Kickoff & Faculty Introductions
Independent School Primer and Trends

Independent Schools are unique and operate differently than our higher education or public school counterparts. This session will provide a foundation for how independent schools operate, look at how advancement serves a specific role to various school types and sizes, and will examine the typical independent school business model and its drivers. Participants will walk away with a deeper sense of how schools work and the interplay of key offices within the school. Additionally, this session will examine trends within the independent school industry and the various forces affecting independent schools.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Understand major budget drivers and considerations at independent and international schools
• Understand economic factors driving change in independent schools
• Become familiar with major giving trends over time
• Identify annual/operational giving vs. endowment or capital giving
• Know what role philanthropy plays in the overall financial health of the school

Culture of Philanthropy

What is a culture of philanthropy, and why does it matter? Everyone in the organization—the head of school, board of trustees, faculty and staff, parents, alumni, and grandparents—plays a crucial role in building a philanthropic community. Philanthropy is egalitarian; everyone can give. Advancement professionals have the opportunity to make this possible and to ensure that every donor feels proud of their investment in your school. In this session, we unpack ways to empower, encourage, and support a culture of philanthropy in which time, treasure, and talent are celebrated and expected.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Define a culture of philanthropy
• Generate ideas to elevate a culture of philanthropy
• Apply strategies to effectively build a culture of philanthropy
• Gather knowledge from independent school professionals on ways to enhance a culture of philanthropy
• Identify evidence within their schools where areas can be strengthened to improve philanthropy 

Expanding Your Reach: Engaging Volunteers

Volunteers can be one of an institution’s most powerful assets - when their engagement is intentional, strategic, and aligned with mission. This session explores how schools and similar organizations can move beyond transactional volunteerism to cultivate transformational volunteers who advocate, influence, and strengthen long‑term philanthropic culture.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Differentiate between transactional and transformational volunteer engagement and identify how each contributes to institutional advancement.
• Design volunteer programs with clear goals, structured onboarding, and aligned messaging to strengthen mission‑driven participation.
• Implement stewardship practices that demonstrate volunteer impact and evaluate volunteer productivity through consistent assessment.
• Build diverse, representative volunteer groups and establish expectations and guardrails that maintain focus and prevent mission drift.
• Leverage peer‑to‑peer solicitation strategies to expand fundraising reach through authentic volunteer relationships.
• Integrate volunteer coordination across advancement functions, such as campaigns, alumni relations, and events, to ensure volunteer efforts meaningfully support institutional goals.

Culture of Hospitality

What would it look like if our advancement and community‑building work centered not on transactions, but on creating unforgettable moments of connection? Inspired by Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality, this session explores how schools can elevate everyday interactions into meaningful experiences that deepen belonging, strengthen relationships, and cultivate long‑term philanthropic engagement.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Explain the principles of “unreasonable hospitality” and how emotional connection, not expense, drives meaningful experiences.
• Differentiate between transactional service and relational engagement within school and philanthropic contexts.
• Apply intentional design strategies to create personalized, emotionally resonant experiences for donors, families, alumni, and staff.
• Identify the key skills that support a hospitality‑driven culture, including creativity, emotional intelligence, active listening, and systems thinking.
• Incorporate practical habits, such as presence, noticing details, and post‑event reflection, into daily advancement and community‑building work.
• Assess your institution’s current culture and develop next steps for embedding hospitality as an ongoing strategic mindset rather than a one‑time gesture.

Lead from Where You Sit

Leadership is not defined by title; it is defined by the ability to influence, inspire, and create meaningful impact from any seat in an institution. This session explores a holistic approach to leadership development, emphasizing self‑awareness, systems thinking, and intentional decision‑making as essential tools for navigating complex school environments.

By the end of this session, you will be able to: 

• Define leadership in terms of influence, impact, and inspiration rather than positional authority.
• Assess personal and teamwork styles using established frameworks to strengthen communication and collaboration.
• Apply systems thinking to identify institutional patterns, feedback loops, and root causes rather than reacting to isolated events.
• Differentiate between technical and adaptive challenges and select appropriate strategies for addressing each.
• Use structured decision‑making frameworks, such as desirability, feasibility, and viability, to guide institutional initiatives.
• Develop a personal leadership mission statement to serve as a grounding tool during complex or challenging moments.
• Commit to leadership as a continuous practice that relies on reflection, adaptability, and shared learning within a community.

12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Conference Registration
Welcome to New York! Stop by the registration desk any time before 1:00 p.m. to check in and pick up your conference materials.

1:00–1:30 PM
SAI Welcome + Activity
All Faculty

1:35–2:15 PM
Welcome to Advancement: The Impact Starts Here
Speaker: David Smith, Chief Advancement Officer, Miami Country Day School

A career in Independent School advancement is a journey. We’ve got some energy bites and brilliant nuggets to prepare you for this exciting time! 

2:15–2:30 PM
Refreshment Break

2:30–3:45 PM    
Elective Sessions (Choose One)

• Annual Giving Fundamentals
  Speakers: Tim Crouch, Director of Development, St. Mark’s School of Texas and Elizabeth “Oz” Oswald, Director of Institutional Advancement, Nightingale-Bamford School
  
  What is Annual Giving? Annual giving fuels the mission and vision of your school and is at the center of every strong advancement program. Annual gifts provide critical resources for the school and serve as the gateway to philanthropic engagement. After this introductory session, you will have a solid understanding of the role that the annual fund plays with your constituents and how it supports the school’s budget.
   
• Preparing for a Campaign
  Speakers: Matt Gould, Chief Advancement Officer, Lovett School and Melanie Hoffmann, Executive Director of Development & Alumni Relations, St. Alban’s School
  
  Independent school campaigns are complex, intense, and demanding. Learn how to assess the readiness of your team, leadership, and community in preparation for a campaign, whether it is a capital, endowment, or comprehensive one. Determine what questions to ask and what steps you should take to prepare your shop and your school for a campaign. Understand critical pieces you need to put in place, such as your strategic case for support, goal setting, policies, and budgeting, before you embark on what may be the largest and most transformational endeavor at your school.
   

3:45–4:00 PM
Transition Break

4:00–5:15 PM
Elective Sessions (Choose One)

• Alumni Engagement Fundamentals
  Speakers: Tim Crouch, Director of Development, St. Mark’s School of Texas and Kerry Johnston, Director of Advancement, Charlotte Latin School
  
  What is the purpose of your alumni relations program and how can you strategically inform and engage alumni? Learn how to create a program that builds loyalty, identifies new volunteers, and influences your school’s enrollment and philanthropic goals. Discuss how to develop engagement strategies that cover the alumni life cycle (i.e., events, networking, mentoring, reunions, and class giving) and share ways to measure success with alumni metrics.
   
• Major Gifts Fundamentals
  Speakers: Brent Caburnay, Chief Development Officer, Francis Parker School and Elizabeth “Oz” Oswald, Director of Institutional Advancement, Nightingale-Bamford School
  
  With the stakes high to secure significant funding for your organization, major gifts can be an intimidating process for even seasoned development professionals. But effective use of the donor cycle will help guide you through the steps toward a successful major gift ask. Define a major gift for your institution, understand the essentials of a major gift program, and learn how to establish a prospect management system. This session offers all the basics to help demystify major gifts and set you up for success.
   

5:15–6:30 PM
SAI Welcome Reception + Building Relationships
Speaker: David Smith, Chief Advancement Officer, Miami Country Day School

7:00 PM
Dinner on Your Own

8:00–9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast–Table Topics
All attendees are encouraged to attend. Table topics will be announced in advance. 

9:00–9:15 AM
SAI Morning Announcements
Speaker: David Smith, Chief Advancement Officer, Miami Country Day School

9:15–10:30 AM
Building Your Narrative
Speakers: Brent Caburnay, Chief Development Officer, Francis Parker School and Gustavo Segui, Director of Marketing & Advancement, International School of Curitiba

What is a school’s narrative and why does it matter in the world of advancement? Do you know your school’s mission statement? Its values? Its history? Its strategic plan? How can clear, consistent, and powerful messaging lead to increased engagement and success in fundraising? Explore the multitude of ways your school’s story is told and learn how you can more effectively bring your mission and values to life in your advancement work. Bring your story to life, whether to strengthen the annual fund, build the endowment, or shape a campaign.

10:30–10:45 AM
Refreshment Break

10:45–Noon
Elective Sessions (Choose One)

• Essential Elements of a Successful Campaign
  Speakers: Matt Gould, Chief Advancement Officer, Lovett School and Kerry Johnston, Director of Advancement, Charlotte Latin School 
  
  Independent school campaigns are complex, intense, and demanding. Learn how to assess the readiness of your team, leadership, and community in preparation for a large capital or endowment campaign. Once a campaign is underway, what does it take to hit the goal? Explore the essential elements of a successful campaign, including the case for support, volunteer leadership, and prospect management.
   

Alumni Giving and Programs
Speakers: Tim Crouch, Director of Development, St. Mark’s School of Texas and Melanie Hoffmann, Executive Director of Development & Alumni Relations, St. Alban’s School

Does your alumni program truly strengthen your alumni community and expand your giving pipeline? Meaningful, intentional engagement, through reunions and other core programming, consistently leads to higher philanthropic participation.

Reunions and similar programs create opportunities to reconnect alumni with your mission, bring them back to campus or together virtually, spark new energy, and encourage bold thinking about the school’s future. These touchpoints deepen affinity, strengthen class bonds, and open the door to greater investment, and understanding your school’s culture is essential to designing alumni experiences that resonate and inspire.

Explore how strategic programming can reinforce lifelong connections between your alumni and the School while driving increased overall giving.

 Noon–1:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own

1:30–2:45 PM
Elective Sessions (choose One)

• Advanced Annual Giving
  Speakers: Melanie Hoffmann, Executive Director of Development & Alumni Relations, St. Alban’s School  and Elizabeth “Oz” Oswald, Director of Institutional Advancement, Nightingale-Bamford School
  
  How do you design a successful annual giving campaign? Annual giving is more than asking for giving participation and bridging the gap between tuition and the student experience—it is about building a pipeline of loyal donors who will answer the call during a campaign and transformative giving effort. Learn how to design, implement, and steward a successful annual giving campaign, including ways for launching or advancing giving days, accurately segment constituents to ensure concise reporting, build realistic gift pyramids, effectively manage volunteers’ time and talent, and properly recognize every gift to your school.
   
• Advanced Major Gifts
  Speakers: Matt Gould, Chief Advancement Officer, Lovett School and Kerry Johnston, Director of Advancement, Charlotte Latin School

What do you do when a donor wants to control all aspects of their gift to your institution? What happens when a major donor's child is having trouble in your school? How do you engage a donor who wants to give your organization a $1 million to start a program outside its mission? These are some of the difficult situations you may face as a major gift officer. Building on what was learned in Major Gifts fundamentals, this scenario-based session will allow us to dig into the fundamentals as we navigate the complexities of the giving relationship and achieve the best possible outcome for your institution and donors.

2:45–3:00 PM
Refreshment Break

3:00–4:15 PM
Inclusive Excellence in Advancement
Speakers: Brent Caburnay, Chief Development Officer, Francis Parker School and David Smith, Chief Advancement Officer, Miami Country Day School

Why does inclusive excellence matter in independent school advancement? This session will explore how to build greater cultural competency across your advancement program: fundraising, alumni relations, communications, and special events. 

4:15–4:30 PM
Transition Break

4:30–6:00 PM
Cohort Session 

6:00 PM
Dinner on Your Own

8:00–9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast–“Ask Us Anything”
All Faculty Panel

All attendees are encouraged to attend. Table topics will be announced in advance. 

9:00–9:15 AM
SAI Morning Announcements & Closing Remarks
Speaker: David Smith, Chief Advancement Officer, Miami Country Day School

9:15–10:30 AM
Journey to Making the Ask
Speakers: Tim Crouch, Director of Development, St. Mark’s School of Texas and Matt Gould, Chief Advancement Officer, Lovett School

Are you nervous about asking for money? Do you need a new volunteer? Making the ask is the easy part. Getting to that point takes hard work, preparation, research, relationship building, and diligent planning. Review everything – from getting the appointment, to meeting preparation, to sitting down with the community member. Discuss tactics that make the job easier for fundraisers and volunteer managers, and clarify how the entire office can make this process more effective. Learn from faculty members and bring your own experiences to share with others. 

10:30–10:45 AM
Refreshment Break

10:45–11:45 AM
Cohort Session

11:45 AM
Institute Adjourns