheed, Chief Advancement Officer 

Through structured mentorship, practical workshops, and collaborative goal setting, the Crescent School team developed actionable strategies. 

“Our school is very entrenched with ISM. We will be using the ISM goal-setting model over the next four years to structure our goals as a whole school, not just an advancement team.”  

— Jamie Lougheed, Chief Advancement Officer