Schools are facing a rapidly evolving AI landscape, and many lack the internal capacity or designated personnel to lead the strategic planning necessary to enhance teaching, streamline operations, and ensure ethical, mission-aligned AI adoption. Without a clear point person or process, schools may fall behind.

Join us for an interactive discussion with ISM’s expert consultants and your fellow small-shop development professionals from across the country, as we tackle the most pressing issues you face today.

Based on your feedback and key questions raised in previous webinars in this series, we’ll address the top challenges in small development shops. Whether it’s donor engagement, annual fund strategies, database management, or maximizing small-shop resources, we’ll provide practical solutions and actionable insights tailored to your needs.

Summer is the perfect time for private-independent school development teams to reset, strategize, and lay the foundation for a successful year ahead.

This webinar will guide small-shop advancement professionals through key summer priorities, including onboarding new families and staff, cleaning and optimizing the donor database, strengthening annual fund strategies, and refining communications.

Did you miss previous webinars in this series?

Even before the pandemic, student well-being was on the decline. When schools shut down, many predicted an even greater crisis — but what actually happened? ISM data from the past two school years reveal a more nuanced picture: While 5th and 6th graders were generally flourishing, older students experienced high levels of distress. Yet, despite hopes that a return to normalcy would restore student well-being, challenges persist.

For independent schools with small development teams, managing multiple fundraising initiatives can feel daunting. How do you balance annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving with limited staff and resources?