West Coast Symposium

Effective boards play a pivotal role in advancing the mission and vision of classical Christian schools, but too often, they become entangled in daily operations. In this foundational session, Bill Mott, author of Governance as Leadership, will unpack best-practice fundamentals for transitioning your board from operational involvement to strategic oversight. Learn how to:

• Understand and embrace the strategic role of the board.
• Avoid common pitfalls of micromanagement while maintaining accountability.
• Partner effectively with your Head of School to advance the school’s mission.

Bill Mott will guide participants through proven frameworks and practical strategies to ensure your board stays focused on leadership, vision, and sustainable growth. Discover how to strike the right balance between oversight and partnership, equipping your school to thrive for years to come. This session is perfect for board members and school leaders ready to elevate their governance practices and make a lasting impact.

In this follow-up session, Bill Mott explores the pivotal role boards play in advancing their school’s mission through a focus on strategic leadership and ambassadorship. By embracing a role centered on advancement, board members can avoid operational entanglements while fostering a culture of growth and sustainability.

Key takeaways from this session include:

• How a board’s advancement role aligns with strategic vision and long-term sustainability.
• Practical applications of the principles: building trust, staying mission-focused, and ensuring clarity of roles.
• Structuring and empowering a development committee to work in partnership with the Head of School.
• The ambassador’s role: fostering donor relationships, promoting the school’s mission, and supporting enrollment management.
• Avoiding overreach by channeling efforts into strategic goals that strengthen the school’s future.

With actionable insights and clear frameworks, this session equips board members to enhance their leadership effectiveness and make meaningful contributions to their school’s advancement strategy. Learn how to lead through advocacy, structure, and focus—ensuring the school thrives under strategic governance.

Jeff Yoder, Chief Advancement Officer of Cambridge School in San Diego, CA, leads this dynamic session on crafting and implementing a unified advancement strategy that aligns with your school’s mission and vision. Jeff will unpack the essential levers and roles that drive sustainable growth and mission fulfillment.

Key topics include:

• Understanding the critical levers of advancement: enrollment, fundraising, marketing, and community engagement.
• Defining the distinct roles of board members, school leadership, and advancement staff in achieving strategic goals.
• Integrating best practices for donor cultivation, development committees, and collaborative leadership.
• Developing a cohesive strategy that prioritizes mission alignment and builds long-term sustainability.

This session offers practical insights and actionable tools to help schools create advancement strategies that empower leaders, engage stakeholders, and inspire philanthropic support.

Discover how to shift your school’s fundraising approach from transactional giving to transformative philanthropy in this engaging session inspired by Jason Smith of The Focus Group. Explore the deeper dimensions of donor engagement, focusing on cultivating authentic, mission-driven relationships that align with your school’s values and long-term vision.

This session will provide practical strategies to:

• Build trust and mutual investment with donors.
• Reframe giving as a collaborative journey, not just a financial exchange.
• Align fundraising efforts with your school’s enduring mission and goals.

Whether you’re a development professional, board member, or school leader, you’ll leave with actionable insights to inspire philanthropic partnerships that sustain and strengthen your school’s mission for years to come.

Advancing your school’s mission requires more than excellent programs—it demands a strategic communication framework that integrates admissions, development, and marketing efforts into a unified Advancement Model. In this session, Jeff Yoder, Chief Advancement Officer of Cambridge School in San Diego, CA, will guide participants through the key principles of strategic communication and its role in advancing enrollment, philanthropy, and mission alignment. Using the Independent School Management (ISM) Advancement Assessment Tool and its core values, this session will provide a roadmap for creating, nurturing, and sustaining relationships that drive success.

Key topics include:

• Integration Across Teams: Collaborating among admissions, development, and marketing communications to create a seamless strategy that impacts recruitment, re-enrollment, and giving.
• Mission-Driven Communication: Crafting and delivering messages that articulate and validate your school’s mission to inspire action from prospective and current families, alumni, and donors.
• Ethics and Trust: Building trust through transparent, ethical practices, including safeguarding constituent data and aligning with professional standards.
• Relationship Management: Understanding and applying the advancement cycle to nurture relationships, deepen connections to the school community, and transform transactional engagements into a true sense of belonging.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leveraging qualitative and quantitative data to improve communication practices, meet strategic goals, and assess your advancement system’s effectiveness.
• Delivering Results: Aligning communication strategies with institutional objectives, such as enrollment and fundraising targets, to meet or exceed expectations.

Participants will leave with actionable insights on how to build a cohesive advancement strategy grounded in strategic communication. This session is ideal for advancement professionals, school leaders, and board members seeking to align their efforts and create lasting, mission-driven relationships that support long-term sustainability. Join us to transform your communication practices into a powerful tool for advancing your school’s mission.

The symposium concludes with two interactive and hands-on sessions designed to help you synthesize everything you’ve learned and begin crafting a comprehensive advancement plan tailored to your school’s unique needs. This session will open with a real-world case study illustrating how an integrated advancement strategy transforms enrollment, donor engagement, and mission alignment. Following the case study, participants will engage in a guided workshop to develop their own advancement plans, addressing key areas such as enrollment management, development, and marketing communications.

During this session, you will:

• Analyze a detailed case study that highlights the successful implementation of the Advancement Model.
• Begin drafting or refining your school’s advancement plan, focusing on the areas most critical to your school’s goals.
• Access sample advancement plans to inspire ideas and structure your approach.
• Work collaboratively with peers to share insights and best practices.
• Receive expert guidance and feedback from seasoned advancement professionals to address your specific challenges and questions.

This session provides the tools, time, and support you need to leave the symposium with a tangible roadmap for advancing your school’s mission. Whether you’re building from scratch or fine-tuning an existing plan, this workshop is your opportunity to create actionable next steps for sustainable growth and success. Join us to turn your vision into a strategic plan ready to bring back to your school community.