The School Advancement Institute (formerly the Summer Institute for Independent Schools) is the premier professional development program for those new to independent school advancement. Whether you are early career, looking to deepen your knowledge of school advancement, or coming into schools from another industry or nonprofit sector, this is the program for you. Designed to teach you the elements of both independent schools and independent school advancement, this program will provide you with strong mentoring and content you need to be successful in your first or second year at your new school.

This program is a hybrid offering from October-April, with some content online and some in-person. This is an intentional choice to ensure consistent mentoring and content delivery throughout a professional's first or second year in their new position.

Who Should Attend

• Professionals new to independent school philanthropy, engagement, communications, or advancement services  
• Professionals with prior advancement background and those entirely new to the profession are welcome and will be assigned to cohorts based on experience  
• Those new to school advancement, including new Heads of School or new Directors

Learning Objectives

• Discuss and explore best practices in independent school advancement  
• Identify strategies to grow and support your school’s advancement program 
• Describe the role advancement plays on an independent school campus 
• Identify and analyze data to achieve philanthropic and engagement goals 
• Define the major giving and relationship building process, including making asks 
• Demonstrate the role campaigns, planned gifts, and annual fund play in the life of the school 
• Illustrate the relationship to the Head, Board, and other key administrators 
• Enhance your network to build stronger professional relationships

Level 1 - Early Career (acquire knowledge about the common core of the advancement function for new professionals and mid-career professionals transitioning into advancement)

Level 2 - Emerging Early Career (develop technical, explicit knowledge in a chosen specialty and grow skills in the advancement competencies)

Level 3 - Practicing/maturing Mid-Career (work on achieving fluency in all aspects of advancement and grow leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of ethics)

Level 4 - Senior/experienced Mid-Career (develop deep expertise in your discipline and your understanding of other disciplines)

Level 5 - Expert Seasoned Professional (develop an understanding of the role advancement plays in executing higher-level institutional strategy)

Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional (contribute with work that is more strategic than managerial and maintain a multidisciplinary understanding and portfolio)