Q Given your extensive leadership experience with independent schools and your generosity as a
philanthropist, what have you learned that would help other institutions attract philanthropic dollars?
A The goal is to match the passion of the donor to the institution's priorities. This requires that
you be clear about your priorities and educate your donors. Institutions that let their donors direct their priorities suffer.
Q Can you share an example of what you mean?
A I know of a small school that was struggling to support its football program. A well-meaning donor
gave them a large check to build a stadium. The difficulty was, of course, that they never had the student and parent
interest in football, though they are very successful in other sports. So, they have a stadium, no football program, and
are struggling with how to configure the field to accommodate their real athletic program needs. And, they have a disappointed donor.
They had no plan, and thus no ability to educate their donor as to their real needs.
Q How much of your time as Head of School do you spend raising money?
A Well this is a moving target, and it depends on how you define "raising money". I suspect that I
probably spend about 50% of my time in nurturing relationships and "showing the flag" in the community. If I have built
relationships successfully, and educated people about the school's priorities, asking for money should be the easy part.
Over the years the role of the Head of School, particularly in larger schools, has evolved, with increased focus on
external relations. Often there is an Assistant Head who is the COO. Happily, at Antilles, I can be both the internal
and external head, because I love being in classrooms and with students. But even in a larger setting, it is important
for the Head to really be connected to the daily life of the school in order to convey it to donors.
Q You are a philanthropist yourself. What interests you about giving your own gift?
A I want my gift to make a difference. I am delighted when my gift can be leveraged. The best gift is one
that challenges the institution to greater heights.
An example: at Antilles a very generous donor has helped us to build an athletic complex, and a second generous donor has
given us the funds to build a theatre. The gifts have challenged us to rethink and expand our athletic program and our arts
curriculum so that our students will have a richer experience. We are also challenged to think about how the facilities allow
us to be a greater community resource.
I also feel strongly that when you are in a leadership position, you have to lead by example. On my very first day here, I
made a leadership-level gift to the Annual Fund. I wanted to be able to look a potential donor in the eye and ask them to join
me in supporting the school.
Q Your father was known to be a very generous philanthropist himself. Did you learn about philanthropy growing up?
A My father was a very generous man in many ways, and he never just wrote checks. He always gave of
himself as well as his checkbook. He wanted to get involved in something he believed in. I guess I'm the same way. That
is probably why my giving probably is focused on those institutions where I serve on the board or volunteer in some way.
I give to some causes I'm not directly involved in, of course, but I give the most to those few organizations where I can
give more than money.
BRIMHALL & ASSOCIATES
Horovitz was appointed Head of School at Antilles School in July 2006. He served as Head of School at The Buckley School
in Los Angeles from 1998 to 2005. In addition, he has spent almost three decades providing counsel to independent schools and
other non-profit organizations in the areas of strategic thinking, governance and management.
Horovitz also practiced law in Boston, and has served as a trustee of several academic institutions, including Lake
Forest College (IL), Charles River School (MA), Dublin School (NH), and Sea Education Association (SEA) of Woods Hole, MA.
He also served in a number of capacities with The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR), the nation's oldest land trust.
He has been chair of the trustee committee of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), a director
of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), and a member of the trustee committee of the California
Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). He is a frequent lecturer on independent school governance and administration.
A Massachusetts native, Horovitz attended Cushing Academy, and holds a BA degree from Lake Forest College and a JD
degree from Boston University School of Law.
