ISM has long advocated that boards, school heads, and school professional staff evaluate the effectiveness of their development programs through six definitive lenses:
1. Strategic board
2. School head; professional and volunteer leadership
3. Case for Giving
4. Constituents
5. Plan of action
6. Giving programs
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.
The annual fund is more than just a fundraising campaign — it’s the heartbeat of your development program. It engages the widest circle of your school community, builds a culture of giving and getting involved, and often serves as the first step in identifying those who will take on further leadership roles.
ISM is pleased to introduce ISM Stability Markers® 6.0, a completely revamped set of research-based indexes designed for the heads, governance leaders, and top administrators of private-independent schools.
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?
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.
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.
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.