In light of the recent college admission scandal, now is a good time to remind private-independent school development and admission professionals of an important point. It is always improper to accept a philanthropic gift from an applicant family prior to the student’s acceptance and subsequent enrollment in the school.
To do so is unethical. It risks conveying, at the very least, the perception of a quid pro quo condition for the student’s acceptance into the school.
While it may be rare for an applicant family to offer a donation to the school, it does occur from time to time. Right now, because everyone’s attention is heightened due to this case, you must be extremely judicious.
Private-independent schools already battle the perception that their schools are only accessible to affluent families. However, in truth, most private schools offer tuition assistance for qualified, mission-appropriate applicants.
But the appearance, however inaccurate, of a quid pro quo transaction, would further erode trust in our schools.
ISM has published a set of core values to reinforce this, among other industry standards, in Ideas & Perspectives, our flagship publication. ISM members can read the guidelines in full here. If you’re not a member and would like to read it, learn about the benefits of ISM’s membership.
Review these standards on an annual basis in your Advancement planning retreat. You should also go over these values as you hire new team members. This will ensure you maintain an ethical, highly efficacious admission decision-making process—and that your constituents’ perceptions will match your actions.
Additional ISM Resources:
The Source for Private School News Vol. 18 No. 7 Admission Cheating
The Source for School Heads Vol. 17 No. 8 Admission and Ethics: A Head’s Perspective
Additional Resources for ISM Members:
I&P Vol. 40 No. 6 Advancement: From Values to Results
