From the Nominator

"Sidwell Friends School, an independent Quaker pre-K-12 day school in Washington, D.C., launched the public phase of the largest-ever fundraising campaign in October 2022. Leading up to this time, the Campaign Steering Committee managed a successful quiet phase securing nearly 80% toward the $152 million goal. Planning for the launch began in April with board approval of a campaign name, Together We Shine. The campaign name signifies the centrality of light in the Quaker tradition and the importance of community participation.  

The public launch was set for homecoming weekend in mid-October. Deliverables included graphic identity, brand standards, campaign microsite, videos, campaign brochure, volunteer guide, campus signage, design and procurement of giveaways and donor gifts, solicitation mailings, emails, gift officer support materials, and more. Because a primary objective of the campaign is renovating an adjacent closed nursing home into the new Upper School, we strived to make that goal as tangible as possible. We secured FAA permission for the first-ever drone video of our campus and utilized architectural renderings to highlight the design and functionality of the building and its connection to the rest of campus.  

For an independent school that had never launched a large public campaign, this was a major undertaking requiring a strategic blend of internal and external resources. We sought to achieve a higher-ed level of quality with an independent school budget.  

The campaign was exceptionally well received by the community. By every account, our full community saw it as a moment of pride and inspiration."

From the Judges

Congrats to Sidwell. Exciting campaign to judge within the bigger campaign of universities. One judge wrote that "their materials have energy and life in them." Great job using peer-to-peer support for solicitations! Best of luck in the future of the campaign.