Engage, Connect, Support: Rethinking Fundraising Through Friend-Raising
The most recent NISPA event, hosted at the prestigious St. Anne’s School in Aurora on April 15th, was a resounding success, with 47 attendees from 19 NISPA member schools, providing inspiration and thoughtful dialogue.
The leadership team from St. Anne’s set the tone with an insightful presentation that highlighted both the school’s strategic vision and its deeply rooted commitment to community engagement. The team offered a practical look at how intentional storytelling and mission alignment can elevate advancement efforts. Particularly compelling was their emphasis on authenticity—ensuring that every touchpoint with families and donors reflects the school’s core values.
The conversations around friend-raising and fundraising were especially valuable, with both St Anne’s and Country Day School sharing actionable insights. A key takeaway was the importance of building genuine relationships before focusing on financial asks. Attendees discussed how meaningful engagement—through events and volunteer opportunities-lays the groundwork for long-term philanthropic support. There was also strong emphasis on strategies, thoughtful segmentation, and the role of leadership in modeling a culture of giving.
Tracey Muxlow, Past PA President and Milli Pajpani, PA Events Coordinator from Country Day School who focused on Friend-Raising and contributed practical examples of how to sustain momentum beyond major school events, highlighting the idea of fun, community events to bring parents together.
Christina Corsetti from St. Anne’s School who highlighted key Fundraising initiatives through an annual Gala event and reinforced the idea that successful fundraising is not transactional but relational, rooted in trust and shared purpose.
The day concluded with a tour of the St. Anne’s campus, offering a look at the spaces that support their vibrant learning environment. From thoughtfully designed classrooms to welcoming communal areas, the tour provided helpful context for how physical spaces can reflect and enhance a school’s mission—bringing the earlier conversations full circle. Overall, the event was a meaningful opportunity to connect, reflect, and gather ideas.