For an effective major gifts fundraising program, the Leadership Team—you as School Head, the Board President, the Chair of the Board’s Development Committee, and the Development Director—must shift your focus. You’re not raising dollars—you’re building relationships.

When it comes to setting your tuition, many schools make assumptions about what their families are willing to pay.Some schools think they must keep their prices low to match their local competitors. Others feel parents will simply refuse to pay tuition over a certain amount. Our research has found that these assumptions are not the case.

As more schools offer international programs, new questions have risen about the best ways to support foreign students. They’re separated from their families for months at a time and schools want to do what’s in their best interests. One method that schools take is homestay programs.

School sports are a huge part of school culture. For many schools, the pulse of student spirit runs through its athletic teams. Running right alongside that spirit, however, is also the risk of student injury.

The Finance Committee must bring to its relationship with the Business Manager a perspective that is simultaneously supportive and critical. Ask hard questions. Supply relevant evidence.

ISM often finds that private-independent schools still underfund professional development (PD), perhaps unaware of its importance and thus downplaying it in the budget. As a Trustee, ensure that enough funding is allocated to professional development for all school employees. The difference could be a vibrant school culture, rather than one that’s simply “going through the motions.”

Many schools form disciplinary and honor committees to help resolve behavior-based student issues. If mission-appropriate, some schools choose to include students on these committees to ensure students feel heard and are involved in the process.

Strategic academic planning is a complex subject with no simple answers. Your school must construct your academic offerings in a way that best supports your mission, while also doing what’s best for your students. Consider these three dimensions of strategic academic planning as you continue to evaluate what makes sense for your school.

When you start a fundraising campaign that asks your community to support your school's long-term mission and vision, you want to know that you are going to be successful. This is where a campaign feasibility study comes in.

When your School Head announces his or her retirement, it requires careful planning by your Marketing Communications Office.