• Participated in the Haverhill Art Walk, booth staffed by Hannah, Jeff, and several volunteers.
• Positive community engagement:
  • Spoke with current students, families, alumni, and prospective families.
  • Received strong feedback about the school's reputation and community perception.
• Event served primarily as a visibility and relationship-building opportunity rather than a fundraising effort.
• Connected with local elected officials, including the Mayor and Representative Vargas.
• Consensus that community presence and accessibility are valuable for future outreach efforts.
• Next Art Walk scheduled for September 26, committee expressed interest in participating again.
• Discussion regarding volunteer needs:
  • Volunteers created a strong visible presence.
  • Future events may require fewer volunteers due to better understanding of event logistics.
  • Hannah shared upcoming Phillips Exeter Academy alumni networking reception:
    • Opportunity to connect with potential major donors.
    • Related to an upcoming alumni magazine article featuring Hill View's implementation of the Harkness Method in the middle school.
  • Discussion centered on balancing community outreach efforts with larger donor cultivation opportunities.

Questions/Discussion

• How can future community events be leveraged for both visibility and donor development?
• What level of volunteer participation is needed for future Art Walk events?

• Jeff presented a proposal for a "Community of Service Award" to be incorporated into the annual fundraising event (Rock & Roll Bingo or similar event).
• Purpose:
  • Recognize individuals who have significantly contributed time, service, leadership, or financial support to the school.
  • Re-engage former board members, volunteers, and supporters.
  • Strengthen long-term donor relationships.
• Proposed format:
  • Incorporate a 30–45 minute recognition segment into the existing fundraising event.
  • Maintain the event's fun and community-focused atmosphere.
• Discussion included:
  • Potential recognition wall, plaques, or permanent acknowledgments.
  • Honoring individuals before long periods pass without recognition.
  • Using recognition strategically to encourage future engagement and giving.
• Initial examples of potential honorees included former foundation and board leaders who provided substantial service.
• General support expressed by committee members.
• Jeff will continue refining the proposal and coordinate with Foundation leadership regarding implementation and timelines.

Questions/Discussion

• Who would qualify under the eligibility criteria?
• How should recognition be structured and memorialized?
• How can the Foundation and Development Committee collaborate on implementation?

DonorPerfect CRM Implementation

• Jeff and Hannah reviewed recently purchased DonorPerfect software.
• Annual cost approximately $2,000.
• Features discussed:
  • Donor management and relationship tracking.
  • Integration with donation processing and QuickBooks.
  • DonorSearch wealth-screening capabilities.
  • Prospect identification and donor capacity analysis.
  • Task assignments and relationship management.
  • Segmented communications and donor newsletters.
• Training expected within the next several weeks.
• Committee agreed software will significantly improve fundraising infrastructure and prospect research.
• Discussion around donor research ("wealth prospecting") and industry best practices for donor cultivation.

Fundraising Messaging and Materials

• Committee discussed need for a unified fundraising story and donor pitch.
• Existing brochure materials viewed as a strong starting point.
• Discussion focused on:
  • Tailoring messaging to individual donor interests.
  • Building relationships before making fundraising asks.
  • Developing a compelling institutional narrative.
• Andy's previously shared pitch deck identified as a potential foundation for future materials.

Summer Planning Session

• Strong consensus that a longer in-person strategy session is needed.
• Goal:
  • Refine fundraising messaging.
  • Review and develop pitch materials.
  • Establish donor cultivation strategy.
• Target timeframe:
  • Early to mid-July preferred.
  • Jeff with reach out to coordinate scheduling.

Prospect Research Strategy

• Discussion on developing systematic donor prospecting processes.
• Emphasis on:
  • Understanding donor interests, values, affiliations, and relationships.
  • Leveraging board, staff, alumni, and parent connections.
  • Using DonorPerfect and LinkedIn to identify relationship pathways.
• Hannah proposed regular prospecting meetings separate from regular Development Committee meetings.
• Committee generally supported ongoing prospect review and cultivation discussions.

Facilities and Donor Experience

• Jeff shared plans for minor facility improvements near the school's entrance and administrative areas.
• Improvements include:
  • New carpeting.
  • Updated furniture.
  • Creation of a more welcoming visitor space.
• Goal is to improve first impressions for prospective donors and visitors.

Questions/Discussion

• How should the school's fundraising narrative be framed?
• What donor information should be collected and tracked?
• How frequently should prospecting meetings occur?
• What materials should be developed before donor outreach begins?

• Agreed to postpone detailed FY27 goal-setting until after summer planning work is completed.
• Immediate focus areas:
  • DonorPerfect implementation.
  • Development of fundraising messaging and materials.
  • Prospect identification and cultivation processes.
  • Planning and execution of donor engagement strategies.
• Committee agreed these foundational activities will inform future annual goals.

Committee Structure and Operations

• Discussion regarding coordination between the Development Committee and Foundation.
• Considered combining meetings but determined separate meetings remain necessary.
• Agreed importance of maintaining Foundation representation at Development meetings and vice versa.
• Hannah noted capacity concerns related to attending multiple committee meetings.
• Foundation representatives committed to maintaining communication and participation.

Leadership Discussion

• Jeff shared concerns regarding increasing workload and multiple leadership responsibilities.
• Noted possibility of transitioning Development Committee chair responsibilities in the future.
• Invited Andy and Scott to consider potential leadership opportunities moving forward.
• No decisions made; discussion to continue in coming months.

Questions/Discussion

• Should committee leadership responsibilities be redistributed?
• How can Foundation and Development Committee communication be strengthened?
• What goals should be established once summer planning is completed?

• Circulate availability for July meeting/work session.
• Continue developing Community of Service Award proposal.
• Coordinate DonorPerfect onboarding and training.
• Committee agreed to review pitch deck materials prior to summer strategy session.
• Development Committee meeting schedule to remain on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm for next school year.