Strategic design for Drew’s endowment campaign
Challenge
Drew School, an independent high school in San Francisco, was in the midst of a critical endowment campaign, an effort essential to securing the school’s long-term financial sustainability. Unlike campaigns for new buildings or visible campus improvements, endowment fundraising can be more abstract and challenging to market. Without a tangible or “shiny” result to showcase, the campaign needed a compelling way to communicate its importance. Drew sought an impactful brochure that would clearly and concisely explain the what, why, and how of the campaign – one that would resonate with families, alumni, and donors and inspire meaningful support.
Strategy
To create a piece that felt on-brand and distinct, we rooted the brochure in Drew School’s existing visual identity – respecting its colors, typography, and overall tone – while intentionally making design choices that would set the endowment campaign apart. We selected underutilized colors from Drew’s palette, most notably the rich brown, and paired them with the school’s classic green and white to give the brochure a fresh yet familiar feel. The layout was clean and confident, prioritizing large, compelling imagery and pull quotes to add a human dimension. Instead of dense paragraphs, we used concise, skimmable text blocks and visual storytelling to ensure the message was accessible, engaging, and emotionally resonant.
Impact
The brochure became a cornerstone of Drew School’s endowment campaign communications. Its thoughtful design and clear messaging helped demystify the purpose of the campaign and made the case for support in a way that felt both urgent and accessible. As a result, the piece played a key role in rallying the community and driving momentum – ultimately helping push the campaign across the finish line with success.
NOTE: In some cases, photos have been replaced with stock imagery to preserve student privacy and content has been replaced with lorem ipsum.