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Philanthropy Retreat: August 11 - 14 

Grand Rapids Christian Schools at the James and Shirley Balk Center for Administrative Services, MI

CSM Learn Mission Statement

To train, mentor, and inspire a generation of Christian school leaders 

who will transform their schools with and for the next generation of children 

to powerfully impact the world for Jesus.

Tuesday to Friday, August 11 – 14, 2020

  • Begins with a Welcome Lunch on Tuesday August 11th at 1.00p.m. 
  • Final session concludes with a Celebration Lunch at noon on Friday August 14th. 

You can download the entire schedule and syllabus here.

This Retreat will definitely run. If it is not possible to operate in person (our preferred venue), then it will run in an online format.

Grand Rapids Christian Schools at the James and Shirley Balk Center for Administrative Services, 2400 Plymouth Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506

https://www.grcs.org 

CSM is grateful to Grand Rapids Christian Schools for partnering in this important way. We will be using the wonderful conference center on campus with a beautiful view and many windows!

Grand Rapids Christian Schools Mission Statement

Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society.

This Retreat will definitely run. If it is not possible to operate in person (our preferred venue), then it will run in an online format.

Your registration fee includes:

  • 21.5 hours of intensive professional study
  • Time for mentoring and coaching by the Retreat leaders
  • 4 lunches (Tuesday through Friday)
  • Break snacks / drinks on each day during the morning and afternoon sessions
Philanthropy Retreat CSM Member School    Non-Member School  
One Participant $377 $427

Retreat will definitely run. If it is not possible to operate in person (our preferred venue), then it will run in an online format.

Craft a proposal using these key points:

  • Direct impact on philanthropy with an anticipated increase in annual giving, better and more productive relationships with your leadership donors, a clear plan to take the school forward, and the opportunity to maximize capital giving. 
  • Indirect impact on enrollment i.e. communications and stewardship skills and materials that will enhance relationships with your parents and others in your community; philanthropy outcomes that will support your case for enrollment and re-enrollment.
  • Direct impact on you. Of course, you will know more. More importantly, the knowledge and skills that you will take with you on your vocational journey will help you achieve better balance in your personal / professional life, and give you better confidence to both lead your team and serve your Board.
  • Direct impact on your Board. You will be able to provide the Board with clarity as to their role and help them enact it with energy and focus. They will themselves see themselves as stronger leaders of the school and enjoy the increased success that you can achieve together as professional and volunteer partners. 
  • Direct impact on your family. As you hone and improve your leadership and the leadership of those around you, and as your enrollment and philanthropy provide better resources to operate the school, so you will be able to spend more time with your family and enjoy a better balance of life. 
  • Direct impact on your faith. We believe we are called to our work and we believe that God is faithful in our work. As we carry our loaves and fish to Jesus, we are confident that He will bless them and feed the 5,000. We will say with the Psalmist, all your works praise you O God (Ps. 145). And God’s grace, which is all sufficient, will be with us and help us extend His kingdom here on earth as in heaven. 

Our three retreat leaders have over 110 years of education experience between them. They are a formidable team providing insight and experience every day of the retreat. Each is the primary leader on the day that utilizes their specific expertise. They are committed to providing advice and counsel based on the latest research, extensive experience, and immersion in Scripture. 

Simon Jeynes, Executive Director of CSM

Simon has been in Christian education since 1977 and personally consulted intensely with over 170 schools. Simon is one of the founders of CSM and committed to extending God’s Kingdom, “letting the little children come to me” (Matthew 19: 14). He ran his first annual fund for his children’s school and increased receipts by almost 100% in the first year. He has carried out Annual Fund training sessions for CSM and developed CSM’s teachings around philanthropy. Simon will be our resident expert on Wednesday. You can get in touch with Simon at christianschoolmanagement@gmail.com. 

Patrick Carlove, Advancement Director at Prince of Peace Christian School, TX

Patrick began his ministry in Christian education as a teacher, added Peer Minister and baseball coaching to his accomplishments, then became in succession Assistant Principal and then Executive Director of Concordia Academy in Austin, Texas. He oversaw all operations of this new school from the start-up phase through the accreditation process. Eventually be was appointed Chief Advancement Officer at Prince of Peace Christian School, helping the school move annual giving from an average of $225,000 per year in 2011-2016 to over $1.6 million in 2019. Patrick will be our resident expert on Thursday. You can get in touch with Patrick at Patrick.Carlove@popcs.org

Tom DeJonge, Superintendent at Grand Rapids Christian Schools, MI

Tom began as an elementary teacher, ended up as an Elementary Principal, and then eventually became Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and eventually Superintendent of GRCS. Under his leadership as Superintendent, Grand Rapids Christian Schools has increased the Grand Rapids Christian School Foundation from $4 million to more than $16 million and doubled the Schools’ annual fund, which provides resources for financial aid educational programs, to nearly $1.7 million per year. Tom will be our resident expert on Friday. You can get in touch with Tom at tdejonge@grcs.org 

Lodging is not included in the fee. Here is a partial list of accommodations in the area representing various price points. 

This Retreat will definitely run. If it is not possible to operate in person (our preferred venue), then it will run in an online format.

Closest airport: Grand Rapids International Airport (Gerald R. Ford)

https://grr.org/

Direct flights from (among others): Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, New York, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas

This Retreat will definitely run. If it is not possible to operate in person (our preferred venue), then it will run in an online format.  

Your registration fee includes:

  • Tuesday: welcome lunch, afternoon drinks and snacks
  • Wednesday: morning and afternoon drinks and snacks, lunch
  • Thursday: morning and afternoon drinks and snacks, lunch
  • Friday: morning drinks and snacks, celebration lunch

Business casual (erring on the side of casual) is always safe with us. We want you to be comfortable. Be sure to bring a jacket or sweater in case you find the meeting room chilly. There can be significant temperature changes inside to outside. 

Historical average temperatures are 81 during the day and 61 at night.

For any questions with regard to the Retreat, please contact Simon Jeynes at: christianschoolmanagement@gmail.com

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received in writing to jdeprez07@gmail.com 45 days prior to the event will be refunded less a 20% processing fee. After that date no refunds are available, but replacement registrants are welcomed. The deposit is non-refundable in any circumstances.

Consent to Use of Photo / Video / Audio: Registration, attendance at, or participation in CSM meetings and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to CSM’s use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videos, electronic reproductions, and audio of such events and activities.

The CSM Philanthropy Retreat is designed for:

  • Those who would like to become a Principal / Head of School and would like to start their new position understanding the role of Philanthropy
  • For those in their first five years as Development Director / Annual Fund Director and would like to deepen their knowledge and/or understand the CSM corpus of knowledge, research, and Scriptural understanding of Christian School philanthropy
  • For current Principals / Heads of School who have never received philanthropy training
  • For those who are experienced and would like a refresh in their career and get the old excitement back
  • For leaders who want to come with one or more mentees / high potentials and collaborate to craft great plans for their school while learning at the same time with a network of similarly motivated professionals under the guidance of leading experts in the field

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