CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND SCSBC’S RESPONSE: Find the lastest updates here for students, faculty and staff.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND SCSBC’S RESPONSE: Find the lastest updates here for students, faculty and staff.
For school leaders, nurturing donor relationships isn’t an extra task: development is at the heart of your calling. When you see it as a core part of your leadership, the practice of development transforms you, your donors, and your schools. Read on to find out more about what development is, what it isn’t, and how other school leaders do it effectively.
Development is a shared expression of faith and vision. In his book A Spirituality of Fundraising, theologian Henri Nouwen encourages us to see development not as a response to a crisis but “first and foremost as a form of ministry.”* Done well, development impacts your school’s long-term mission sustainability through visionary planning that invites donors into a space where they are known as authentic and valued partners in your school’s story.
Board members and heads of school play both a real and symbolic leadership role in development, says Dave Loewen, SCSBC Executive Director. Your ‘real’ role is to connect with potential donors, to tell the story of the school in the community, and to be a strong advocate for development. Your ‘symbolic’ role involves keeping development on the radar with staff—encouraging them to support the work in their own professional conversations and assisting when invited.
Adam Woelders, Head of School at Langley Christian, reflects that when it comes to development, “the biggest obstacle is that we let the present circumstances shape what we think God’s big vision is. God isn’t limited by our present circumstances.” When you actively invite donors, staff, and families into the development plan, you allow the strategic vision to rise above immediate constraints. “Our school wouldn’t be what it is today without the influence, generosity, and input of these stakeholders,” notes Woelders.
So, how can you practically lead in the work of development?
Champion Your Mission As a school leader, you have a front-row seat to the mission’s impact. As you build relationships with donors, tell them how you see God working in the lives of students. “The work of building relationships and sharing our school’s vision can be done in scheduled, formal ways,” explains Jeremy Tinsley, Superintendent at Vancouver Christian School. “But it can also be done informally during the spare moments a school leader might have to chat with parents and grandparents after school, during a volleyball game, or at a band recital.”
Model and Cultivate Generosity Leaders model what they hope to cultivate. If we hope to grow engagement, we must be engaged ourselves. By personally investing in the school’s development plan, your enthusiasm becomes contagious. “We try to ask for gifts in thoughtful ways, without over-asking. People are usually excited by these conversations,” notes Tinsley. “It doesn’t have to be intimidating.”
Empower Staff Teaching and support staff rarely view donor relations as part of their role, yet this is critical to the mission. You can provide staff with regular development updates and encourage them to share stories of mission impact with the community. Equipping staff with clarity and excitement helps transform development into a school-wide endeavour.
Thank, Report, Ask, Follow-Up Development leaders practice a cycle of thanking, reporting, asking, and following up. As a school leader, you play a vital role here. “We’re focused on building engagement, thanking supporters, sharing the impact of their gifts, and listening to their feedback,” says Tinsley. Few things empower a donor relationship as much as a personal “thank you” call from a principal or an impact report from a board member.
While you champion the vision, you do not walk this path alone. The development leader walks with heads of school and board members as a strategic guide. Together, you identify key supporters, build meaningful connections, and invite others to partner in ways that align with the school’s vision and goals.
Share Strategic Information You need to know who the school’s biggest fans are: giving partners, volunteers, alumni, alumni parents, and others. Development staff can equip you with this information and work alongside you in inviting core supporters into partnership. As a team, heads of school and development leaders create a development plan—aligned with the school’s strategic goals—that maps out how and when to connect with these key audiences.
Foster Opportunities for Relationships Development leaders cultivate relationships by fostering opportunities for donors to have meaningful access to leadership. This often looks like arranging one-on-one meetings for the head of school to share and hear stories of God’s faithfulness or to seek advice on future plans.
“It has been a joy to meet with donors to hear their stories and learn about their connection with the school,” says Karen Currie, Head of School at Kamloops Christian. “Initially I was worried about the time commitment, but I have been amazed by how ‘bucket filling’ it is to meet with people who have a heart for Christian education. It is exciting to share how God is working through the school.”
Facilitate Giving The number one reason people don’t give is that they were never asked. Development leaders are tasked with the role of asking, but they include school leaders in that process—whether asking for time, talent, resources, or prayer. The ‘ask’ is only one part of the giving cycle for you to get involved in, but it is the one where you can have the greatest impact.
Langley Christian’s Adam Woelders urges school leaders to be courageous as they step into this aspect of leadership. “We need the courage to ask others if they’re willing to partner and use their resources to do something bigger than any one person could do alone,” says Woelders. “When asked that way, people rarely say no. Don’t let your fear of a ‘no’ get in the way of a ‘yes’ that could fuel your mission in a really big way.”
When everyone embraces their role, development becomes more than about giving. It becomes a testimony of God’s provision and a foundation for future generations. Dave Loewen clearly articulates this:
“Board members and heads of school need to see development as part of their portfolio—to realize they play a role in development initiatives, to give and speak publicly about giving, and to meet with donors to discuss giving opportunities. It is about sharing God’s faithfulness to the school over time and inviting people into the beauty of that.”
When leaders model generosity, tell their school’s story with passion, and boldly invite others to partner in the journey, they are building a community rooted in gratitude and focused on the flourishing of every student.
Cathy Kits, SCSBC Director of Advancement; Tom Grasmeyer, Bulkley Valley Christian School Director of Advancement; and Jamie Moore, Nanaimo Christian School Director of Development
