The Field School

Background: The Field School, an independent 6–12 school in Washington, DC, launched its first capital campaign since 2012 to expand campus facilities and increase enrollment. Early success was essential to build donor and community confidence since this was the first campaign in more than a decade. With limited staff and a growing project scope, Field turned to Compass for strategic support.

Solution: Compass was engaged in January 2024 to provide Campaign Management services across all aspects of planning and execution. Working with school leadership, Compass helped shape strategy, refine messaging, and guide early donor engagement. Within weeks, Field secured a lead donation—its largest commitment to date—and, by June, full board participation helped justify increasing the original $10 million goal to $20 million. Later in the campaign, Compass collaborated with school leaders to develop a custom proposal that led to a $5 million gift from a distinguished alum to name a new athletic training center. Compass also provided capacity building support during a key staffing gap to sustain campaign momentum.

Success:
In June 2025, Field reached its $20 million campaign goal. 75% of donors made their largest gift ever to the school—a testament to the strength of the case, passionate leadership, and the momentum behind the campaign. Compass helped lay the foundation for long-term fundraising success with a clear strategy, strong internal systems, and a confident, capable team.