1708 Media
08.01Who We Serve · Private Schools

Storytelling systemsfor private schools

From admissions videos that drive enrollment, to fundraising films that keep donors engaged. We help private schools tell the stories that matter most, across every moment in the school year.

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08.01.02The Reframe

A storytelling system built forthe work private schools actually do

Private schools have more moments that matter than most organizations have content to meet them. Admissions cycles. Annual fund campaigns. Capital initiatives. Alumni engagement. Parent communications. Each one deserves a story, and each audience deserves the right one.

Our storytelling system is built to support that work. One shoot produces a library of content. Every piece has a specific role, a specific audience, and a specific moment on your calendar.

For admissions teams, that means content that drives applications and converts admitted families. For advancement teams, it means engaging donors across the full year, not just at the gala. For marketing and communications teams, it means a library of assets they can deploy anywhere, anytime.

08.01.03Who We Support

Who we supportat every school

Admissions and advancement teams lead the work. Marketing and communications teams help move it forward. Our storytelling system serves all three.

FOR ADMISSIONS TEAMS

Video that fills your campus.

CHALLENGES WE UNDERSTAND

  • Raising awareness with prospective families in a crowded market
  • Driving applications from families who are a real fit
  • Converting admitted students when families are deciding between schools
  • Showing what makes your school different without sounding like everyone else

WHAT WE PRODUCE FOR ADMISSIONS TEAMS

  • Admissions films that give prospective families a real feel for the school
  • Campus tour videos
  • Welcome videos for admitted families
  • Program spotlights by division
FOR ADVANCEMENT OFFICERS

Video that moves donors.

CHALLENGES WE UNDERSTAND

  • Showing donors what their gifts actually make possible
  • Reaching alumni, current families, and prospective donors across a full year, not just at the gala
  • Supporting capital campaigns and signature fundraising moments
  • Building donor trust through consistent storytelling, not event-driven asks

WHAT WE PRODUCE FOR ADVANCEMENT TEAMS

  • Fundraising and annual fund films
  • Capital campaign videos
  • Donor stewardship and thank-you content
  • Multi-audience campaign cutdowns
08.01.04Case Study · St. George Episcopal School

Our Storytelling Systemat Work for a School

For St. George Episcopal School, we didn’t just produce a fundraising video. We built a year of storytelling. The Dragon Fund campaign anchor sits alongside supporting pieces for the fall event launch, a tax-credit informational video, a December campaign launch from teachers and the board, a winter event promotion, spring stewardship, and campaign cutdowns for ongoing email and social.

One shoot. A full year of content. Every piece with a specific role.

Primary video

LEAD STORY

Dragon Fund Video

SubjectSt. George Community Voices

The people, programs and relationships that make St. George special and the role every family can play in sustaining them.

Donor Purpose
Shows how giving sustains the St. George experience and the people and experiences families value most.
Best Use
Mid-September Dragon Fund launch; website, email and social campaign anchor.

Supporting and future stories

  1. EVENT PROMOTION

    Fall Day of the Dragon

    SubjectVolleyball Team Members

    A fast, student-led invitation to celebrate school spirit and participate in the St. George community.

    Purpose
    Build excitement, increase participation.
    Use
    Fall Day of the Dragon promotion.
  2. INFORMATIONAL

    Tax-Credit Informational Video

    SubjectThor Kvande

    Clearly explains the giving opportunity, the benefit to St. George and the steps families need to take.

    Purpose
    Makes the opportunity clear and practical.
    Use
    November email outreach, how to participate.
  3. CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

    12 Days of Giving

    SubjectTeachers and Board

    Teachers thank families for their support while leadership invites those who have not yet given.

    Purpose
    Donor gratitude plus year-end invite to give.
    Use
    Launch the December campaign.
  4. EVENT PROMOTION

    Winter Day of the Dragon

    SubjectBasketball Team Members

    Basketball players and students invite families back into the energy of the St. George community.

    Purpose
    Sustain family engagement and excitement.
    Use
    Promote the winter event.
  5. STEWARDSHIP

    Spring Day of the Dragon

    SubjectStudents

    Joyful celebration of the students, experiences and community supported throughout the year.

    Purpose
    Celebrate impact and community.
    Use
    Support spring stewardship.
  6. CAMPAIGN SUPPORT

    Dragon Fund Cutdowns

    SubjectSt. George Community

    Key highlights from the Dragon Fund film that celebrate unique aspects of the St. George experience.

    Purpose
    Extend the core message.
    Use
    Support email and social.

This is how our Donor Story System works in practice. One primary video anchors a full year of engagement. Every supporting piece has a specific audience, a specific purpose, and a specific moment on the school’s calendar. Your team doesn’t guess where to use what. The plan comes with the engagement.

08.01.05Featured Work

What we’ve built for schools

A welcome video that helps admitted families picture themselves at St. Stephen's. Part of our ongoing work with the school since 2019.

Advancement storytelling that connects donors to the people and programs their gifts support.

Admissions and fundraising videos, plus a series of program videos spotlighting each division from early childhood through high school.

A mission video created to support one of the school's signature fundraising events.

08.01.06Partners

Schools we work with

St. Stephen's Episcopal School
A nearly eight-year partnership covering every corner of campus life, including admissions videos, campus tours, athletics, programs, social media content, and fundraising and advancement videos, with 1708 handling the writing, scripting, and shoots. Since 2019. More than 25 videos produced across admissions, athletics, advancement, and leadership.
Headwaters School
Admissions and fundraising videos, plus a series of program videos spotlighting each division: early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school.
St. George Episcopal School
Admissions videos, and this year a full storytelling system: a content roadmap that maps video content to every key moment in the school's fundraising calendar.
Hyde Park School (Austin)
A range of admissions videos alongside leadership videos.
Holy Trinity (Chicago)
A mission video created to support one of the school's signature fundraising events.
San Antonio Academy
New partnership currently in production. An admissions video showcasing everything the school offers, along with social media content.
08.01.07The System

Every engagement is a steptoward a full storytelling system

Some schools come to us for a single admissions video or one capital campaign film. Others are ready to build a year of storytelling. We meet schools where they are.

Our Donor Story System plans the full year in advance: one shoot, a library of donor-ready assets, and a written deployment roadmap for your team. If you’re ready to think about storytelling the way St. George did this year, we’d love to talk about what that could look like for your school.

08.01.08Start Here

Thinking aboutyour school’s next admissions cycle, annual fund, or capital campaign?

Let’s talk about how video storytelling can support what you’re already building. No pitch, no obligation.

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