We're delighted to continue our Think Tank Thursday series with a deep dive into one of the most essential aspects of our work: stewardship and donor relations. Often conflated as one and the same, there are actually some key differences between the two that impact our work and how we build relationships with donors.

Join us for an interactive session with Elizabeth Clarke, a stewardship and donor relations professional whose lengthy career expands from a small K-8 through higher ed, who will provide a thoughtful overview of the similarities and differences between stewardship and donor relations. Following her presentation, we'll transition into a collaborative, book-club style discussion where we can learn from each other's experiences and insights. This collaborative format promises rich discussion and practical takeaways that you can implement immediately.

About Our Speaker: Elizabeth Clarke's career bridges both independent school and higher education environments. Currently serving as Associate Director of Donor Relations at Princeton University, Elizabeth previously held the role of Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations at The Thacher School in Ojai, CA. Her fifteen years of experience spans diverse educational settings, including positions at The Hun School of Princeton (grades 6-12 boarding and day school) and Princeton Montessori School (grades K-8 day school) in New Jersey. Elizabeth holds a B.A. from St. Lawrence University and brings both practitioner wisdom and institutional perspective to our discussion.

Together, we'll explore:

• The distinct roles and overlapping functions of stewardship and donor relations
• Strategic approaches for integrating both practices effectively
• Real-world challenges and proven solutions from your experiences
• Celebrating successes and learning from what works

Come Prepared to Share: We encourage you to bring your trickiest stewardship or donor relations questions—those situations that keep you thinking long after office hours. Equally important, please come ready to share your biggest successes and breakthrough moments. Our collective wisdom is one of our greatest resources.

This Think Tank Thursday is free for AeXIS member schools to attend, and is $45 per person for non-member schools.

Click here to register!

Questions or specific topics you would like us to address? Please don't hesitate to reach out to Emma Balina, AeXIS Programming Chair ([email protected]). We welcome your input in shaping our discussion.