Fundraising for Independent Schools

Capital Campaigns: At least $1 of every $2 (preferably $2 of every $3) raised should go to endowment. (Boards dominated with parents tend to prefer building campaigns--for current children to benefit--over endowment campaigns: beware that this thinking does not dominate.)

One-third or more of capital campaign total should be raised during the "quiet phase" from trustees.

Target capital campaign levels at 10 times annual giving levels: i.e., if annual giving not already in strong shape, focus energies there first.

Ninety percent or more of campaign dollars will be raised from five percent of your constituency: concentrate your efforts on that five percent.

Eighty percent of gifts from individuals, only 10 percent from foundations and five percent from corporations (matching programsfor the most part).

Division of Responsibilities: The head articulates the vision and needs of the school and accompanies board members on major solicitations; board members set the example by generous giving and make the peer "ask"; the development office does background research and facilitates the entire process.

Capital campaigns most often require campaign counsel: i.e., significant time and money must be expended for research, planning,and staff training to raise significant money for endowment. Count on 5-10 percent of goal for additional fund-raising costs. (Find on the NAIS website is a list of development counsel.)

Overall benchmark for development effort (in schools at the mature stage): raise three to five times as many dollars (averaging annual and capital campaign years together) as expended for total development office outreach effort (salaries, office expenses, publications, alumni events, etc.) 

Target Grandparents — Where the Money Is

The grandparent generation has the two resources that the currentparent generation tends to lack most: available time and considerable disposable/discretionary income.

Good development practice warrants "friend-raising" before "fund-raising," and grandparents are no exception to this rule.