Advancement for independent schools
Helping an institution carry out its mission is a core capability at Huron. With more than 60 years of service to independent schools, the Independent Schools Practice of Huron’s GG+A global philanthropy team is the leader in helping schools advance their missions through philanthropy.
We understand that schools are unique types of nonprofits. That’s why we support schools uniquely. It’s why we have a team that knows about schools firsthand: we have our own experience teaching, coaching, monitoring carpool, and supervising advisory. We’ve secured gifts and entered them — and done everything in between.
Photo courtesy of client Westtown School
Although every school is unique, many independent schools struggle with similar challenges: supporting trustees in leading philanthropy and fundraising; partnering with a head of school who is inexperienced or uncomfortable asking for contributions; securing major gifts when staff and resources are focused on budget-relieving annual gifts; reflecting school history and culture while implementing new practices; and investing limited resources where the most significant gains can be achieved.
We help schools accelerate fundraising by strengthening what you know about your program and partnering with you to use that knowledge for improvement. Utilizing your own data and deploying collaborative strategic thinking, we identify areas where the board, the head, and the advancement staff can make positive and sustained change. We bring to bear our knowledge of independent school fundraising best practices and our firsthand experience fundraising in schools to assist clients in charting their path toward success.
Photo courtesy of client St. John's Episcopal School
How we help
Our services are designed to help schools grow fundraising by addressing their specific conditions and aspirations. From evaluating fundraising programs and preparing for major campaigns to delivering fundraising counsel and training fundraisers and volunteers, Huron’s GG+A team helps schools devise strategies for sustained and accelerated success.
Our impact
We serve dozens of schools annually and treat each one like the unique institution it is. Our consultants, who have all been independent school fundraising leaders themselves, employ our values of client focus, rigor, candor, and action to help clients accelerate substantial, sustainable philanthropic growth.
Photo courtesy of client Porter-Gaud School
| Current and recent independent school clients include: | |
|---|---|
| The Altamont School | National Cathedral School |
| American College of Sofia | New Canaan Country School |
| Benchmark School | Noble and Greenough School |
| Berkshire School | Polytechnic School |
| The Bishop Strachan School | Porter-Gaud School |
| The Bryn Mawr School | The Rivers School |
| Columbus Academy | Sacramento Country Day School |
| The Episcopal Academy (PA) | Sage Hill School |
| The Episcopal School of Dallas | Saint Mary's Hall |
| Far Hills Country Day School | Sidwell Friends School |
| Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart | St. Albans School |
| Forman School | St. Andrew's School (DE) |
| Friends' Central School | St. Anne's-Belfield School |
| Friends School of Baltimore | St. John's Episcopal School |
| Girls Preparatory School | St. John's School (TX) |
| Greenhill School | The St. Paul's Schools (MD) |
| Holderness School | Tabor Academy |
| Holland Hall | Trinity-Pawling School |
| Hutchison School | University of Chicago Laboratory Schools |
| The John Cooper School | University School of Nashville |
| The Kinkaid School | Westtown School |
| The Lovett School | Wichita Collegiate School |
| The McGillis School | Wilbraham & Monson Academy |
| Miami Country Day School | Woodberry Forest School |
| Moorestown Friends School | The Woodhall School |
60+ years of service to independent schools
350+ independent school clients
