What does the future of fundraising look like in Waldorf schools?

At the recent Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Teachers’ Conference, I led a 90-minute workshop with 20 Waldorf leaders from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Together, we used Theory U and the Iceberg Diagnostic to uncover what’s beneath the surface of our current results and to imagine what’s possible when we shift from scarcity to abundance.

Using Theory U and the Iceberg Diagnostic, we explored what is visible in our schools now: volunteer fatigue, overreliance on a few donors, low participation, and a culture of scarcity. We then went deeper to uncover the structures and beliefs holding these patterns in place, such as unclear governance, lack of training, fear of asking, and the perception that money is not our world.

Participants practiced the Four Levels of Listening from Theory U, discovering how moving beyond habitual listening can transform outcomes. This shift in awareness created the space to imagine the future: flourishing schools, shared vision with the board, teachers supporting fundraising, abundance, and donors who feel seen and valued.

Each participant left with one small action to try because change begins with intentional steps.

You can explore more about Theory U at The Presencing Institute. If you would like to bring this kind of workshop to your next board retreat, faculty meeting, or administrative team session to kickstart a fundraising strategy, I would be happy to help you begin that conversation.

Book a free 15 min consultation.

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