Your strategically focused Board of Trustees is key to making your development programs effective and sustainable. When your Board centers on decision-making that is future-focused and viability-motivated, your school prospers—inspiring your donors and prospects to commit philanthropic dollars to your school.
To be most effective, your Board must engage in strategic planning, Head support and evaluation, developing and maintaining a culture of giving and getting involved, and due diligence. Your Board and Development Committee must work together to ensure the proper management of donors and prospects.
Here's more about fostering the strategic role of an effective Development Committee.
The Board's Role in Long-Term Viability
The Board should focus on viability, not daily operational issues. In some cases, the Board members can mistakenly become consumed with handling operations or maintenance tasks. Their scope should focus on matters of strategy—tuition setting, supporting the School Head, and fundraising.
When it comes to fundraising, the Board is the leader. School staff, including the School Head, are the facilitators that support the Board's role in development—from annual funds and capital campaigns to major gifts and endowment initiatives.
The Development Committee
To spearhead fundraising, your Board should create a Development Committee (sometimes called an Advancement Committee). The Board's Development Committee leads by supporting the Board's strategic role in the school's development efforts. This committee is responsible for:
- recommending and monitoring the school's development plan, tying directly to the Board's strategic plan and the strategic financial plan;
- providing input and feedback on the school's Case for Giving;
- participating in the donor cycle including identification, engagement, evaluation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship of donors and prospects; and
- involving other Trustees and appropriate members of the broader community in the Committee's work.
When selecting people to include on your Board, ISM recommends including eight to 10 individuals who have demonstrated their personal philanthropic support of the school, who are well-connected to your community, and who are able to engage donors and prospects with your school. Include Board members (at least four) and other community members who can help further your school's mission. Avoid selecting individuals who are representatives of constituent groups, clubs, and organizations, like the Parent Association President.
Tune in to ask questions related to this Source article or other topics you've encountered lately.
Visit our NEW Community and start posting.
The Development Quartet
The Development Quartet (which includes the Development Committee Chair, the Board President (or Chair), the School Head, and the Development Director) works in concert with your Development Committee to accomplish your Board’s strategic goals. In addition, the quartet functions as a front-line strategy group when considering fundraising opportunities and prospect engagement plans.
These four leaders are responsible individually and collectively for implementing the donor cycle—identification, engagement, evaluation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship—to involve major donors and prospects.
The Board Chair
The Board Chair should lead strategic planning and work with the Development Committee Chair to align committee goals with the school’s strategic plan. The Board Chair also sets the tone and pace for giving.
The Development Committee Chair
The Development Committee Chair leads strategic development planning with the Committee and works with the Board Chair to align the goals with the strategic plan. The Committee Chair also helps lead and educate Trustees about their philanthropic duties to the school.
The Development Committee Chair also works with the Development Director to set the meeting agendas, manage the development plan, and create fundraising policies.
The School Head
The School Head is the face of the institution and tells the school's story through the eyes of the students, faculty, parents, and alumni. As guardian of the school’s mission, the Head can speak directly to donors and prospects about the essential reasons for providing for the school's future.
The Development Director
The Development Director is the chief of staff who plans for the implementation of strategic goals and actions in the strategic development plan, which has been reviewed by the Quartet and approved by the Development Committee. As the consummate organizer, the Development Director creates and oversees the implementation of engagement plans as well as coordination of all development programs and special events.
The Development Director works with the Development Committee Chair to set an agenda for monthly meetings and annual planning. Agendas should include reporting and discussion of strategic priorities, and provide opportunities for members to share their knowledge of your donors and prospects and to brainstorm ideas for the future.
Having the right people with the appropriate commitment to your school and mission impacts your development efforts. The strategic role of an effective Board ultimately ensures the Development Committee is working effectively to provide for the soft income that will help underwrite the future viability of your school.
