Calendar of Events
Prev MonthPrev Month Next MonthNext Month
CSA event 2026: Development
Monday, April 27, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
Category: Events

Who: Development and advancement professionals 
What: CSA Advancement Event: Development
Front Loading the Annual Fund || Megan Knight, Director of Development & Alumnae Relations || Academy of St. Elizabeth, NJ
When: Monday, April 27  || 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Where: Westminster School || Simsbury, CT
Cost: $100 per person | $120 non-member school 
CAIS members: if you register to attend multiple events in this series, we offer a discounted price for each additional session. Discounted pricing is per person, not per school. 
Learn how to implement best practices in front-loading your annual fund to exceed revenue goals at the end of the fiscal year by using a multi-pronged marketing campaign that integrates direct mail, printed materials, and #GivingTuesday email communications. Participants will learn how to select a committee of volunteers with a deep affinity toward your school who will be the leaders and stewards of the annual fund campaign by pooling their contributions together to create a matching gift challenge to increase your average annual fund gift amount and overall campaign goals. Marketing tools such as recruitment, branding, digital assets, communications platforms, solicitation, and stewardship will all be covered.
Megan Knight is a results-driven fundraising executive with more than a decade of experience advancing mission-driven organizations through strategic philanthropy and relationship management. She currently serves as Director of Development & Alumnae Relations at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, where she has led a transformational expansion of the fundraising program, increasing annual revenue tenfold and strengthening alumnae engagement and institutional giving.Previously, Megan held senior development roles in the healthcare sector, including VNA Health Group and RWJ Barnabas Health, where she led high-performing fundraising and donor engagement initiatives. She has served on the CASE/NAIS Planning Committee for the National Conference for Independent Schools and has been a conference presenter. Megan also sat on the Planning Committee of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, presented at its Golden Triangle Conference, multiple times and is a guest speaker for the Annual Giving Network. She is known for her collaborative leadership, strategic insight, and commitment to advancing philanthropic excellence.

Contact: Nancy Dickson | [email protected]