SUCCESS STORY
The Akiva School
Building a promise for the future
The Challenge
Akiva School is a premier educational institution based in Montreal serving 350 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The school strives to inspire lifelong learning, religious growth, an enduring connection to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and a commitment to making the world a better place. School leadership sought to build on generations of generosity by establishing an endowment fund to enhance its programming and ensure long-term sustainability.
The Impact
Now in its third year of the program, Akiva School has raised over $3.5 million and averaged over $10,000 per student for its endowment fund – more than double its initial goal. By providing lay and professional leaders with the right training and support, Akiva School has created a strong case for the endowment fund and rallied its community around the cause. Most importantly, the school has taken the critical steps necessary to ensure a path toward a sustainable future.
The Solution
Akiva School partnered with Giving Tree Associates in 2015 to build a comprehensive campaign that would generate a minimum of $4,000 per student for the endowment fund. Drawing on its extensive fundraising expertise, Giving Tree helped the school recruit and train campaign leaders; establish short- and long-term goals; develop campaign communications; build a project work plan; establish a donor recognition program; identify, cultivate and solicit prospects; and steward donors.
Key Project Elements
- Developed compelling endowment campaign collateral
- Facilitated two board retreats and developed and trained committee members
- Established a formal donor stewardship and recognition program
- Identified, rated and assigned endowment prospects
- Developed a campaign work plan, timeline and project benchmarks
- Raised $3.5 million for the endowment fund to date, more than double the initial goal
Services Provided
- Campaign assessment
- Board and committee training
- Campaign strategy development
- Ongoing coaching
“Over the past three years, Amy’s guidance, experience and professionalism have empowered our school to create an endowment fund and raise over $3.5 million. She is always available to me and approaches each project with refreshing honesty and humor. We are forever indebted to Amy and to Giving Tree.”
Lynn Garfinkle Etinson, Director of Advancement
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