For the past two-plus years at Brooklyn Friends School, "Arti-Facts"—a short story about an aspect of our school's history—has anchored our digital, weekly newsletter. Each week "Arti-Facts" looks back at a moment in time from BFS' history and is written in a very light-hearted, but informational way. This has caught on very well with our entire community. The main goal is to be able to share key moments in our school's history—which dates back to 1867—and put a spin on the story that applies, and relates, to today's families. These subject of these stories range from former students, colleagues, moments in time, the buildings our school occupies, etc. It is a great way to share history of the school with our current families and alums in a very approachable way. This session will demonstrate how pieces of your school's history are still relevant today and how the past often ties together with the present. How you can define their school's current mission, using past events and moments, without that event or moment defining who the school is. In other words, the event, person, or moment is critical to the story being told, but not necessarily to the outcome and the end result of the message you are trying to get across. This session is intended to be interactive—to help all school's tell their great stories—past and present.

In the realm of philanthropy and fundraising, the concept of annual giving often brings to mind individual contributions. However, the success of an annual giving program is increasingly reliant on the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. This session explores the idea of annual giving as a team sport, where the synergy between donors, volunteers, staff, and the broader community drives a shared mission forward and makes game-winning shots. By examining Westminster’s annual fund program and strategies, this session will shed light on the importance of fostering a collective mindset engaging all participants in the journey of philanthropy, and share tactics for how to develop an integrated fundraising and marketing strategy to increase donor acquisition and meet campaign goals.

We face a lot of challenges as we compete for the attention of our constituents. How is it possible to cut through the noise to not only capture constituents’ attention, but engage them in a way that causes them to take action? This session will explore how easy it can be to elevate your school’s engagement with a few simple steps to amplify your message. We'll share how our team uses personal outreach, events, print materials, digital communication, and social media to create epic experiences.

In today's digitally driven world, effective school marketing has transcended traditional methods and embraced the power of online platforms. "From Hashtags to High Enrollments: Digital-First School Marketing" is a dynamic session designed to equip educators, administrators, and communications professionals with the strategies and tools needed to harness the potential of digital marketing for boosting enrollment, enhancing brand presence, and meeting advancement goals. This interactive workshop will delve into the intricacies of crafting compelling content, leveraging social media, and optimizing digital channels to drive engagement, increase enrollment, and strengthen community connections. Join us to unlock the potential of digital-first marketing and discover how to transform digital strategies into measurable action items that can boost enrollment and fundraising, elevating your school's visibility and reputation in the digital realm.