2026 SAIS Annual Conference

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.