on Philanthropy in Independent Schools (United States) - 2025 KEY FINDINGS

Oct 15, 2026

2025 Key Findings presents CASE Insights on philanthropy in independent schools in the United States, framed through defined measures of private support and its social impact. The report outlines survey and counting methodology, then provides an executive summary with overall trends, including funds received, pledge payments, realized bequests/legacies, and newly established irrevocable planned funds. It further breaks down contributions by school type and source, analyzes funds by purpose and designation, and covers giving patterns involving trustees, donor-advised funds, advancement staff, and new funds committed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time1 h 13 min

AccessFree to download

Framework for Measuring CASE InsightsSM on Philanthropy

Contents overview

Note from CASE President and CEO

Survey and Report Information

Counting Methodology

Executive Summary

All Participating Schools

CASE Member Schools

Detailed Findings for CASE Member Respondents

Overall Trends

Funds Received

Median Funds Received and Donor Count by School Type

Funds Received by Source

Funds Received by Purpose and Designation

Size of Contribution and Largest Donors

Trustee and Donor-Advised Fund Giving

Advancement Staff and Campaigns

New Funds Committed

What is CASE InsightsSM?

Data. Standards. Research

on Philanthropy in Independent Schools (United States) in partnership with 2025 KEY FINDINGS © 2026 Council for Advancement and Support of Education Original publication date: July 2026 All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or used in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer: While the publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this document, it makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of its contents. No liability or responsibility of any kind (to the extent permitted by law), including responsibility for negligence, is accepted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, its servants, or its agents. All information gathered is believed correct at the publication date. Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. AUTHORS Emma Sonduck, Senior Data Strategist, CASE Deborah Trumble, Senior Director, Research, CASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: CASE InsightsSM General inquiries: [insights@case.org](insights@case.org) Media [inquiries:](inquiries: media@case.org)[ media@case.org](inquiries: media@case.org) ABOUT CASE CASE—the Council for Advancement and Support of Education—is a global, not-for-profit membership association with a vision to advance education to transform lives and society. CASE is the home for advancement professionals, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions. CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement, leading and championing their dissemination and application for more than 90,000 advancement professionals at 3,000 member institutions in 80 countries. Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently, these professionals include individuals working in alumni relations, development and advancement services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may be working at schools, colleges, universities, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profit organizations. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE works across all continents from its regional offices in London, Singapore, and Mexico City to achieve a seamless experience for all of its stakeholders, particularly its members, volunteers, and staff. COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION [case.org](case.org) London Mexico City Singapore Washington, D.C. ABOUT NAIS The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a nonprofit membership association that provides services to more than 2,000 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including more than 1,600 nonprofit, private K–12 schools in the United States that are self-determining in mission and program and governed by independent boards. CONTENTS Framework for Measuring CASE InsightsSM on Philanthropy .......................................... 4 Note from CASE President and CEO .................................................................... 5 Survey and Report Information ........................................................................ 6 Counting Methodology ............................................................................. 6 Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 7 All Participating Schools ............................................................................. 7 CASE Member Schools

FAQs

What definition and framework does the report use for measuring philanthropy?

It uses a framework describing philanthropy as the voluntary act of providing private support with the intended social impact, and it organizes related giving into measurable categories used throughout the analysis.

Which categories of funds received are analyzed?

The findings cover pledge payments received, realized bequests/legacies, newly established irrevocable planned gifts (not associated with a pledge), and new funds through pledges or bequests/legacies, including donors aged 65+.

What dimensions are used to break down the survey results?

Results are segmented by overall trends and then by school type, by fund source, by purpose and designation, and by giving structures such as trustee and donor-advised fund giving, plus advancement staff and campaign-related changes.

Oct 15, 2026

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