CASE Insights on Philanthropy in Independent Schools (United States) 2024-25 Key Findings-Presentation

Presentation

Pdf Summary

CASE’s 2025 insights on philanthropy in U.S. independent schools, produced with NAIS, are based on four years of consistent data from 377 CASE member schools and will be published in early July. The presentation emphasizes two ways of looking at fundraising: funds received (money and property actually received in the reporting year) and new funds committed (new pledges, bequest intentions, planned gifts, and outright gifts). <br /><br />Key findings show that total and median funds received rebounded from 2023, but donor counts kept declining. Capital giving now makes up the second-largest median share of funds received by purpose. Donor-advised funds account for a growing median share of funds received, and gifts in the $25,000 to $1 million range represent an increasing median share of total funds received. <br /><br />The broader message is that independent schools continue to benefit from generosity six years after COVID, but donor behavior is changing. CASE stresses that strong donor relationships remain central to advancement work. <br /><br />The presentation also highlights CASE tools for schools to generate their own reports using comparison groups, quick pre-built reports, or custom report queries. Finally, it outlines key DASL data collection dates for 2026–27 and promotes additional CASE opportunities, including alumni engagement research and the 2027 CASE NAIS Conference in New York City.

Keywords

philanthropy

independent schools

fundraising

CASE

NAIS

donor-advised funds

capital giving

donor relationships

DASL data

alumni engagement