2026 SAIS Annual Conference

Independent schools regularly adopt ambitious strategic plans that include new programs, facilities, initiatives, and expanded financial aid. But many schools discover too late that the plan didn’t include a realistic strategy for funding those priorities.


This session explores the gap between strategic ambition and financial sustainability. Designed for heads of school, trustees, and senior leaders, the conversation examines how a school's philanthropic capacity, annual fund performance, and major gift strategy intersect with their institutional priorities. You'll will learn why many strategic plans struggle to gain philanthropic traction, how to evaluate whether your fundraising model can support your ambitions, and how heads, boards, and school leaders can structure priorities in ways that resonate with donors.

In fall 2025, Durham Academy launched an award-winning institutional and athletics rebrand designed to satisfy the desire for a deeper experience of community and connection. But that wasn't the original goal. What began as a simple logo refresh turned into an extensive, long-term plan to reinvigorate an entire institution. Rooted in an extensive listening tour with students, alumni, faculty, parents, and staff, the new branding honors longstanding traditions and creates opportunity for new ones, while introducing a modern visual storytelling system and unifying mascot. DA's new symbols incorporate new iconography that also give a nod to its iconic roots. This session explores the strategy, research, design process, and rollout behind a unified brand system that connects academics, athletics, and community culture, and a mascot that provides a rallying point for school spirit across school constituencies. Learn insights about stakeholder engagement, honoring legacy while modernizing identity, and launching a rebrand that resonates authentically with students, parents, teachers, and alumni.

You can write a case for support. What's harder is saying what it actually means for the future your school is stepping into. Capital campaigns are vision moments, and the school's brand is one of the most important tools for getting campaign messaging and donor communication right. When development, marketing, communications, and executive leadership aren't in the same room early enough, the campaign feels it. This session makes the case for getting clear around the leadership table first, so your community can be inspired to give to something bigger than the immediate need. We'll explore what happens when a school treats its campaign as a brand strategy moment and what it costs when it doesn't.