development & alumni relations
cohort Schedule Best Practices for the Christian School ™
expand your School's reach
Learn strategies to expand your school’s advancement initiatives while building long-term relationships with alumni and donors. This cohort 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. Begin mapping your advancement success—register today!
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.
example sessions
Session #1:
one step at a time: a map to a successful advancement program
In this session, Matt Davidson will provide some basic and highly practical guidance to help your school in its advancement efforts. Join him in this “kick-off” session and walk together through the steps of a successful advancement program – all aligned with the mission of the Christian school movement.
Session #2 :
application of what's being discussed
q&a
Session 2 is designed for the group to workshop real situations, apply what has been discussed, ask questions, and shape the rest of the discussion. Participants will be asked to share how their own experiences relate to the information presented. This session will be highly interactive, informal, and energizing
Session #3:
tour of wheaton academy
Wheaton Academy will have just completed Phase 1 of a $30MM capital campaign – For Generations to Come. Tour the new space and learn from Peter Baldwin, President of AMDG Architects about the collaborative process that guided the development of Wheaton Academy’s Master Plan and from Wheaton Academy’s administrative and advancement team about the connection of the new space to its Strategic Plan.
PRESENTERS
Dr. Brad Mitchell, HS Principal from Timothy Christian School
Session #4:
tour of timothy christian schools
Timothy Christian has had many successful advancement campaigns including new construction and significant renovations – all totaling over $60M over the last decade. Come see and learn about Timothy’s Master Planning and connection to its strategic planning
Session #5:
The science and sophistication of advancement
Fundraising complexities overwhelm many Christian school leaders. Raising extraordinary funds for your school requires significant planning and vision. Learn how to develop a well-conceived growth strategy for fundraising that enables you to raise exceptional amounts while protecting, even growing, your annual giving. Join Angel De Leon from Mission Advancement, a professional consulting firm, to learn more about strategies that can accelerate your school’s advancement efforts.
Session #6:
building and engaging your alumni base
caring for constituents
Unlike the colleges and universities of America, the K-12 movement has struggled to keep in touch
and stay relevant with their alumni. Yet our alumni are critical to achieving our mission – as future
leaders in our community, parents in our schools, and donors to our cause. In this session, you will
learn some of the “do’s and don’ts” of alumni relations and how to care for constituents
Session #7:
next steps-- let's build a plan
while the iron is hot
How many times have you left a conference with plenty of good ideas and intentions, but then within a few weeks (or less) the passion is already weakened or gone altogether? In this session, let’s build a plan for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond while the ideas are still top-of-mind.
PRESENTERS
Laura Groenewold, Director of Educational Support Pk-8 at Timothy Christian.
Faculty
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.
matt davidson
superintendent | Timothy Christian Schools, Elmhurst, IL
Matt Davidson has led Timothy Christian Schools (PreK-12) for 14 years, raising over $60 million for capital improvements and new initiatives. Under his leadership, the school earned a National Blue Ribbon of Excellence and achieved record enrollment. Davidson has completed six major capital campaigns on schedule, under budget, and without debt. With 31 years in Christian education, he has served as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Davidson also consults with private schools on fundraising and advancement. In 2023, he received the Meritorious Service award from the Illinois State Board of Education. He is a dedicated husband, father, and proud grandfather.
Peter Baldwin
owner/principal | AMDG Architects
Peter Baldwin is Owner and Principal of AMDG Architects, a full-service design firm in Grand Rapids, MI. Founded in 1992, AMDG specializes in faith-based K-12 educational planning and design. Baldwin believes architecture can build community and strengthen missions through transformed spaces. His team of 30 architects, interior designers, and landscape architects collaborates closely with clients to meet their needs and aspirations. AMDG also designs custom residential, recreational, and work environments, using insights from these projects to enhance their educational designs. Their unique approach emphasizes deep listening and tailored solutions to complex design challenges.