by Barbara Barron | Posted March 4th, 2026 | Subscribe to this newsletter We’re coming off of conference season! Did you participate, attend, or present at one or more? I had the honor of being part of two conferences this year: The Small Schools Leaders Conference and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (first) Brand Conference in Chattanooga. Whenever I …
Success Story #2
by Barbara Barron | Posted February 18th, 2026 | Subscribe to this newsletter Here were the initial challenges: The Head of an outstanding K-8 school came to me with a nagging sense that there was a sizeable opportunity among many families enrolled to raise far more money — IF they could land on the right project. The Board was eager …
The Steps We Skip
by Barbara Barron | Posted February 4th, 2026 | Subscribe to this newsletter I’d like to start by reposting a piece by the great Seth Godin: It’s difficult to write directions. A user interface, a map or a recipe all require empathy. That’s because the person writing it knows something the reader doesn’t. In fact, that’s the only reason to …
What if Fundraising Was Really about Creating Donor Joy?
by Barbara Barron | Posted January 21st, 2026 | Subscribe to this newsletter Regular readers know that I am a huge proponent of the value of good stewardship. It goes way, way beyond thanking donors in prompt and accurate ways. It is the storytelling of how a donor’s gift was put to good and actionable use. What difference their generosity …
Success Story #1
by Barbara Barron | Posted January 7th, 2026 | Subscribe to this newsletter In 2018, I was approached by a little preschool, well-loved by families and deeply respected as a leader in early childhood education. Their problem was that they had outgrown their space and had a dream of expanding to allow more children to experience their outstanding program. After …
How Can Schools Assess Our Risk Appetite?
by Barbara Barron | Posted December 3rd, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter Any school looking at a big project, like a capital campaign, needs to understand their risk tolerance or, said another way, their appetite for risk. I’ve long wondered about how best to assess this tricky and nuanced concept. I see it when a Board needs to decide …
Why We Need to Leverage Non-Cash Gifts in Light of the New Tax Laws
by Barbara Barron | Posted October 22nd, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter If you are like most advancement pros I know, the new tax laws are a bit of mystery, and a source of concern. I‘ve now participated in a few webinars and have done my reading by experts I trust to try to make sense of what this …
How Advancement & Mar-com (with Admission!) Can Work Together with Better Outcomes for All
by Barbara Barron | Posted November 5th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak to the Palmetto Association of Independent Schools Advancement & Mar-com cohort at their monthly online gathering. PAIS has super big schools and super small schools, and some in between. So, lots of places with one- or two-member …
How to Turn Good Volunteers Into Great Askers
by Barbara Barron | Posted September 24th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter At the heart of my work as an advancement consultant is helping schools get better at creating the environment that makes it possible to raise more money to support their inspiring mission. Whether that’s for the annual fundraising or special moments like a major gift opportunity or …
The Power of Trust
by Barbara Barron | Posted August 12th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter As we begin another school year, everything is new again. I believe that most of us who work in, and for, independent schools do so – in part – because we love that feeling of a fresh start. There are new students, new colleagues, and new families …