Session One: Trends and Tactics for the Current Fundraising Environment

With Natalie Skinner and Bob Weston from CCS Fundraising 

Join CCS as we examine trends in independent schools and discuss successful fundraising strategies in the current environment. Attendees will learn about trends in educational philanthropy, discuss meaningful ways to engage today’s donor, examine lessons learned and how they apply to annual fundraising, and discuss inclusive donor engagement strategies.

Session Two:  Using Storytelling to Motivate and Engage Donors

With Carrie Grimes

Neuroscientists have discovered that many regions of the brain light up when someone is watching or reading a story – not only the networks involved in language processing, but other neural circuitry as well. Listening to or reading stories has also been proven to have the capacity to shift our core beliefs as we engage in perspective-taking. In essence, human beings are wired for story. 

This session will consider how evidence-based storytelling can be leveraged in our advancement strategy to motivate donors toward loyalty behaviors that contribute to organizational sustainability. You’ll learn how a cohesive, scaffolded, and strategic approach to storytelling is a cornerstone of donor engagement, and leave with key tools and takeaways that will help you use the science of storytelling to motivate donors in meaningful ways.