Making the Ask: How Charter School Leaders Can Confidently Lead Donor Conversations
Making the Ask: How Charter School Leaders Can Confidently Lead Donor Conversations
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Exhibit Hall B - Learning Lab Stage
Charter school leaders know their mission inside and out, but when it comes time to ask a donor for a significant gift, many freeze. The reality is simple: if we never ask, the answer is always no. This interactive session equips school leaders and development staff with the skills and confidence to lead effective major gift conversations. Participants will hear from experienced charter school leaders who have successfully raised major gifts, learn a practical framework for preparing donor meetings, and understand the anatomy of a strong ask; from opening with gratitude to making a specific, compelling request. The session culminates in hands-on pitch practice using realistic donor scenarios, giving participants the chance to rehearse conversations in a low-stakes environment. Attendees will leave with a repeatable structure they can use immediately to deepen donor relationships and grow philanthropic revenue.
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Presenters

Head of School
Washington Latin Public Charter School
Peter Anderson is Head of Schools/CEO of Washington Latin Public Charter Schools, a leading non-selective charter school in Washington, D.C. With extensive experience as a school administrator, he has presented at conferences on topics including charter school governance, diversity and inclusion, and professional development. Peter is a Pahara Fellow, a Stanford EdLEADers alumnus, and serves on boards for various educational organizations. He is deeply committed to fostering flourishing learning environments for both students and educators

Head of School
DC Bilingual Public Charter School
Daniela Anello, Head of School, leads the strategic vision, implementation, and growth of DC Bilingual both academically and operationally. The DC Public Charter School Board ranks DC Bilingual among the top three elementary charter schools in the city and The New Teacher Project ranks DC Bilingual in the top quartile of all DC charter schools for its strong instructional culture. Head of School since 2015, Daniela has been a critical leader to the DC Bilingual community as the school has become an independently operated charter school; secured its own facility; and grown to serve more than 578 students. Daniela started with DC Bilingual in 2009 as a Literacy Coach and advanced into the roles of Resident Principal and Interim Principal before the school’s board of trustees named Daniela Head of School. Daniela launched her teaching career in the elementary school classrooms of New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. To further involved herself, Daniela shares her time with a number of education-focused organizations: Member of the State Early Childhood Development Coordinating Council (SECDC), Board Member for the My School DC Common Lottery, Board Member for the National Charter Collaborative, Board Member for the DC Special Education Cooperative, and Board Member for the Friends of Tenley Library. Daniela is a graduate of New Leaders Emerging Leaders and Aspiring Principals Program and completed the Literacy Specialist Master’s of Arts program at Teachers College Columbia University. Daniela holds a Bachelor’s of Arts, elementary education and teaching from the State University of New York, Geneseo. A native of Chile, Daniela lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children, both DC Bilingual alumni.

Founder & CEO
FundEd Strategies
John Campbell is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with more than 15 years of development and organizational management experience in charter schools and the social sector. He is the Founder and CEO of FundEd Strategies, a fundraising consultancy that helps public charter schools and education nonprofits start, scale, and sustain their fundraising programs. Prior to forming FundEd Strategies in 2018, John served in advancement leadership roles within the charter school sector, where he cultivated over $5 million in strategic resources and partnerships designed to improve student success and organizational strategy. During that time, he was also instrumental in the formation of a private foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for young people, serving as its first Executive Director. Since its founding, FundEd Strategies has supported more than 90 education nonprofits and public charter schools across the country, helping them raise and manage over $200 million from philanthropy, government agencies, and earned revenue strategies. In partnership with FundEd, school partners have diversified funding, launched capital campaigns, designed and implemented fundraising plans, and invested in their fundraising infrastructure. FundEd's team brings deep expertise across grants management, individual giving, and institutional fundraising, working as an embedded extension of its clients' leadership teams. John is a recognized voice in the charter school fundraising community. He regularly trains school leaders and development staff on topics including donor cultivation, major gift solicitation, and building sustainable fundraising programs. He has presented to charter school networks and education coalitions on subjects ranging from the fundraising case for charter schools to the practical application of AI in nonprofit development operations. John graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics and earned his Master of Business Administration from the Kogod School of Business at American University. As a volunteer, John serves as a trustee for Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, DC, is VP of Internal Affairs for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington, DC Chapter where he also co-chairs a consultants affinity group of over 250 fundraising professionals, and serves on the board of EdFuel, a national nonprofit fueling better talent systems in schools. He is a former board chair of Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso (FAN). John splits his time between New York. Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, and enjoys wine and traveling with his husband.
Handouts
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