As School Head, you understand the impact full enrollment and successful fundraising can have on the fiscal well-being of your school. It is critical to the continued success of student recruitment and retention — as well as the annual, capital, and endowment campaigns — that you promote a collaborative relationship between the admission and development offices.
Determining Your School’s Wealth Profile
The wealth profile of a school refers to a comprehensive assessment of the financial capacity and philanthropic potential of its donor base. Through the process of wealth screening, the profile of your school helps you analyze the wealth, giving history, and capacity of current and potential donors.
Join Phil Higgison, ISM Consultant; Herb Soles, ISM Adjunct Consultant; and Jesse Roberts, Unbound Brand General Manager, for an overview of how you can better assess the wealth profile at your school using a combination of public record data, philanthropy databases, and algorithms.
Development Program Effectiveness: Analysis From a Broad Perspective
For nearly 20 years, ISM has taught that six key elements comprise the Comprehensive Development Model — the infrastructure that supports a school’s strategic plans. The six key elements are:
Donor Relationships: Giving Tuesday’s Superpower for Independent Schools
Did you know independent schools have a distinct advantage when it comes to Giving Tuesday fundraising? Discover how you can tap your biggest asset — your donor relationships.
Whether you’re just getting started or already planning your campaign, learn how to turn these personal connections into record-breaking donations. Join Holman Gao, Founder and CEO of Boost My School, as he demonstrates actionable strategies for unlocking your school’s Giving Tuesday superpower and addresses your specific questions about fine-tuning your campaign.
Winning Development Operations Through Effective Management
Whether you are part of a large development team, a “one-person show,” or a School Head working without a dedicated development director, your ability to efficiently manage data, process gifts, support volunteers, and direct the cultivation and solicitation of major gift prospects has a profound difference to your bottom line.
Join ISM’s expert development team — ISM Consultants Michael Christopher and Phil Higginson, and ISM Adjunct Consultant Herb Soles — as they discuss administrative and operational approaches to set you and your Board up for fundraising success.
Improving Your Coaching Skills to Foster Staff Growth
Managing staff is challenging — it requires determination and effective communication to address poor performance, resolve conflicts, and lead a team effectively. All too often, leaders confuse performance and evaluation conversations for coaching, because they prioritize immediate problems rather than long-term development. Coaching, however, encourages team members to reflect and improve on their goals — and can even lead to a futurist mindset of innovation.
Building a Stronger Future: The Foundations of Effective Development Operations
Development plays a crucial role in your school's success and long-term strategic growth. An accountable Development Office must evaluate how well its operations reflect best practices and whether its objectives are achieved. Join ISM’s expert development team — ISM Consultants Michael Christopher and Phil Higginson, and ISM Adjunct Consultant Herb Soles — as they present an overview of the various aspects of successful development operations.
Leading Admission & Development Campaigns From the Marketing Communications Seat
Among the primary responsibilities of a school’s marketing communications team is helping strategize, guide, and implement plans that drive enrollment and development success. Whether promoting an annual giving campaign or generating parent interest in an open house, the marketing communications team is most effective when it is perfectly aligned with the enrollment and development teams.
The School Head and Board’s Role in Advancement: A Panel Discussion
Collaboration between your Board, your School Head, and your Advancement Team (Marketing Communication Professionals, Development Directors, Admission Directors, and Enrollment Managers) is essential to achieve your enrollment and fundraising goals successfully.
As you look ahead to the 2024–25 school year, how can you think strategically about this collective approach?
Summer School for Development Directors: Investing in Professional Growth
As the school year winds down, the summer months present a unique opportunity for Development Directors to invest in their professional growth and craft robust and strategic plans for the upcoming academic year. Join us for an insightful webinar as we delve into why summer is the perfect season for honing skills, exploring new strategies, and laying the groundwork for success.
This webinar offers valuable insights and strategies for both seasoned and new Development Directors to maximize summer months for professional growth and school success in the coming year.