Greensboro Day School (GDS), a private PreK–12 school in North Carolina, has long been known for its academic excellence and vibrant campus culture. With enrollment on a healthy upward trajectory and a master plan in place for the school’s 72-acre campus, GDS recognized the moment was right to invest in strategic growth. What they needed was a partner to help them determine just how bold that vision could be, and to translate ambition into action.

That’s when they turned to the Winkler Group.

The Campaign: One Seamless Path

We began by leading a feasibility study, not only to test a proposed goal but to better understand what the GDS community truly wanted to see. What emerged was a powerful sense of forward momentum. Alumni, parents, faculty, and trustees alike expressed a desire to invest in spaces that would elevate student life—places where innovation, creativity, and community could thrive.

The data pointed toward a stretch goal of $26 million, and together we began shaping a case for support that reflected the community’s input and GDS’s long-term strategic plan.

Thanks to those early insights, the transition from campaign planning to campaign launch was seamless. Because the school’s leadership had involved stakeholders early and often, the Be BOLD campaign began with strong alignment—and even stronger enthusiasm.