Does your Principal ‘feel’ Development?
It was a great pleasure in recent years, to team up with a new Headmaster, in his first headship, with him looking to me as a Development Director of some experience, to guide him in the part which he should play in Development. I was delighted that he was so keen and supportive, albeit somewhat ‘fundraising naïve’.
This was all about to change when a parent of a new international student arrived on day one with his son and knocked on the Headmaster’s door to pay his respects. He noticed the school Development Plan – the ‘vision for the future’ – sitting on the coffee table and indicated he would like to support the plan and that during his next visit to the country they should discuss it.
Three months later one of the most substantial gifts the school had ever received was forthcoming and the Headmaster was able to ‘feel’ development, its process (although this example was out of the ordinary) and the excitement of its potential. He became even more supportive of the process and the work of the Development Office.
Tip: Help the Principal understand and ‘feel’ Development and the process. They won’t look back!
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