A Humble Masterclass in Raising Millions
- Ron Krit
- Nov 5
- 4 min read
I’ve known Sam Medow since we were kids. He’s not the chest-thumping type. Which is why walking the new Arie Crown Hebrew Day School campus with him was so striking: gorgeous building, generational impact—and Sam gives all the credit away.
“You can’t raise millions of dollars without a great team.”
This is the story of how that team, professionals, lay leaders, trustees, and 260 donors pulled off a once-in-a-generation campaign.
Start with scope.
From day one, they named the truth: this was monumental. Not a luxury, a necessity. Trustees set the tone early. Sam commented, “It was a team, waking up and asking, what do I need to do to push this forward?”
That mindset, daily progress over big theatrics, carried the project through five years, a pandemic, and hundreds of conversations.
They began where every great campaign begins: the silent phase. Trustees and a handful of key donors saw the vision first. That early buy-in, both vocal and financial, turned “possible” into “possibility.”
Sam laughed recalling one pivotal meeting. The team walked in prepared to ask for a large seven-figure gift. The conversation went very well. They walked out saying, “We should have asked for more.”
Those early wins kept the group motivated.
Weekly accountability
Before a Director of Development & Strategy came aboard, Sam worked with outside consultants for a feasibility study and established weekly working meetings. These weren’t updates; they were working sessions:
Map relationships: Who’s the right connector?
Set ownership: Who calls whom by when?
Report back: What moved? What stalled? What’s next?
Sam said, “Accountability moved the project. You don’t want to show up to the next meeting empty-handed.”
When the project matured and Covid shifted everything, hiring a dedicated development lead to drive strategy and adapt tactics was instrumental.
Calls, Meetings, and Stewardship
Without sounding like it’s a lot, Sam said, “We had 300 plus meetings—many with follow-ups. There were “no’s,” timing misses, and donors whose priorities changed. But the team kept a short memory and stayed focused on the overwhelming positivity.”
Sam remarked, “The first 60 calls we went as a team and the results were great, that really helped with creating momentum and motivation.
The long arc demanded consistent stewardship:
Frequent updates: Sam stressed, “With a project this large we made sure to update donors and prospects regularly. Whether it was visuals or simple updates we wanted to be transparent.”
Bring them into the story: pre-renovation walk-throughs, groundbreakings, milestones.
Right-sized communication: some donors wanted more; some wanted less. The team did their best and kept moving.
Sam added, “Donors aren’t just a means to an end. Keep them close and they’ll bring ideas, resources and connections you didn’t know you needed.”
Culture did the heavy lifting
There’s a reason people leaned in. Arie Crown’s culture is generosity. It’s a community school that doesn’t turn families away for financial reasons. That ethos, paired with multi-generational ties, creates a contagious sense of responsibility.
Sam emphasized, “It’s in our DNA. We fundraise to the full need of our families.”
That’s not marketing. It’s operating reality. And donors can feel it.
Delegation is a superpower
Sam oversees finance, development, PR, and facilities, in addition to raising $40 million. His secret?
With a smile Sam said, “I’m a good delegator. We have great a team, and I trust my people.”
Sam elaborated, “We have an all-star business office and highly engaged volunteer leaders who roll up their sleeves.”
And then there’s the Building Committee, volunteers who treated this like a second full-time job. Construction, fundraising, planning, they were in it daily. Sam insisted they be recognized as a group in any public write-up. Rightly so.
Momentum through COVID (and donor fatigue)
Five-year campaigns meet headwinds. COVID complicated timelines, budgets, and meetings. Donor fatigue is real, especially when you’re funding both capital and operations.
The team adapted: fresh branding to clarify messages, strategy shifts when tactics dulled, and a constant return to that north star question: What moves the project today?
Highlights
Sam joked, “Once I saw the finished project, I told everyone, I was going to walk around with cleaner and a vacuum. I’m keeping this place pristine. “
Then his eyes widened, “Watching students walk-in was the best feeling. Opening day was a parade for them. The building came alive when kids walked in.”
What others can borrow
If you’re dreaming about your own transformational campaign, here’s the Arie Crown playbook:
Name the scope. Call it monumental if it is. That drives alignment and pace.
Start closest in. Trustees, long-time donors, true believers. Validate and launch the vision there.
Meet weekly. Map relationships, assign owners, follow through. Accountability compounds.
Hire for lift. The first few steps require a lot of work, consider a consultant and when the work outgrows the plan, add staff.
Steward relentlessly. Update, invite, involve. Make progress tangible.
Leverage culture. Your values and history are assets, use them to inspire action.
Delegate to win. Trust your team; let volunteers lead.
Adapt without drama. Strategies expire. Pivot and keep moving.
The last mile
When I asked Sam how he’s celebrating, he added, “Well we are not done yet. But close!”
The campaign totals $50M for the new school (including proceeds from a property sale), with about $3.5M left to close the books. Knowing this community, and its leaders, I’m confident they’ll finish strong.
If you want to contribute or learn more, visit their website: https://ariecrown.org/
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I help nonprofits raise more money through education, coaching, and strategic planning. I also lead high-impact professional development, coaching programs, and retreats for companies of all sizes. If you’re ready to strengthen your fundraising strategy, turn board members into advocates, or build a comprehensive legacy giving program, let’s talk.
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