Just as school leaders think holistically about the students in our care, schools must adopt “whole-institution” thinking in developing financial strategy. Moving beyond budgeting, financial strategy asks, “Where do we need to go, and what must we do to get there?” In this session, we will identify 15 interconnected financial layers, including pricing, hiring, enrollment, board composition and fundraising, and highlight the gulf between the endowment-driven higher education model and the tuition-driven independent school model. Participants will understand how to strategically align these financial layers to grow their school’s full-pay market and secure the institution’s financial future.
Learning Objective: Participants will learn to recognize and scrutinize each interrelated element of their school’s financial structure. Participants will leave with the ability to develop a comprehensive and integrated financial plan to support their school’s enduring mission.
Patrick Bassett, President (Retired), Heads Up Educational Consulting
Robert Santry, Chief Financial Officer, Dedham Country Day School