Introduction, Definitions, and Roles

One of the board’s four key responsibilities is to ensure long-term financial health and stability. But too often it is not clear what the board should be doing versus the HoS and his/her team. Complicating matters further is how start-up and young schools needs extra board support until it matures. We will discuss the challenges and offer principles and practices that will meet your school wherever it is.

What does it mean to operate your school with “hard income” and what does that mean for tuition? We will look at the “cost-based tuition” model compared to common financial models that depend on fund-raising to make ends meet. Then we will cover how to transition your school to a more sustainable, viable position.

Do you have a good idea of what your tuition rates will be in five years? What about your income and expenses? How much will you be able to grow your cash reserves in that time frame? If the answer is “I don’t know” or “I am not sure”, then this session it critical for you. Having at least a five-year detailed forecast is the most important tool for making good decisions today.

The true costs/benefits of a Tuition Assistance program are often not clearly understood. Many administrators and board member have a hard time understanding how a generous Tuition Assistance program can actually grow the school, and increase the bottom line annually. But done right, this can absolutely be the case – and the growth is more than just enrollment growth as your school begins to serve a broader demographic.

There is probably not an area of school leadership that causes as much fear and anxiety as fund-raising. Frequently, it is not clear who should be doing what, and what the best way to approach fund-raising. We will discuss all things development: roles, the annual fund, capital campaigns, relational donor stewardship and more.