Financial Feasibility Study Spending the money for a feasibility study can, to the unfamiliar or doubtful, seem like "such a waste of money". However, even schools with a long and substantial history of major gift support and an established Development Office, usually find value in the use of a trained consulting professional in this regard. For schools without a similar history of gift support, a major fundraising campaign without a feasibility study can often result in disappointment and embarrassment. Among other ways, the feasibility study helps by uncovering school-related issues that have the potential to harm or benefit a campaign. It is critical that issues that may detract from campaign efforts must be addressed in advance. Issues that are perceived as the school's strengths must be highlighted and built upon. For a significant fundraising effort to have integrity, link the money to the Mission, and for the effort to succeed, it is essential for the board and head to understand the constituency’s perceptions of the proposed project . The feasibility study is the proven tool for assessing those opinions and feelings.

Prior to beginning a Feasibility Study, ISC will ask you to complete a brief questionnaire that will help us better understand your school's needs and goals. In addition, we recommend that your school have an in-depth understanding of its market. ISC is prepared to assist your school in conducting a short Market Survey, or if necessary, a more comprehensive Market Study (see below). Understanding your market will help the Feasibility Study gather accurate, relevant information about your school's proposed project and your constituency's related opinions. Few successful businesses consider expanding their operation or facilities, even in a proven location, without the benefit of a "market analysis", or feasibility study. ISC believes that the Feasibility Study can be one of the most valuable steps that a school can take in assuring a successful and confidence-building fundraising experience. There are essentially six components to the ISC Financial Feasibility Study (more detailed information on each of these may be obtained by contacting ISC): 1. The Case Statement (or Statement of Need) 2. Selection of Interviewees 3. Scheduling of Interviews 4. The Interviews 5. Post-Interview Follow-up 6. The Feasibility Report Top

Annual Fund Consulting & Campaign Management

Many schools rely on the Annual Fund to provide significant unrestricted revenue to their operating budget each year. So often, however, Heads of School and Directors of Development are frustrated with their school families' annual fund giving. They either give below their capacity or not at all, without understanding that tuition neither covers the full costs of educating their children or the school's need for unrestricted funds.

Annual fund planning can help your school develop a long-range plan that will market your school's needs and educate your school families about the essential role they must play. By evaluating your school's giving history and goals, ISC can assist your school in establishing realistic future monetary and participation goals. ISC will help you to develop a marketing and solicitation plan as well as design and implement kick-off events, mailings, and all other communications, all specific to your school's needs.

In addition to the above, ISC is ready to assist you with campaign leadership and donor identification, volunteer solicitation and training, solicitation tracking and process, and database setup, management, and training

The following related services are also available:

• Foundation research
• Materials design and production

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Capital Campaign Consulting & Management

ISC understands that a capital campaign is an enormous, staff-intensive undertaking for a school. Heads of schools, their faculty and staff, and boards concentrate daily on a school’s operations,, so a fundraising campaign can appear to be a time-consuming, stressful, and daunting challenge.

Thinking strategically, developing a clear and compelling case statement, and designing a plan for raising major gifts that recognizes and takes full advantage of a school's strengths and spirit are essential. ISC has demonstrated a unique understanding of the "business" of operating a healthy school and has developed strategies and tools for successful major gift support programs.

ISC is able to assist in major donor and campaign leadership identification, in guiding your leaders through the solicitation process, and in designing and producing effective solicitation materials. ISC can also help publicize your project through kick- off event planning, marketing plans and press releases, or, depending on your needs, even function as your school's campaign Development Office.

ISC believes that raising capital funds in today's marketplace is both an art and a science. With a combination of proven campaign strategy and distinctive tailoring to your school's needs, ISC can develop a capital campaign plan that will make your fundraising efforts a success!

The following related services are also available:

• Tax-exempt Bond Consulting
• Materials design and production

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Endowment Growth Planning

The Endowment Fund is essentially a school's savings account. It is a fund, created by board resolution, in which the principle is maintained in perpetuity, with only the income generated being used for restricted and unrestricted purposes.

"Restricted" funds usually exist to support such things as research, scholarship funds, faculty development and particular academic programs. "Unrestricted" endowment generates income which can be used at the discretion of the school. While it is often easier to raise funds for restricted endowments, it is usually a school's preference to have unrestricted endowment funds.

Endowment funds are often the result of gifts from individuals who have a special interest in the School and wish to create, in perpetuity, a fund supporting a particular area. Planned/deferred gifts are often used to create such endowment funds.

ISC can assist your school in the proper creation of an Endowment Fund and in a fundraising plan to grow the Fund through traditional fundraising and through a Planned Giving program.

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Development Program Assessment

Because the work and challenges of a school's Development Office are directly related to the school's long-range, strategic plan, it is important that the programs and people that make up the Development Office are organized and supported properly.

ISC's Development Audit benchmarks the existing program, materials, methodology and personnel to a template that has been refined over time in working with independent schools.  It  is designed to identify areas of strength on which fund-raising and friend-raising programs should be built, and areas of need that must be addresses to  maximize the effectiveness of the Development program.

ISC’s Development Audit also  includes s a 1-2 day visit during which the Head of School, Development Office staff, senior administrators, trustees, fund-raising chairs and loyal supporters are asked for their perceptions of the strengths and needs of the Development program.

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Virtual Development Office

The convenience of "the web" is now influencing the Development Office.
Whether it be the consideration or the use of "on-line giving", the
surveying of alumni, or gathering helpful information about a school's
constituency, more and more can now be done through the "virtual
development office". For some this may provide an opportunity to expand
the role and outreach of the Development office, without increasing the
Development staff. How is your school responding to these new
possibilities? Does the virtual office make sense for your school? ISC
can help you explore these questions and their ramifications.

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