Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026 Time: 11 am – 12 pm central Live Webinar
A strong annual fund does not happen by accident. It is built on a clear, compelling case for support that helps donors understand why their gifts matter, how they advance your school’s mission, and the impact they make on students, faculty, and the broader school community.
Yet many schools struggle to articulate their annual fund priorities in a way that resonates with today’s donors. In an increasingly competitive philanthropic landscape, advancement teams must move beyond transactional appeals and create meaningful messages that connect giving opportunities to institutional priorities, student outcomes, accessibility, innovation, and long-term sustainability.
In this 60-minute webinar, participants will learn how to develop a powerful annual fund case for support that serves as the foundation for fundraising appeals, volunteer engagement, leadership messaging, and donor communications. Drawing on best practices from independent school advancement programs, we will explore how schools can clarify their annual fund story, strengthen donor confidence, and align fundraising strategies with institutional goals.
Participants will examine the essential elements of an effective case for support, learn how to differentiate annual fund messaging from campaign fundraising, and discover practical ways to leverage school leaders, volunteers, and advancement staff to bring their story to life throughout the year.
Topics Covered
- Why a case for support matters more than ever for annual giving success
- Understanding the difference between an annual fund case for support and a campaign case statement
- Identifying the most compelling mission-driven arguments for annual fund giving
- Connecting annual fund priorities to student outcomes and institutional impact
- Incorporating scholarships, affordability, innovation, and strategic priorities into your case
- Engaging heads of school, board members, volunteers, and ambassadors as storytellers
- Using your case for support across appeals, events, personal solicitations, digital channels, and donor stewardship
- Knowing when and how to refresh your case for support to remain relevant and compelling
The fee is $295 per institution, which allows your entire team the opportunity to participate in this professional development at the same time. If you are a current client of Gonser Gerber Advancement Consulting, that fee is just $145. You will also receive a copy of the presentation and a recording of the webinar with your registration.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is designed specifically for independent and K-12 school advancement professionals seeking to strengthen their annual giving programs through more compelling donor communications and strategic messaging.
Ideal participants include:
- Heads of School
- Advancement Directors and Vice Presidents
- Development Directors
- Annual Fund Directors and Managers
- Advancement Services Professionals
- Major Gift Officers
- Alumni Relations Professionals
- Marketing and Communications Staff
- Trustees and Advancement Committee Members
- Annual Fund Volunteers and Campaign Leaders
Whether you are developing your first case for support or refreshing an existing one, you’ll leave with actionable ideas for strengthening your annual giving program and creating more meaningful donor connections.
This webinar is presented by Michael Littell, Senior Consultant, Gonser Gerber, and Senior Vice President for Special Initiatives, Saint Xavier High School.
