Creating a comprehensive ask for annual fund gifts is beneficial for both schools and donors. By doing so, families can understand the reasons for giving and schools can reduce staff time by having one ask instead of multiple throughout the year. Having conversations with donors regarding the ask can also inform future giving success. 

There may be no better group of supporters than alumni. Alumni know their alma mater and have benefited the most from your institutional offerings—education and social connections. They’ve formed relationships with each other and your faculty and staff. They have a life-long affinity for your school, making them a prime group for successful fundraising. 

When you work in institutional advancement, whether in higher education or at an independent school, your success is measured in meeting or exceeding goals. Whatever those goals may be— increasing contributions to the school’s annual fund or obtaining a certain number of major gifts—integrating your advancement team can get you there faster. 

Have you been struggling for new ideas on how to generate more funding for your independent school? Maybe the special events and donation appeals that worked in the past are not working as well anymore. Perhaps you are grappling with ways to appeal to a wider base of donors or to increase your average donation size.

Onboard your school advancement team with the best and use key learnings to make an impact at your school.

While there’s no silver bullet in philanthropy, there are ways to stay the course and meet your goals and objectives in recession fundraising mode. Here are five things to consider ahead of and during a recession.