Best of CASE District II Award
 

Institution: Sidwell Friends School

Title of entry: Together We Shine

About this entry: Sidwell Friends School, an independent Quaker preK-12 school in Washington, DC, launched the public phase of the largest-ever fundraising campaign in October 2022. Planning for the launch began in April with board approval of a campaign name, Together We Shine. The campaign name signifies the centrality of “Light” in the Quaker tradition and the importance of community participation.

The public launch was set for Homecoming Weekend in mid-October, and the window to prepare was short. Deliverables included graphic identity, brand standards, campaign microsite, compelling articulation of campaign themes and goals, videos, event planning preparations and invitations, campaign brochure, volunteer guide, campus signage, design and procurement of giveaways and donor gifts, solicitation mailings, emails, gift-officer support materials, and more. Because a primary objective of the campaign is renovating an adjacent closed nursing home into the new Upper School, we strived to make that goal as tangible as possible. We secured FAA permission for the first-ever drone video of our campus and utilized architectural renderings to highlight the design and functionality of the building and its connection to the rest of campus.

For an independent school that had never launched a large public campaign, this was a major undertaking requiring a strategic blend of internal and external resources. We sought to achieve a higher-ed level of quality with an independent school budget.

The campaign was exceptionally well received by the community, without exception. By every account, the board, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff saw it as a moment of pride and inspiration.