The Senior Leadership Forum sessions will include industry experts on the following topics: Integrated Advancement Model, AI and How it is Changing the Future of Advancement, and Accessibility and Affordability of the Independent School Model. *Separate registration required

The new normal of consistent change is leaving leaders concerned about being left behind. Instead of implementing half-baked, panic-driven ideas...it's time to identify the Easter eggs the future has left for us. In this talk, technology futurist Crystal Washington will show you and your team how to innovate, thrive and enjoy the ride. In this session, you will:
• Understand the gifts the future really has to offer, allowing you to shape and manipulate for your ultimate outcomes.
• Identify the most under-utilized Easter eggs of innovation...which you already have in your basket.
• Create a framework to future-proof your career and organization...and avoid getting scrambled.

In this session, we will delve into the pivotal role of the advancement office in mitigating the erosion of institutional trust affecting education as a whole and independent schools amidst contemporary societal challenges. Against the backdrop of polarizing political climates, evolving parental expectations, and varied perspectives on the goals of education, we will examine how these factors - exacerbated by the ubiquity of social media - contribute to heightened skepticism and distrust. We will explore these dynamics and discuss strategies for advancement professionals to proactively build and sustain trust. By highlighting successful initiatives in transparent communication, ethical fundraising practices, and community engagement, attendees will gain practical insights to strengthen institutional integrity and resilience in an increasingly complex and skeptical environment.

Engagement is the name of the game, and the critical question every Development office should regularly ask is: "Is the work we are doing deepening authentic relationships within our community?" Join us for an insightful session that delves into the Donor Engagement Cycle and its ultimate impact on growing philanthropic support. We’ll focus on one key donor segment – alumni – sharing innovative ideas and practical strategies that underscore the “value-add” for alumni, and are applicable to K-8, K-12, and development offices of all sizes.
Discover an enhanced approach to capturing and analyzing key metrics, enabling you to identify trends and make data-driven, strategic decisions. Participants will gain valuable insights and walk away with actionable ideas to deepen relationships with alumni, driving lasting support for your school.

Wondering what your new chief advancement leader needs to thrive in your organization? It's not what you think. We have been training new-to-school advancement professionals since 2018 through the CASE School Advancement Institute, and year after year, our comprehensive training leads us to the same conclusion: the nuts and bolts are good, but your leadership is a must. Clarity, goals, accountability, and education are critical for them to thrive. And just like we give them a road map for their success, we'll give you yours too.

Eileen Savage, Christine Pina and Clark Wight have had exciting and robust careers as they juggled balancing family, careers and community life. These nonprofit professionals will offer career-making-and breaking-observations for both candidates and hiring managers. They will describe how they decided to stay put, and how they knew when to leave some of the nations's cutting edge independent schools. Each will present an exclusive history of how they navigated their careers, reinvented themselves and kept it healthy, lively and fun.

Please join Chief Advancement Officer Tim Struthers as he shares the steps taken by the school over four decades that eventually resulted in a $100 million commitment to the school's endowment by alumnus Henry Kravis ’63 in the spring of 2024.

With the decision to brand and message The Exeter Fund, our team was able to lean into developing more creative and more intentional appeals. Learn what went into this yearlong process as we share the decisions that led to branding The Exeter Fund, the methods used, the strategic visual identity and messaging outcomes, and the innovative and impactful design samples that followed. Leave with ideas and inspiration for infusing intention into your school’s annual fund.

Learn about the partnership between the office of Diversity Equity and Belonging and the office of Advancement at Tabor Academy as they aim to be more inclusive in their philanthropic and engagement efforts. Led by RoseMarie Wallace, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging and Stephen Ginter, Director of Advancement, two of the newest members of Tabor senior leadership team, hear the successes and lessons learned at Tabor (and at other schools with which they've worked) on the journey to being more inclusive.

Learn how to implement best practices in front loading your annual fund to exceed revenue goals at the end of the fiscal year by using a multi-prong marketing campaign that integrates direct mail, printed materials and #GivingTuesday email communications. Learn how to select a committee of volunteers with a deep affinity toward your school who will be the leaders and stewards of the annual fund campaign by pooling their contributions together to create a matching gift challenge to increase your average annual fund gift amount and overall campaign goals. Marketing tools such a recruitment, branding, digital assets, communications platforms, solicitation and stewardship will all be covered.