The Feasibility Study: It’s About More than Just the Money

Posted on by Society for Classical Learning

The purpose of a campaign feasibility study is generally intended to provide an answer to the questions of whether or not an organization is ready to proceed with a capital campaign and the extent to which a campaign can be successful. More often than not, the organization’s leaders expect an affirmative response and a specific fundraising goal that they can aim for. Whether or not the desired outcome is achieved, conversations about an organization’s mission and vision, strategic plan, leadership, program, and current and future facilities, matched with the current economy, inevitably stir emotions, elicit honest opinions, and raise important questions about confidence and commitment. Regardless of the fundraising outcomes, a feasibility study can be one of the most productive and enlightening undertakings an organization can commit itself to. Gathering the honest feedback from a strategic group of constituents offers an organization an invaluable reference point for the formation of a strategic plan, the creation of policies and procedures, decisions about hiring, and program delivery. During this session, Jason Lewis will summarize the outcomes of three recent feasibility studies and the mechanics of the BetterSchools process. Jason will describe the personal and professional experiences that each school experienced through the study process. Jason will introduce the 3C analysis and offer examples of how capacity, commitment, and confidence are assessed in the feasibility study process.

Jason Lewis

As BetterSchools’ fundraising leader, Jason Lewis currently assists classical, Christian school leaders in designing and implementing their strategic plan; hiring, training and coaching fundraising professionals; and evaluating their readiness for and execution of multi-million dollar capital campaigns. As the head of school and chief development o cer at a classical, Christian school, Jason transitioned fundraising e orts from a conventional, arms-length approach to a high-touch, major gi s approach with clearly de ned performance expectations for the school’s advancement o cers. The centerpiece of this strategy—a performance management dashboard—has gained recognition among private school and nonpro t leaders as an e ective tool for evaluating and increasing fundraising performance. In 2008, Jason received his initial certi cation as a Certi ed Fundraising Executive (and was recerti ed in 2015) and in 2011, he was recognized as a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Master Trainers. As a complement to his undergraduate studies in business, he completed his master of science degree in Nonpro t Management in 2010.

Your Small School’s Development Shop

Posted on by Society for Classical Learning

Schools with fewer than 500 students often have a dif cult time identifying and cultivating donors who can make transformative gifts. Conventional approaches to high capacity fundraising often assume large development budgets and layers of fundraising activities
that smaller schools simply can’t sustain. In this workshop, participants will discover how community alignment, hiring decisions, shared leadership and measuring performance can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your school’s small development shop. Participants will leave provoked yet encouraged with a fresh perspective of how to design and implement their development office.

Jason Lewis

Jason currently assists BetterSchools partner schools with increasing their fundraising capacity. Before joining the BetterSchools consulting team, Jason’s fundraising career included launching a nation-wide major gift initiative; leading previously stalled and mid-recession capital campaigns; and organizing high-profile, record-breaking special events. In 2008, Jason received his initial certification as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and in 2011 was recognized as a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Master Trainers.

Demystifying Effective Fund-Raising

Posted on by Society for Classical Learning

Private schools are notorious for being especially dependent upon the least effective and most inef cient fundraising techniques on the planet. Championed by headmasters, directors, board members, consultants and software companies, the sacred cows of professional fundraising won’t be losing their tenured spots in your development plan anytime soon. That is unless after attending this workshop you have the courage to make some changes. In this workshop, you will discover that there is no mystery when it comes to increased fundraising performance. If your school wants to revolutionize your fundraising efforts with an unorthodox yet highly-effective approach, here’s your opportunity.

Jason Lewis

For nearly fifteen years, Jason has raised millions of dollars for faith-based and advocacy organizations by deliberately focusing on the most e ective fundraising techniques. He routinely works with leadership teams, development commi ees and boards to develop high-net fundraising strategies that work. As a graduate of AFP’s Faculty Training Academy, Jason is recognized among the association’s elite group of Master Trainers. Jason is the Head of School at Logos Academy; a high-performing, urban classical school located in the heart of a York City, Pennsylvania- a small, economically distressed city. Seventy- ve percent of the students at Logos Academy are bene ciaries of Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). Since 2001, EITC maintains overwhelming bi-partisan support throughout the state and has been highly-instrumental in Logos Academy’s success.

Demystifying Effecting Fundraising

Posted on by Society for Classical Learning

Far too many organizations remain content with the most ineffective fundraising strategies characterized by mediocre events, low response rates, and high staff turnover. In this workshop, Jason will demonstrate that there are no secrets when it comes to raising extraordinary gifts, hiring a rock-star fundraiser and evaluating fundraising performance. With the help of three unorthodox planning techniques, Jason will show you how to develop an effective fundraising plan that aligns with your organizations’ mission and vision.

Jason Lewis

As BetterSchools’ fundraising leader, Jason Lewis currently assists classical, Christian school leaders in designing and implementing their strategic plan; hiring, training and coaching fundraising professionals; and evaluating their readiness for and execution of multi-million dollar capital campaigns. As the head of school and chief development o cer at a classical, Christian school, Jason transitioned fundraising e orts from a conventional, arms-length approach to a high-touch, major gi s approach with clearly de ned performance expectations for the school’s advancement o cers. The centerpiece of this strategy—a performance management dashboard—has gained recognition among private school and nonpro t leaders as an e ective tool for evaluating and increasing fundraising performance. In 2008, Jason received his initial certi cation as a Certi ed Fundraising Executive (and was recerti ed in 2015) and in 2011, he was recognized as a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Master Trainers. As a complement to his undergraduate studies in business, he completed his master of science degree in Nonpro t Management in 2010.