The budget is a chief responsibility of the Finance Committee, and budgetary activity is ongoing. Oversight of the current budget is simultaneous with development and approval of the next year’s budget. This duty alone calls for members with specific skills and backgrounds.

Here at ISM, a lot of our theory and best-practice advice comes from our focus on a school’s mission. We consider the school’s mission a statement of why the institution exists, a “filter” through which every decision must be run. Everything from scheduling to facility expansion to financial aid comes from how a school interprets its mission. But many organizations have a “vision,” in addition to its mission. When a school already has its mission—its core focus and primary compass pointing the community toward the “ideal” learning environment—a vision feels superfluous, at least initially. Done correctly, however, a school’s vision articulates how a school will fulfill its root mission, making it an interesting (albeit optional) part of the school’s strategic plan and marketing strategy.

Leaders often possess a raw, natural charisma and energy, being the centers around whom others naturally congregate. But, there are distinct qualities which conscientious leaders—particularly academic leaders—actively cultivate to better both themselves and those around them. These people are the ones for which you should watch as you enter this year’s hiring and promotion season.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals recently released its tenth annual survey, the 2015 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report (FEP). While it’s not specifically geared toward private-independent schools, its findings—particularly those surrounding donor attrition and retention—offer some intriguing fundraising opportunities for organizations who care to pay attention.

Buyer personas are useful marketing tools for businesses, as they break down a typical customer's likes, dislikes, attitudes, and habits. Similarly, "donor personas" help the Development Office better identify and appeal to potential donors—but you have to craft them first. Take these four steps to write donor personas that help you craft effective, poignant communication with those who want to help your school grow.

Pictures spice up plain text and lead to greater audience attention. (There’s a reason why we publish Source articles with images!) They’re an important part of your communications strategy, and should be used, well, strategically. Images tell your school's story in ways that other mediums cannot. Pictures document moments and connect viewers to the spirit, energy, and excitement of your school's programming. So grab your camera and become a new-age bard by using these storytelling tips through the photos you select to attract interest and investment in your school.

It’s January, which means there’s a fresh crop of potential student applications piled on your desk, waiting to be evaluated. While you’re combing through these forms, you’ve got a second form of recruitment this spring to remember: Re-recruitment. Just because your students currently attend your school doesn’t mean that they’ll automatically plan to return this fall. Here, then, are two reasons why families may choose not to re-enroll at your school for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Q: We just got our renewal numbers for health insurance for the coming year, and they have us in the small group market. I thought that if you had 51 or more employees, you remained in the large group market. Did I receive the wrong quote?

While it’s only January, hiring season is quickly approaching. To prepare you for the onslaught of résumés and cover letters, we thought we’d offer you a humorous look at some other hiring managers’ “best of the worst” employment applications, collected from every corner of the World Wide Web. Are they true? We can’t say for sure, but they’re certainly entertaining.

Reviewing your employee handbook—that central document every school employee is expected to read and comply with—mid-year while you can see your school’s policies in action is always a smart idea. While you may already have some adjustments in mind for next year’s edition, we’d like to point out three policy pain points to keep in the back of your mind during your review.