Creating and sustaining a culture of philanthropy within independent schools is essential for financial stability and fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose. This session aims to explore strategies, best practices, and real-world examples of how independent schools can use AI to cultivate a culture of philanthropy that engages all stakeholders and contributes to the school's long-term success.

Strategic design applies some traditional design principles to "big picture" systemic challenges; it redefines how problems are approached, identifies opportunities for action, and helps deliver more complete and resilient solutions. With a transdisciplinary cross-departmental approach, Marin Academy deconstructed and redesigned the onboarding experience to create highly engaged brand evangelists who are eager to give back to the school.

In this interactive session, we will cover strategic design principles and share exercises designed to inspire and gather buy-in from other school administrators. This session will also cover ways to gather data and feedback to inform strategy and assess results. Join us as we explore how strategic onboarding infused with value-proposition can transform parent-school relationships.

It has been said that the strategic planning and implementation of enrolling and retaining a student and family must never intersect or overlap with the strategic goals, objectives, and implementation of a school's philanthropic endeavors. Perhaps this is, in fact, a missed moment for more tremendous success. Join AISAP Executive Director Janice Crampton, Scott Bohan, Chief Advancement Officer - St. Paul's School, NH, and Matt Proto, Vice President and Chief Institutional Advancement Officer at Colby College Waterville, Maine, for a facilitated discussion with ideas, notions, and takeaways that will demonstrate best practice and next practice strategies that will assist you, your offices and in the end your school to be intentional in achieving your overall institutional goals and all the while seek greater alignment and messaging not only in process but in understanding the larger goals that need to be achieved by your school.

Delve into the vital role of immersive storytelling, long-term vision, emotional buy-in, and innovative marketing driven by vision-based strategies. Discover the captivating magic that arises when these elements converge, creating powerful brand experiences that leave an indelible mark on how people view your school. Understand the significance of defining your school's brand in the Independent Schools Market, recognizing its role in driving success, differentiation, and long-term sustainability.

Recognizing the pivotal role relationships play in fundraising, especially within the context of smaller schools and organizations, this workshop offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate interplay between marketing, fundraising, and school communication. It provides a holistic framework designed to benefit all administrators and (school personnel) . Through a captivating blend of interactive activities, facilitated group discussions, and strategic games, participants will depart with a toolkit to supercharge their school's Advancement offices. This enhanced partnership will drive stronger relationships, foster fundraising growth, and yield exceptional marketing outcomes. Get ready to ignite the magic!

Get ready to embark on a journey into the world of annual fund transformation! Join The Athenian School, The Masters School, and Creosote Affects to learn how to create a personalized, transparent experience for the whole community. Hear two different stories from peers in the field. Each intertwined annual fund messaging with mission and brand to forge stronger connections with supporters and cultivate a vibrant philanthropic culture.

In this lightning-fast session, we'll condense decades of on-staff and client alumni magazine and print communications experience into 60 ideas that you can use TODAY to make your print publications more read, more loved, and more valuable.

From optimizing your print publications for the coffee table to techniques that can 8x the effectiveness of your headlines, to “engagement engineering” to make stories as feedback-friendly as possible, participants will come away with concrete ideas that they can implement immediately and make a real difference for their publications and communications.

Difficult situations and seemingly intractable problems can be the seedbed for creative problem-solving and thinking outside the box. With the use of excellent storytelling, learn how some veteran administrators found a path forward, gaining traction on what seemed to be an impossible situation and turning it into something important and significant for the school.

Great video does not have to come with a hefty price tag or an experienced on-staff producer. There are many things that anyone with a smartphone and a few low-cost tools can accomplish to build your message and form a meaningful connection with your audience. In this fun and informative session, you will learn a variety of no-cost to low-cost tips that can improve the quality of your in-house video productions, as well as some general tips that can also get more bang for the buck when working with pros.

This session will follow a recent brand refresh that became so much more for a pre-nursery through Grade 12 day school located in the highly competitive Long Island market. Learn what went into taking this school from “Who are we?” to “This is us” within months. You will see a before snapshot, learn about the process, and hear the outcomes. Be inspired by how this exercise ultimately bridged departments by bringing clarity to natural ways Development, Communications, and Admissions teams could work together toward one another’s goals based upon renewed common understanding and language. Leave with ideas and inspiration for how better owning who you are as a school strengthens so much more than a marketing message—it strengthens and ignites an entire community.