CASE and the National Association of Independent Schools are partnering to enhance data collection and analysis for independent schools.

Partners in supporting schools for 50 years, CASE and NAIS are launching a data initiative that will help schools thrive into the future. In 2022, CASE and NAIS will update the online Data and Analysis for School Leadership survey tool to create a powerful, one-stop shop for U.S. independent school data collection. They will also create an industry-wide standard for advancement data collection for schools, including variables, definitions, and more.

This work, powered by CASE’s advancement expertise and NAIS’s schools expertise, will give school leaders deeper insights into philanthropy and engagement than ever before.

Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of CASE, says this partnership will enhance data analysis and school leadership and will allow independent schools to benchmark their data and develop comprehensive metrics for their fundraising, alumni relations, and marketing programs.

“Education transforms lives and society. Building on the 50-year relationship between CASE and NAIS, and on CASE’s decades-long leadership in data and benchmarking in advancement, this collaboration will enable school leaders to make more sophisticated data-driven decisions," says Cunningham. "Built upon CASE’s Global Reporting Standards (the standards for the advancement profession), the updated dataset will allow leaders and practitioners to access a comprehensive set of benchmarks and analysis rooted in the highest level of standards and ethics for the profession of advancement." 

Donna Orem, President of NAIS, provides context that explains the importance of this collaboration: "As advancement becomes an increasingly important part of an independent school's overall financial picture, it's key that school leaders and practitioners have consistent, standardized data from which to build strategy. Working together, CASE and NAIS will increase the quantity and quality of advancement information available, while also streamlining the data entry processes for schools."

For the first time, DASL, an online survey tool independent schools can use to report and find actionable data, will include and use CASE’s Global Reporting Standards, a standard worldwide counting methodology for advancement, ensuring consistent reporting, counting, and analysis. Now, U.S. independent schools can use DASL to more comprehensively benchmark against their global peers and have a complete snapshot of their schools’ financial and engagement health.

Data collection for DASL begins in June 2022 and closes in the fall. In addition to partnering on data collection, CASE and NAIS will distribute yearly reports and data analysis. Analysis will be released in early 2023.

Learn more about DASL, including FAQs for schools and advancement professionals.