MICDS is a national leader among independent schools in development and its goals for the next three years focus on maintaining and building upon its success. The Development Office will work to sustain current high levels of participation and accomplishment.  It will also research and undertake substantial preparatory work for a major campaign to be launched in the later part of this decade.

The need for charitable support is an ongoing reality in independent school education today. The School will work to educate parents to this need and thus encourage their active, annual financial support. Ideally, this process to educate parents regarding their responsibility will begin with the admission cycle.

MICDS recognizes that the School’s continued growth and the full realization of the long-term goals described in this Plan will require a campaign for both capital improvements and endowment in the intermediate future.  This Plan calls for the School to identify and prioritize future initiatives that require funding to prepare the School for the next decade and beyond, and to study the feasibility, scope and timing of a major campaign to fund these initiatives. Other specific goals for the MICDS development program will include a plan to maintain and strengthen the Annual Giving program. With new expenses coming online from new facilities, it is essential that the Annual Fund grow.  MICDS will continue its Donor Stewardship Program to ensure ongoing and systematic communication with the numerous generous donors to the School. Equally important is an active and ongoing Alumni Relations plan that focuses on strengthening relationships with alumni through meaningful special events, volunteer opportunities and personal visits with local alumni. Additional alumni relations efforts will focus on building stronger relationships with the nearly 50% of the School’s alumni who reside outside St. Louis. A comprehensive and well-managed Planned Giving Program is in place and will continue to be important to the School.

As it enters the twenty-first century, MICDS will utilize an enhanced web site to communicate with its various constituencies.  (See Marketing and Technology.)