One of CASE’s premier events for our schools community is the Schools Advancement Institute. This hybrid conference grew out of another iconic training, the Summer Institute for Independent Schools, which was a deep dive for newcomers to the profession hosted for several days over the summer. An advancement summer boot camp, if you will. I am fortunate to be an alumna of this program and, like many participants, the experience helped launch me into advancement as a career rather than a job. SAI builds on the tradition of the schools Summer Institute, equipping delegates with the essential skills and tools to be successful in advancement and supporting them with a cohort of peers and an incredibly knowledgeable faculty. The power of SAI, and the summer institute before it, is that it provides the knowledge and the network. Just like CASE. 

Spending time with the SAI faculty as we plan for this next cohort has been a highlight of my summer. Time with these talented professionals and gifted thinkers always leaves me with new things to consider. For example, we had a conversation about what defines stewardship on our campuses. We all know that great stewardship is an essential part of philanthropy. But I am not just talking about thank you letters and gift updates. Can stewardship extend beyond the gift to include the entire experience a family or person has with your school? If great stewardship is what secures the next gift, then how do we steward all constituents before and after they give? Many schools have stories of surprise gifts from families who were not on their radar but who felt so connected to and cared for by the school, that they chose to make a significant gift unsolicited. It may have been the relationship with the advancement office or head of school. Or it may have been with the administrative staff or faculty on campus that left a lasting impression. Unfortunately, there are also stories from many schools citing the damage the lack of care and attention for an individual or a sour experience can have. This can often lead to a gift not coming to fruition or even being rescinded. Though some circumstances are beyond our control, these actions all fall under the stewardship umbrella. 

What I have been thinking about since the conversation with the SAI faculty is the opportunity we have as advancement professionals on our campuses to lead on the stewardship front. We are well-positioned within the school and well-versed in the impact that the care (or lack thereof) can have on our students, parents, and alumni. Because it is about more than getting the next gift. It is about creating a community experience, a standard, and a brand that is thoughtful and inclusive. Our SAI chair David Smith—Chief Advancement Officer at Miami Country Day School, Florida, U.S.—highlighted for me that a culture of hospitality really is good stewardship. And that resonates with me. As you prepare for the next school year, I encourage you to think about how your team and your school are approaching campuswide stewardship. Do you have a culture of hospitality? What can your team do to improve the experience for everyone in your community? Let me know how it goes. 

Crickett