Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill has long been recognized for its commitment to academic rigor, spiritual formation, and creative expression. As the school celebrated its 25th anniversary, leadership saw an opportunity to invest in the people and spaces that empower students to dream big—to design, make, imagine, and create.

To prepare for the school’s next chapter, Trinity launched Trinity Forward, a comprehensive campaign designed to support both cutting-edge facilities and faculty development. The school partnered with the Winkler Group to guide the campaign from its earliest stages through completion.

The Campaign: Empowering Creativity and Excellence

We began by working closely with Trinity’s leadership, faculty, and supporters to develop a case for support that clearly linked physical spaces with student outcomes and educational excellence.

The campaign focused on two strategic priorities. First, constructing the Brent Clark Arts and Engineering Building—a dynamic space featuring visual and performing arts classrooms, music rooms, and state-of-the-art engineering labs and makerspace studios. Second, increasing faculty compensation and professional development funding to ensure Trinity could continue to recruit and retain exceptional educators.

Throughout the campaign, we emphasized the powerful connection between space, people, and mission. By sharing the stories of students whose lives had been transformed by hands-on learning and creative expression, we helped donors see the lasting impact of their gifts. Alongside school leadership, we also deepened personal donor engagement, resulting in strong participation from both major donors and the broader school community.