A resource for alumni and donors to know how to address antisemitism and foster Jewish inclusion in their schools.

Understanding the Urgency: Antisemitism in Independent K-12 Schools

Recent data from ADL’s report on antisemitism and Jewish inclusion in U.S. independent/private K-12 schools underscores the critical need for donor and alumni advocacy:

45.3% of surveyed independent school parents said their children had experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism in school since October 7, 2023. The most common issues encountered were problematic curricula/classroom content related to Jews or Israel or antisemitic symbols.
78.7% of surveyed parents whose child encountered antisemitism or experienced problematic curricula/classroom content related to Jews or Israel raised concerns to their school.
Surveyed parents also pointed to a disappointing reality that only 64% of Jewish students feel very comfortable showing their Jewish identity at their school.

Why Alumni and Donor Voices Matter in Independent K-12 Schools

Alumni provide institutional memory that reveals legacy and values, as well as credibility with other stakeholders. Donors demonstrate financial investment in the school's future and often have established relationships with leadership. Both groups bring cross-constituent trust that can bridge different community perspectives. As an alum, donor, or both, you bring unique value to advocacy efforts in your independent K-12 school to create positive change. Here are a few examples:

Institutional memory (alumni) that spotlights values and legacy
Financial investment (donors) demonstrating commitment to the school's future
Credibility with other stakeholders and community members
Cross-constituent trust that bridges students, parents, and faculty

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) recognizes that "effective alumni programs further the mission and strategic priorities of the school." A safer, more inclusive environment is a strategic priority at NAIS member schools. Similarly, donor engagement should align with and advance each school's core mission and values.

Most Important to Your Advocacy: Know Your School’s Current Governance Structure, Mission, Values and Priorities

Each independent school is unique as a learning community and structure, however a common leadership framework for independent K-12 schools is that they are board-led and head-managed. Before determining which leaders or influencers to engage, it’s important to know the current governance structure of your school. Most follow a clear delineation between board and administrative responsibilities, and this distinction is fundamental to effective school leadership.

Head of School: Operational and academic authority
Board of Trustees: Strategic and fiduciary authority, working through the Head
Advancement/Alumni Office: Official conduit for alumni and donor communications
Culture/Inclusivity Committee or Officer: Formal voice for inclusion or belonging initiatives. May also be part of any existing DEI initiatives.

Do Your Homework

As an alum or donor, you have access to the school’s workings and priorities beyond the website and 990 forms. You can learn more about the governance structure, strategic plan and mission-oriented priorities by requesting copies of key documents from the alumni/advancement staff. These materials include the following: DEIB and other culture-related priorities, bylaws, strategic plan, annual report, leadership/senior administration roster, accreditation report executive summary and mission and philosophy statements.

Don't miss out on attending informational sessions hosted by school leaders such as a state-of-the-school address, open board meetings or town halls. Notice who is in attendance from the school, as that often is an indicator of some of the people who drive decisions.

Appropriate Influence for Alumni and Donors

What you CAN do:

Influence strategic direction through proper board channels (if serving as trustee).
Engage meaningfully with school leadership about mission alignment.
Support initiatives that advance your school's stated values and strategic plan.
Provide resources, expertise, and funding for professional development.
Leverage your relationship with the school to advocate for positive change.

What you should NOT do:

Try to direct day-to-day curriculum decisions.
Influence individual faculty hiring or evaluation decisions.
Circumvent the Head of School on operational policies.
Use financial contributions as leverage to override educational judgment.

Special Considerations for Major Donors

NAIS recognizes that schools often recruit major donor prospects to join boards or committees as an engagement strategy. However, donor status should not provide additional influence beyond appropriate governance roles. Major donors not serving on the board should have meaningful engagement opportunities with leadership, but this engagement should not extend to operational control.

Advocate with a Long-Game in Mind

Communicate Strategically

Primary contacts: Head of School and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

Keep tone mission-aligned and solutions-oriented.
Note a few key elements in your outreach:
- your commitment to the school and appreciation for your relationship with it;
- your concern about antisemitism in K-12 schools across the country and in independent schools, specifically;
- your curiosity about how the school is addressing antisemitism and promoting Jewish inclusion, framed as a loyal community member with the school’s best interests in mind – not as an angry, demanding adversary; and
- your encouragement to prioritize ADL's Six Asks for Independent K-12 Schools which outlines best practices for addressing antisemitism with related resources to advance these efforts.
Copy Alumni/Advancement office to ensure proper channels of communication and coordination.
If progress stalls, petition Board of Trustees through proper channels – send concerns to Board Chair through Head's office.

While donors and alumni cannot mandate policy, curriculum or staff changes, you can offer support with time or donations to help your school catalyze sustainable change in areas such as:

Champion Solutions

Offer to partner on programmatic and school climate improvements that benefit Jewish and all students such as:

Providing professional development and training on identifying antisemitism.
Sharing this Calendar of Observances to increase awareness of and respect for school assessment and event scheduling based on religious obligations of different faith communities and ethnic and cultural festivities.
Expanding inclusion policies to ensure they are comprehensive for Jews and students of any faith.
Creating or elevating a Jewish Student Union or Jewish Affinity Group.
Advancing Jewish inclusion at alumni or donor events.

Engage Current Families through Appropriate Channels

Participate in school events or committees through established channels and groups to build natural relationships with current families. This includes volunteer groups working on school initiatives, alumni gatherings, donor appreciation events and school-sponsored programs where alumni and donors join parents and/or students as a unified school community.

Appropriate actions:

Speak at parent-run inclusion or other culture related events (with school approval).
Share vetted resources through official channels.
Mentor Jewish students through school-approved programs.
Offer support and involvement to parent leaders of Jewish Affinity Group.

Actions to avoid:

Mass-emailing families.
Organizing unsanctioned on-campus demonstrations.
Publicly shaming any school community member – in person or online.

Maintain Momentum with Your School Relationships

Schedule a few check-ins with the Alumni or Advancement Director and ask for the Head of School and DEIB Director or other administrators leading culture-related initiatives (if any) to attend. Be sure to communicate your appreciation for progress the school is making through alumni publications, proactive outreach to school leaders and on your social media.

Quick Reference Reminders for All Your Advocacy Efforts

What you can do:

Ground requests in the school's mission.
Offer solutions, not just critique.
Coordinate through Alumni/Advancement office.
Provide time, talent, and financial resources.
Leverage your unique relationship with the school constructively.

What you should not do:

Blind-copy trustees or bypass the Head of School.
Launch social media campaigns before allowing response time.
Assume negative intent – focus on impact and shared solutions.
Use donor status to demand inappropriate influence over educational decisions or faculty employment.

When alumni and donors engage strategically – grounded in best practices, respectful of governance, and generous with resources – they become powerful partners in creating communities where every Jewish student feels seen, safe and celebrated. Whether you bring institutional memory as an alumnus, financial investment as a donor, or both, your voice can drive meaningful change when channeled appropriately.

Alumni and Donor Advocacy in Independent K-12 Schools