Strengthen Connections
Learn strategies to expand your school’s advancement initiatives while building long-term relationships with alumni and donors. This track focuses on creating sustainable fundraising plans, implementing alumni engagement programs, and integrating best practices in constituent care. You’ll receive tools to strengthen your advancement efforts and connect with your community.
Please Note: Sessions for BPI 2025 are still being finalized. The sessions listed below are examples from 2024 and may be subject to change, but they provide a preview of the types of learning experiences you can expect.
Who Should Join this Track?
Heads of School
Alumni Directors
Development & Advancement directors
2025 sessions
Session #1: Monday June 23 9:15am
The Essential Elements of a Christian School’s Development Office
Development provides essential operational funding for nearly all nonprofit organizations. However, fundraising in a Christian school is unique. There are many characteristics of a school environment that demand a unique methodology and approach. This session will identify those characteristics and discuss the strategies that are vital to successful development in a Christian school.
Session #2: Monday June 23 11:00am
Relationship-Based Fundraising
It can sound cliché to say development is about relationships, yet never has it been truer than today. There are also many misconceptions about relationship-based fundraising. This session will layout the philosophy and proper mindset necessary for Christian school leadership to build a sustainable and thriving relationship-based funding strategy.
Session #3: Monday June 23 1:30pm
Development Structure, Organization and Responsibilities
Building a healthy development operation in a Christian school is much more than hiring a development director. This session will dive into strategic organization with an eye toward growth and expansion, including staff and leadership structure, roles and responsibilities, and appropriate support from the Head and Board.
PRESENTERS
Dr. Brad Mitchell, HS Principal from Timothy Christian School
Session #4: Monday June 23 3:15pm
The basis for all gift requests
Why should I give a specific amount to my Christian school? Why should I consider growing my annual gift this year? What specific impact does my gift make on my school’s mission? These are just a few of the challenging questions that often go unanswered for prospective donors. This session will discuss donor value propositions and the strategic significance they play in a healthy development operation.
Session #5: Tuesday June 24 9:00am
How to invite a prospective donor to give
This session will begin with addressing the elephant in the room – why most people feel anxiety or discomfort with asking others for money. We will directly address the areas of resistance to fundraising and provide a practical and credible means for Christian school leaders to embrace this important role.
Faculty
Steve Bult
Head of School | Wheaton Academy
BA History, Calvin College
MA Educational Administration, Governors State University
Steve Bult is an alumnus of Calvin College, where he received his B.A. He then received his M.A. from Governors State University. Steve began his career in education as a Social Studies teacher in California. He then went on to serve as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal at Chicago Christian High School. During these same years, he was an Adjunct Professor at Trinity Christian College. In 2006, Steve accepted the position as Principal at Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, IL, and then transitioned into the role of Associate Head of School there in the fall of 2017. In August of 2018, Steve became the 39th Head of School at Wheaton Academy. With 31 years of experience in Christian education, Steve has used his spiritual gifts and passion to develop a Christ-centered learning community at Wheaton Academy. In doing so, Steve has collaborated with his colleagues to implement and embed the Professional Learning Community philosophy at the school. Also, his ability to communicate creatively and efficiently while integrating faith and learning has led to the development of the Living Curriculum Teacher Development Model (LCTDM™). The LCTDM™ is a teacher evaluation model combined with a system of strategic compensation for teachers.
angel de leon
vice president | mission advancement
In 2013, Angel built a fully functioning advancement office at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, TX, leading a successful $20 million capital campaign and growing the annual fund to $3 million per year. Currently, as Vice President at Mission Advancement, he aligns school needs with
optimal solutions, empowering them to fulfill their missions. Married for 38 years, Angel and his wife reside in Frisco, TX, with their family. He serves on the board of a missions organization active in multiple countries and enjoys ocean-related activities as a Miami, FL native.
Schuyler Lehman
founder | mission advancement
With a legacy spanning since 1983 as a fundraising consultant, Schuyler has been instrumental in generating over $6 billion in funding for a diverse range of nonprofit organizations across the United States and Canada. His dedicated commitment to prioritizing the donors’ passions, interests, and requirements has significantly reshaped the landscape of institutional fundraising. Schuyler is an esteemed presence at various professional conferences, sharing his insights as keynote speaker. He and his wife, Jennifer, along with their four children, call the Dallas area their home.
Scott Taylor
vice president, Client Services | mission advancement
Scott has been in fundraising and nonprofit management for 25 years, spending 15 of those years in an academic environment working in all facets of Development, Alumni Relations, and Campaign strategy. His experience has positioned him to develop, plan, and execute a variety of strategies and initiatives related to operational fundraising, capital projects, donor relations, and volunteer management. Today, serving as a member of Mission Advancement’s Leadership Team, Scott leads the Client Service group overseeing MA’s team of consultants and ensuring client success. Scott and his wife, Ashley, along with their three children live in the Dallas area.
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With 10 Intensive Tracks, there’s something for everyone on your team.