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Fundraising Through Change: Strategies for Independent Schools
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Fundraising Through Change: Strategies for Independent Schools

An NWAIS workshop series carried out in partnership with CCS Fundraising designed to help advancement teams to explore contemporary independent school development practices and learn how tune-up their school's fundraising strategies.

 Export to Your Calendar 1/6/2026 to 2/3/2026
When: January 6
January 20
February 3

10:00 -11:30 AM PT / 11:00 AM -12:30 PM MT
Where: Virtual Course
United States
Contact: Emily McGrath
emcgrath@nwais.org


Online registration is available until: 1/6/2026
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REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN


 

 

Fundraising Through Change: Strategies for Independent Schools


 An NWAIS workshop series carried out in partnership with CCS Fundraising designed to help advancement teams to explore contemporary independent school development practices and learn how tune-up their school's fundraising strategies.

 

 

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (10:00AM-11:30AM PT / 11:00AM-12:30PM MT)

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (10:00AM-11:30AM PT / 11:00AM-12:30PM MT)

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 (10:00AM-11:30AM PT / 11:00AM-12:30PM MT)

 

 

Audience

This interactive workshop series is designed for independent school advancement leaders. Other school leaders, especially those whose work intersects with development are also invited to attend.

 

 

Workshop Series Description

This three-part workshop series is designed for advancement professionals, Heads of School, and volunteer leaders navigating the evolving landscape of philanthropy. Whether you’re preparing for your first campaign, growing annual funds, or adapting strategies to meet the needs of next-gen parents, these three sessions will offer practical tools and fresh insights to strengthen your development program and build long-term resiliency.


Note: Each session builds on the last, so attending the full series will give you the most powerful results.

 

 

Session Descriptions

 

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (10:00AM-11:30AM PT / 11:00AM-12:30PM MT)

Session 1: From Strategic Vision to Fundraising Success

Create a foundation for fundraising success by turning your school’s priorities into a compelling fundraising case—whether you’re refining your annual program or launching a campaign.

  • Turn funding priorities into a compelling case for support
  • Design smaller or first-time capital campaigns for maximum impact
  • Integrate annual giving with campaign goals and messaging
  • Build momentum with clear phases and effective volunteer leadership

 

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (10:00AM-11:30AM PT / 11:00AM-12:30PM MT)

Session 2: Resilient Leadership Partnerships in Challenging Times

Strengthen collaboration across leadership roles while fostering trust with your community and donors—even in moments of tension or transition.

  • Define roles and build a chain of communication between Heads, advancement leads, and the board chair
  • Nurture a culture of philanthropy that weathers headwinds
  • Prioritize effectively to maximize your team’s effectiveness
  • Retain donors during institutional transitions
BONUS: BRING ALONG YOUR HEAD OF SCHOOL TO JOIN YOU FOR THIS COLLABORATIVE SESSION
 

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 (10:00AM-11:30AM PT / 11:00AM-12:30PM MT)

Session 3: Adaptable Fundraising for a New Generation

Engage the next generation of parents, alumni, and donors with forward-looking strategies that meet them where they are.

  • Connect with Millennial and Gen Z parents through values-based messaging
  • Explore how AI can expand your team’s fundraising capacity
  • Rethink alumni engagement to match shifting expectations
  • Evaluate the role of events through a strategic ROI lens

 

 

 

Our workshop leaders bring extensive experience in independent school fundraising:

 

 

Katlyn Torgerson, Executive Vice President, CCS Fundraising

 

 

 

 

Nicole Stratton, Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising

 

 

 

 

Nanci Kauffman, Senior Consultant, CCS Fundraising

 
 
 

 

 

Read More About Our Facilitators Here

 

 

 

 

Registration 

Registration is now open!

Participants will register for the full series. In the case that you are not able to attend all four sessions in real time, all registrations include access to session recordings. Links to recordings will remain active for one month following each session and should not be shared. 


Pricing

 
Course Registration (Includes access to all three workshops, session resources, and recordings*)
 
  Member Schools - $125
   
  Non-Members - $225

 

* Links to recordings will remain active for one month following each session.

 

Cancellation

Substitutions may be made any time prior to the workshop. Written cancellations received before the start of the course are eligible for a refund after a $50 cancellation fee