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 …
How Can We Harness the Gift that is Donor-Advised Funds?
by Barbara Barron | Posted June 5th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter With all the chatter about the rise in giving through Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and the controversy about how much money has been contributed and is sitting idle (and not being distributed to charities as intended), I decided to do some snooping of my own. I did a …
How Might You Benefit From An Advancement Coach?
by Barbara Barron | Posted April 16th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter Since starting my consulting business over eight years ago, some of my favorite client experiences have been coaching advancement professionals. There are the folks who are newbies to the profession. Heads wisely hire me to support and “train” them at the start of their journey. These are …
What About “Flocking” During Chaotic Times?
by Barbara Barron | Posted April 2nd, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter If you’re anything like me, you’re struggling to stay positive and sturdy during these tumultuous times. It feels like the “fight, flight, or freeze” response is everywhere. Sometimes within me, all during the same 20 minutes! Recently, I joined a webinar featuring Deb Dowling, the Executive Director …
How We Can Make Sure Our Giving Pages Aren’t Dissuading Giving
by Barbara Barron | Posted March 19th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter When I am retained to conduct an advancement appraisal, I look at all aspects of a school’s giving program. I look at things like: When done well, all are vital to expanding a school’s capacity to raise more money and create a joyful culture of giving. However, …
Why Fundraising is Not Philanthropy
by Barbara Barron | Posted March 5th, 2025 | Subscribe to this newsletter Twice this month, I’ve had the honor of presenting at conferences for schools. The first was Prizmah 2025 (for Jewish Day Schools – 1,200 attendees from 200 schools in the US, Canada, and Israel) and The Small Schools Conference, a terrific remote offering by Aubrey Bursch at …