Looking to grow as a team, set goals that align with their school's strategic plan, and take advantage of mentorship opportunities, the advancement team at Crescent School sends members to Advancement Academy every year.
From Enrollment to Engagement: Onboarding Your New Families
Retaining families is “enrollment critical.” It’s never too early to start re-recruiting your new parents and students with a transition to your school community that is positive and mission-centered. As families juggle the demands of daily life, school leaders must be increasingly creative and thoughtful in providing new families with the information and connections necessary to establish a strong, productive partnership with the school based on shared values.
Maximizing Success: Small Development Shop Series, Part 1 of 4
Running a small development office in a private-independent school comes with unique challenges and opportunities. With limited staff and resources, advancement professionals must be strategic, efficient, and mission-driven to maximize fundraising success.
This webinar will explore key strategies for prioritizing tasks, leveraging volunteers, engaging donors, and building a sustainable fundraising program — while wearing multiple hats. You’ll gain practical insights to help you streamline operations and increase impact.
Breaking Down Silos: Building an Advancement-Oriented School
Private-independent schools thrive when marketing communications, enrollment management, and development operate as a cohesive advancement team rather than as isolated departments. Yet, too often, these functions work in silos, leading to missed opportunities for engagement and growth.
Case Study: Good Shepherd Episcopal School at ISM Advancement Academy
Here's how Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Dallas, TX, took advantage of ISM Advancement Academy to grow as a team, refine its marketing communication strategy, and set practical goals for the year ahead.
6 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Professional Development
In the process of preparing to teach a couple of professional development workshops for ISM, I got to thinking about the students who have gotten the most out of their experiences — and why.
What has been the difference for those with tangible, measurable results versus those who check in, check out, and don’t move the needle when they get back to their schools?
Your Survey Is Complete — Now What? Part 2: Analyzing Your Results
Your surveys are complete, and the data is ready to review — where do you start? The volume of information can feel overwhelming, and data misinterpreted or misused can be more detrimental than no data at all. Missteps can lead to divisiveness among faculty, misguided decision-making, and even public relations challenges with legal ramifications.
The Distinctions Between Endowment, Quasi-endowment, and Reserves
Private-independent schools rely on several specific financial strategies to ensure their long-term sustainability while fulfilling their educational missions. Among these, endowments, quasi-endowments, and reserves play distinct roles. Understanding these concepts can help school leaders and boards manage funds effectively and make informed decisions about the financial health of their institutions.
Beyond the Numbers: Leveraging Surveys for Strategic Success, Part 1
Surveys are more than just forms — conducting them over time allows you to spot trends, understand what your school is doing well, and uncover areas where there’s room to grow. When you work with a third party specializing in independent schools like ISM, you get expert-designed, research-backed questions, guaranteed anonymity for participants, and results your community can trust.
Building a Culture of Giving and Getting Involved
Private-independent schools thrive when their communities understand that voluntary support is essential to advancing their student-centered mission. But even with a well-managed development operation, schools may struggle to meet fundraising goals due to underlying cultural factors that shape philanthropic capacity but remain undefined.