Educating new families about the importance of philanthropy at independent schools is more important than ever. At Seven Hills, we introduced New Family Philanthropy Meetings to share information about how philanthropy benefits every student, introduce our top giving priorities, invite families to participate in giving and volunteering, and identify possible parent leaders. A partnership with the Board of Trustees Development Committee and the Development Team, these meetings have become an important part of the school’s giving strategy, helping build personal connections, promote a culture of philanthropy, and have resulted in a significant increase in new family giving to the school each year.