Independent School Summit

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Members Full Summit Registration: $430
Non-members Full Summit Registration: $550

Members need to login to access member rates, and purchase the event ticket(s) below.

CCAE member group rates

Save on registration with group rates:
Register 5 or more individuals from your institution and save $50 per person;
Note: Group rates are available to CCAE members only, and you must register all individuals at the same time. Discounts will be automatically applied and will be displayed on the final checkout payment screen. Discounts cannot be combined.

ISAP Canada Social Event:

Burger Theory (inside the Holiday Inn Hotel)

Join ISAP Canada, CCAE, and your colleagues for a social event on the evening of February 6th at 6:30 p.m.
Hors d’oeuvres are complimentary from ISAP Canada, guest is responsible for their own beverages.
You must RSVP to this optional event: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VR329DC

Schedule

Download printable version

Sessions

Opening Keynote
Innes van Nostrand, Principal, Appleby College

Toto, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Kansas Anymore – The evolving role of Brain, Heart and Courage in Advancement

With more than 35 years working in educational Advancement, Innes van Nostrand will weight in on what increased volatility and unpredictability means for school leadership, strategy, advancement operations, and philanthropy. He will share his views on what parts of our work remain timeless and those aspects that are likely to change, in some cases dramatically. He will also provide advice on steps advancement professionals can take if they are considering  broader career paths in educational leadership.

Finding Common Ground: Two approaches to work with school leadership and faculty to develop meaningful, impactful and fundable projects and cases for support
Brendan Dellandrea, MBA – Vice Principal, Advancement, Upper Canada College
Hailey Meslin, Ph.D – Associate Head of School, External Relations, The York School

Every school has its own culture, history, community engagement levels, and leadership & governance structures which can impact how and when funding priorities are established. We will look at two different models from schools that both offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and unpack how Advancement teams can find the balance between supporting and raising funds for a school’s topmost institutional priorities and, at the same time, those special hidden gems that every school has but which may not be top of mind for donors. We will look at how developing funding priorities – whether they are developed ‘top down’ or ‘bottom up’ – can present different opportunities and challenges when it comes to cultivating donors and reporting on impact. And we offer suggestions for Advancement professionals on how to work effectively using both of these approaches.      

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn the differences, benefits and drawbacks of working either “top down” or “bottom up” when developing funding priorities and Cases for Support.
• Attendees will learn the implications – both positive and negative – that each of these two approaches has when it comes to stewarding gifts and reporting on impact.
• Attendees will learn strategies for working effectively with school leadership and faculty to set funding priorities and develop persuasive cases for support.

Ethics in Fundraising
Tanya Rumble, Executive Director, Development for the Faculty of Arts and Yellowhead Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University
Co-Founder of Recast Philanthropy
Instructor in the Post-Graduate Fundraising Program,Humber College

Many organizations are struggling to diversify their staff, volunteer, and board members. The work of inviting people with intersectional identities into an organization starts well before the recruitment process and is complex and long-term transformational work. It begins with building an inclusive culture that permeates strategies, policies, and ways of working throughout that is consistent, intentional, and properly prioritized and resourced. Regardless of your positional leadership, it is important to underscore that in building an inclusive and equitable fundraising culture is inextricably linked to leadership, performance measures and culture.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about strategies to create fundraising culture and practices that ensure relationships are grounded in equity and anti-oppression
• Develop skills to share power, hold space and give up power to build inclusive strategies and cultures
• Explore how to support people with diverse lived experience and intersectional identities to ascend to greater leadership in fundraising

Advancement in the Digital Age: Navigating Possibilities with AI
Zahra Valani, Head of School, The Linden School

This session will explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on advancement initiatives. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of AI concepts, discover practical applications in the advancement sector, and learn how to integrate AI into their organizations for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding AI Concepts:
   • Clarify what AI is and its essential parts, such as machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning.
   • Describe how AI uses data to make predictions and solve problems, comparing it to how humans make decisions.
2. Exploring Practical Uses:
   • Share real-life examples of AI in fundraising, showing how predictive analytics improves campaigns, customizes donor communication, and simplifies donation processing.
   • Discuss the impact of AI on donor engagement, emphasizing its role in understanding donor behaviour, tailoring communication, and using predictive analytics for retention.
3. Building Basic Knowledge for AI-Enhanced Advancement Initiatives:
   • Emphasize the importance of understanding basic AI concepts for effectively implementing AI in advancement projects.

Open Season – Festivus and Firefly discussion session
Facilitated by: Rakesh Tripathi, Director of Alumni and Community Relations, TMS

After a robust day of programming, CCAE is pleased to provide time in the program for the items that extend above and beyond program topics. Exchange, seek counsel, bring issues to the table and take advantage of the wonderful time and talent in the room.

Key terms:
Festivus – airing of grievances! Share what is giving you issues!
Firefly – sharing what works! Sparks of good things, wins and overall moments
Open season – everything is on the table. CCAE will provide a safe space, allowing for anonymous contributions to topics and a judgement free zone.

CCAE will provide some pre-populated topics for inspiration or folks can decide to discuss whatever is pressing at the time.
Add your topics of choice here.

Learning Objectives:

• Spend time, in small groups, to discuss matters that matter TO YOU!
• Allow opportunities to network and connect in small groups by role, school, and location.
• Share with (and lean on) your colleagues about challenges, wins and current projects.

Demonstrate the value of the Advancement Office through individual and collective engagement in your school community
Jill Cannon, Executive Director of Philanthropy, Toronto French School Foundation

This session as a way of encouraging Advancement professionals to get more engaged and involved in the life of their schools beyond the funds they raise. Examples include attending non-advancement related school events to engage with communities in a non-fundraising manner, coaching or co-coaching a team, being a mentor, assisting with a student clubs, volunteering at parent association events, partnering with the University Counselling area to assist Grade 12 students, attend assemblies, get to know faculty and staff and truly become part of your school community.

Learning Objectives:

• By engaging, you build equity with colleagues, parents and alumni
• Knowing what is going on in the classroom and with the students helps you to articulate the value proposition of your school to prospects and donors
• Advancement work is all about building relationships, trust and community – get involved and reap the benefits

EDIB & Advancement: Synergies, Tensions and the Love of it All
Nicole Cozier, Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. Havergal College
Annette Paul, Executive Director, Advancement, Havergal College

In this session, we will delve into the nuanced intersection of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) within the realm of independent school advancement and fundraising. We will examine how advancement efforts can both support and challenge the pursuit of a more diverse and equitable community and explore the complexities and synergies that arise when the imperatives of EDIB meet development strategies. 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the relationship between EDIB and advancement – how can EDIB be integrated into advancement in a way that enhances fundraising outcomes.
• Identify key tension points that exist between fundraising practices and the goals of EDIB and explore strategies for navigating these tensions. 
• Explore ways to foster authentic EDIB culture and values into advancement.

Support Your Alumni Community With a Targeted Mental Health and Wellness Strategy
Marin Anderson, Manager of Georgian Relations, Royal St. George’s College
Brian Robinson, Alumni Outreach Officer, Royal St. George’s College

The wellbeing of students, faculty, staff and alumni is top of mind for many schools. This session will highlight the work RSGC’s Advancement/Alumni Development Office and Alumni Association are doing to support the school’s strategic priority of building a cohesive and healthy community. From working with alumni to launch a fund to support mental health initiatives, to partnering with Senior Admin to create a series of workshops for students, to developing a communication and outreach plan for our alumni (with particular focus on those in university)…this session will give you tangible ideas you can take back to your respective schools.

Learning Objectives

• The value of partnering with other stakeholders in your school to develop a broader strategy for mental health and wellness overall.
• How to create a culture that shows your alumni that you care about their wellbeing long after they graduate.
• How to build upon your current mental health and wellness initiatives to create a more robust program with your alumni in mind.