Learn how to leverage the summer months to develop strategic comprehensive plans that align with your school's mission, vision, and fundraising goals.

Discover how to become a strong leader and build successful, healthy administrative teams.

The ever-increasing uncertainties facing independent school leadership in the market, in multi-generational faculty expectations, and in a world of increasing neuro-divergence in our students make the demand for decisive, steady, and empathetic leadership greater than ever. While the needs of the individual leader are important, never before has the effectiveness of a healthy, high-functioning team required greater attention.

Identify the strengths you bring to your administrative or Leadership Team, and learn how to create team excellence when managing up, down, and among peers. After this course, you’ll reap the results of strong leadership, healthy cultures, clear purpose, and powerful relationships.

Discover the strategies you need to prepare for a successful capital campaign to motivate and engage your supporters—creating an inspirational and sustainable vision for the future.

Your school, whether large or small, can run a successful capital campaign—with the correct preparation.

Explore the dynamics of independent school fundraising to support your school’s ability to make a difference for your students. Become more confident in your role and understand how to maximize the capacity of your volunteer and donor base.

Learn how to simplify planned giving to enable prospects to give gifts larger than they imagined.

Billions of dollars of intergenerational money are currently being transferred from one generation to another, creating significant philanthropic opportunities—are you alert to the full potential of your school’s supporters?

Unlock the power of planned giving and pave the way for transformational philanthropy in your school. This workshop provides a comprehensive guide to creating a dynamic planned giving program that resonates with donors, fosters long-term engagement, and secures sustainable support for your cause.

Learn strategies and tactics to excel in your new position as Development Director.

Understanding the components of an effective development operation—and how those components interface with your school’s strategic priorities—is critical to your success as a Development Director.

Whether you’re new to the position or need to adapt your current skills to a private school context, this workshop provides training and support as you define your priorities—creating an action plan for the coming year.

Learn how to design and implement a winning annual fund program that’s the heart of your fundraising initiatives.

The foundation of your school’s culture of philanthropy begins with a strong annual fund. Discover how to build a thriving annual fund strategy that drives relationships, generates enthusiasm, and raises dollars—enabling your school to go above and beyond in delivering your mission to your students.

Determine how to identify, engage, evaluate, solicit, recognize, and steward donors and prospects. Learn how to employ strategic data, share a strong school story, and build a confident and agile annual fund team.

Build a comprehensive engagement plan that includes a focus on stewardship and elevates your work with your donors and prospects to an even higher level.

The amount and kind of attention paid to your donors, families, and organizations when not soliciting them can make an enormous difference in your school’s fundraising success. This workshop takes a close look into how the Donor Cycle (identification, engagement, evaluation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship) provides a strategic approach to moving a donor or prospect into a closer relationship with your school.

We'll examine the process by which development professionals begin the work of discovering potential donors, enhancing relationships with donors, and qualifying their interests, values, and financial resources. You’ll learn effective solicitation techniques to connect your donors and prospects with your school’s strategic priorities.

The ISM Annual Advancement Academy brings together leaders in the areas of admission, alumni relations, development, enrollment, fundraising, and marketing communications—along with School Heads—to collaborate on advancement initiatives and strategies. Attendees leave with a customized action plan to implement right away.