NAIS - Fund the Future

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Best Practices for Your School's Fundraising Efforts

Find guidance for the many people involved in advancement work, including trustees, heads, development and alumni officers, volunteers, consultants, and business officers.

Reference Guides for Varied Fundraising Roles and Responsibilities

Boost your school’s bottom line with books such as the Handbook of Philanthropy, Gifts That Give Back, The Planned Giving Primer, and The Trustee’s Role in Fundraising.

Advancement Issue: A Strategic Look at How Advancement Connects the Dots

From communicating independent schools’ value proposition to establishing their financial security to engaging the families and community that support them, the advancement function is critical.

DASL Databook Offers In-Depth Look at Giving Numbers

Download the advancement section of the DASL Databook to discover trends and figures for annual and capital giving for your school and selected comparison groups.

Deep Dive

Member Voices: Insights into the Field of Advancement

Phil Higginson, assistant head of school for institutional advancement, Ravenscroft School (NC), discusses
the advancement field and shares best practices for funding the future.

Fundraising Tips for Independent Schools

Independent schools can face many challenges, and sometimes even very good institutions struggle financially. These fundraising tips offer advice to help keep your school strong.

Eight Things to Know Before Fundraising for Major Gifts

Establishing an ongoing major gifts program is an important professional responsibility of a development director, as fundraising success often depends on major gifts.

Finding the Right Development Director for Your School

Leading a school’s fundraising is an energizing challenge but not an easy job, so hiring the right development director is paramount. Here are tips on finding the right fit.

Advancement and the Big Ask: What to Say and How to Say It

This webinar provides best practices and practical advancement strategies for heads of school and ways to strengthen the partnership with the development office.

Alumni Relations Engagement Strategies

Maintaining positive connections with alumni is mission critical, as they can offer their time and talent, volunteer as fundraisers, and donate to annual and capital campaigns.

International Student Programs: Six Tips for International Fundraising

Here are strategies for navigating the nuances of international fundraising, including how to integrate international perspectives and manage cultural norms thoughtfully.

How to Make Your Development Activities More Inclusive

Inclusion must be an important value and goal for an entire independent school community, and that should extend to making sure inclusion is evident in fundraising work.

Fund the Future