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.
Introducing ISM Stability Markers 6.0
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.
Business Outlook for Private-Independent Schools: Gloomy, With Heavy Rain Likely — A Chance of Isolated Major Thunderstorms
For 50 years, ISM’s advice has been consistent — the school’s mission and its core values must remain the bedrock by which its leaders evaluate the school’s operational realities. For boards and administrators alike, navigating political and cultural changes is difficult work. But in tumultuous times, focusing on the school’s mission becomes all the more important.
With that in mind, it is possible to examine recent developments with clarity.
Navigating Uncertainty: Supporting Your Community
To many school leaders and families, the current cultural moment seems particularly fraught — marked by uncertainty and division. But many schools have weathered previous storms and have even grown and prospered during challenging times. In periods of stability and periods of tumult, we know from experience and research that parents look to their child’s school for safety, security, and support.
Supporting Students With Learning Differences in Independent Schools
Independent schools are uniquely positioned to support students with learning differences, thanks to small class sizes, close-knit communities, and flexible approaches to education. This webinar is designed for administrators, learning specialists, and support staff in independent schools who want to strengthen their ability to serve students with diverse learning needs.
Why It’s Time to Upgrade Your Financial Aid Process
Your financial aid process can either support your enrollment goals or stand in the way of them. Today’s families expect an intuitive and transparent application experience — and if your process feels outdated, confusing, or inconsistent, you risk losing qualified applicants.
Learn how to assess your current financial aid workflows, uncover hidden friction points, and move toward a more efficient, and family-friendly experience.
Active Assailant Insurance: Protecting Schools from Emerging Threats
In today’s evolving threat landscape, private-independent schools face the growing and deeply concerning risk of active assailant incidents. These events not only pose an immediate danger to students, faculty, and staff but also leave lasting emotional, financial, and operational impacts on the entire school community. Unfortunately, many schools remain unprepared for the full scope of these crises — from immediate response to long-term recovery.
Scheduling Ahead: What to Consider and a Tool That Can Help
From whiteboards to spreadsheets, schools use a variety of tools and strategies to create middle and upper school schedules. No matter the method, scheduling is a complex, time-consuming process, but a vital one as your schedule reflects your school’s mission, values, and priorities. For many, it can feel like solving a high-stakes puzzle under pressure.
Fundraising Essentials: Small Development Shop Series, Part 2 of 4
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?
It’s Time: Let Go of Your Outdated Middle and Upper School Schedules
One of the most underestimated factors that influence a school’s success is the school’s schedule (or “timetable”). To maximize their development, performance, and future readiness, your students need a schedule that supports their well-being and takes into account the best research on how they learn. Your schedules should also facilitate your unique programming and experiences — the factors that differentiate your school from competitors.
Nevertheless, many middle and upper schools continue to have schedules that include characteristics that are best avoided: