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.
The flourishing of Christian schools in BC is a testament to the dedicated and visionary work of school leaders and boards. As a result of your leadership, our Christian schools are equipping students to impact their communities positively and be a faithful presence in the world.
Beyond academic and spiritual development, leadership extends to your school’s long-term financial sustainability. This sustainability includes an often-overlooked aspect of leadership: its pivotal role in your school’s giving program. A robust leadership-driven approach to giving ensures that fundraising aligns with your school’s mission and vision, core values, and community aspirations embedded in your strategic plan.
In this article, we will explore:
Does your school’s current giving program align with your school’s mission, vision, and core values? Do you have a long-term plan for giving that will move the school’s mission forward, or are your fundraising efforts focused simply on meeting current needs? While unexpected situations may arise, the “current needs approach” does not inspire people to become life-long donors. Consider your giving experiences: what inspires you to give and continue giving to an organization? Do you want to know where they’re going and how your giving will move their mission forward? A well-thought-out plan rooted in your school’s mission, vision, and values helps inspire donors to partner with you long-term.
Beyond the relationship you build with donors, a comprehensive plan will lead to impactful change and help ensure your school’s financial sustainability. While your school may have staff who carry out the giving program, setting the giving priorities rests with school leaders. Owning and guiding the giving program sends a powerful message that you are invested in the school’s future. And, by giving your community a vision for the impact your school desires to have on those you serve, you are fostering the beginning of a culture of generous giving. What strategic priorities will your school have for the next 1-10 years that will only be accomplished through giving?
Establishing a forward-looking plan for giving is critical. It is also essential to evaluate your fundraising approaches. How is your school currently fundraising? Are you engaging primarily in a transactional approach to giving, relying on events and product sales that are limited in their ability to raise real money for the school? While “events can be great entry points to invite people in, they are a one-time deal, lacking in actual relational development.”¹ Consider whether by virtue of multiple small asks throughout the year, you are in danger of “turning people into wallets.”²
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to shift the focus from a transactional approach to a transformational one. A giving program rooted in authentic connection and mutual understanding fosters a sense of partnership and shared purpose. By nurturing giving relationships, you will establish a sustainable foundation of support where donors are not merely contributors to an immediate need but are valued members of a community dedicated to the growth and flourishing of Christian education. This transcends one-time donations, creating enduring partnerships: donors become stakeholders in the school’s journey, who will enrich your students’ educational experience as you fulfil your mission. This approach will not only grow giving significantly over time and ensure a flourishing and sustainable future, but just as important, it demonstrates your commitment to care for and steward people in a God-honouring way.
To ensure your ownership and guidance reflect servant leadership, leaders must actively participate in the giving program. This will set the tone for the entire school community and demonstrate a dedication to the values of generosity and support. It is also vitally important that you commit to giving first, to be the lead donors. When the leadership team is visibly engaged, contributing meaningfully to the giving program, it inspires confidence in the school and fosters strong community support and engagement.
Principals and heads of schools need to be involved on a deeper level, assisting with developing a prospect list, meeting with current and prospective donors to share the school’s plan, inviting them to give, and nurturing these relationships moving forward. Board members may also be involved at this level but are also highly effective in the role of thanking donors. A phone call, made as soon as possible after a gift is received, is the most important thanking you can do and will set you apart from most other organizations. This shows true appreciation for the donor and their gift. One philanthropist I met recently remembers the one organization who thanked her personally after every gift. She still gives to that organization.
When someone makes a gift to your school it reflects a desire to see you faithfully living out your mission and vision. As school leaders, you are uniquely positioned to create a longing for the school’s envisioned future through visionary planning that invites donors into a space where they are known as authentic and valued partners in your school’s story. By championing the giving program, you set an example for the entire community, inspiring them to embrace giving as an integral part of your school’s culture and heritage.
Cathy Kits
SCSBC Director of Advancement
