Building More Than Walls

An illustration of the updated Hillel Torah Day School

When I sat down with Morrine Sweer, Director of Development, at Hillel Torah Day School, I expected a conversation about a capital campaign. What I got was a conversation about children.

That distinction matters. And it's probably why the campaign worked.

Morrine is the Director of Development at Hillel Torah Day School, a school with more than sixty years of history in the community. Over the past few years, Hillel Torah undertook a significant renovation project — one that touched nearly every corner of the building and, more importantly, every dimension of the student experience.

I wanted to understand how they did it. Not just the mechanics, but the thinking behind it.

It Wasn't One Moment

When I asked Morrine what sparked the project, she was honest.

There wasn't a single turning point. There wasn't a roof that caved in or a crisis that forced a decision. It was something slower and, in some ways, harder to act on.

"We began to recognize that our physical spaces were no longer fully supporting the way students learn and grow today," she told me.

That's not a headline. It doesn't generate urgency on its own. But when you sit with it long enough, it becomes impossible to ignore.

The school had built a strong reputation for education rooted in Torah learning, strong values, and genuine community. The question that started to surface was whether the building was keeping pace with the mission.

It wasn't.

So they did something about it.

The Frame That Changed Everything

Early conversations with donors could have gone a lot of different ways.

They could have led with construction timelines, square footage, or cost per project phase. Those details matter, but they don't move people.

What moved people was a different frame entirely.

"It was never simply about renovating a building," Morrine said. "It was about creating spaces that reflect our mission and preparing Hillel Torah for the next generation of students."

When you lead with that, the conversation changes. People aren't evaluating a facilities project anymore. They're being invited into something much bigger than that.

Once the community understood the vision, that this was an investment in children, in learning, and in the future of Jewish education, they began to rally behind it.

That shift in framing is something I talk about constantly with the organizations I work with. People don't give to buildings. They give to what happens inside them.

Momentum Is Built, Not Found

Raising millions of dollars doesn't happen in one ask.

It never does.

Morrine described a process that was deeply relational and intentional from the start. Leadership donors were engaged early. Committee members worked in teams, often pairing with school staff, to make thoughtful and personalized asks. Conversations were prioritized carefully.

"What people don't always realize is that fundraising at this level is deeply relational," she said. "It's not just about asking for support, but about bringing people into a shared vision through many small, intentional conversations over time."

Peer-to-peer engagement was especially powerful. When a respected community member makes an ask of someone they know, the message lands differently. It's not a solicitation. It's an invitation from someone who already said yes.

The campaign committee was all-in. So was the board. One hundred percent of the Board of Directors pledged their support. That kind of leadership alignment gives everyone else permission to believe. It’s much easier to fundraise when the board participates at that level.

Keeping It Fresh Over Time

Campaigns of this scale take time. And donor fatigue is real.

I appreciated how candid Morrine was about this. They thought carefully about pacing. They didn't rush to the broader community before a strong foundation was in place.

When they communicated more broadly, the team focused on progress, not just asks.

"Instead of repeatedly asking for support in the same way, we focused on sharing updates, highlighting student impact, and showing tangible progress on the project," Morrine explained. "That helped people feel connected to something that was actively happening."

Keeping the message fresh meant using different voices. Committee members and board members shared the story in their own words. That kind of authenticity doesn't come from a talking points memo. It comes from people who genuinely care.

The CauseMatch Moment

At a certain point, Hillel Torah launched a public crowdfunding campaign through CauseMatch (I highlighted the peer-to-peer fundraising company too). This was something the school had never done before.

The response was surprising!

"We were truly inspired by the response," Morrine said. "We witnessed significant community support and were especially heartened by the broad base of supporters outside of our regular network."

When a campaign reaches people who aren't already in your orbit, something is working. When the story is compelling enough that it's traveling on its own, you know you’ve done something right.

Technology made that possible. But technology didn't create the energy. The community did. The campaign simply gave them a place to plug in.

The Spaces Worth Talking About

I always like to ask what people are most excited about. Not the elevator pitch version. The real answer.

For Morrine, there were several highlights.

The Middle School Commons stood out — a collaborative, dynamic space where students can work together and teachers can connect with them in smaller, more personal settings. It's the kind of environment that changes how learning feels.

The redesigned library was another impressive update. The space was reconfigured to create a warm story area for younger students, with more accessible shelving and room for an entirely new Primary School STEAM lab. Giving younger kids early hands-on exposure to STEAM, Morrine noted, can spark creativity and curiosity that lasts.

But the one she kept coming back to was the Beit Midrash.

A dedicated space for tefilah, Torah study, and spiritual growth. A place that will serve as the heart of the school. Flexible enough to hold a large gathering or divide into two classrooms when needed.

"The best is yet to come," she said, with real conviction.

My favorite spot was the outdoor garden. You might be thinking, it’s because I love fresh produce, which I do, but it’s unique. I haven’t seen a lot of schools with space where kids can get their hands in the dirt, grow fruits and vegetables, which can be used by the school and donated!

What This Campaign Actually Was

Capital campaigns are often framed as financial events. Hit the goal, cut the ribbon, thank the donors, move on.

What Hillel Torah built was something different.

They built trust with their leadership donors before asking anyone else. They built energy through peer relationships and authentic storytelling. They built momentum carefully, letting it develop at the right pace rather than forcing it.

And underneath all of it, they kept the focus where it belonged:

·       Students

·       Classrooms

·       Beit Midrash

·       STEAM Lab

That's what made people lean in. That's what always makes people lean in.

You don't raise millions by talking about a campaign. You raise millions by helping people see what the campaign is really about.

Morrine and the team at Hillel Torah understood that from the beginning.

And it showed.

To learn more about Hillel Torah Day School, visit their website :https://hilleltorah.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.