Far More than the Raising of Money.
Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?

Worthy of glorious grandeur, Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, Holy Cross priest, famed fundraiser, counsel to U.S. presidents and President of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987 boldly stated to a group of school leaders at a Development conference that “every Catholic school should be preparing for, engaged in or completing a Capital Campaign.”

During Fr. Hesburgh’s remarkable and expansive career at Notre Dame, where enrollment doubled, endowments flourished and the campus completely transformed with over 40 new buildings, he confidently and courageously embodied the role of visionary leader.

For Catholic schools today, Fr. Hesburgh provides the esteemed leadership model that is required to navigate the emerging post-COVID reality of safe learning environments, with academic distinction, while being authentically Catholic, respectful of human dignity and financially sustainable.

At Catholic Vitality 360 we utilize our framework for growth and improvement, the Seven Circles of Catholic Vitality to illustrate that the school Capital Campaign is not a singular, sporadic event, but the result of a shared and dynamic strategic vision.

The measured vitality of your school is in direct proportion to the quality of your vision, processes and relationships – all three of which are manifested and acutely exemplified in a successful Capital Campaign.

Having managed over 100 capital campaigns in my ministry serving the Catholic Church, I have come to recognize that these inspired endeavors are far more than the raising of money. In fact, the raising of money is only a small part of the myriad of satisfactory and complimentary benefits that this bountiful journey bestows.

The Bountiful Benefits

With faith, optimism and our Catholic charism as our recurrent and abiding guardian, the successful Capital Campaign produces an abundance of positive benefits:

1. A clarifying and shared vision
2. A renewed awareness of the school’s mission, significance and impact
3. An elevated atmosphere of optimism and excitement
4. A raised and highlighted image of success in the community and beyond
5. The building of a culture of generosity and abundance
6. A professional system of proven philanthropic giving
7. The engagement and cultivation of existing and new donors
8. An openness to innovation and continuous improvement
9. Providing a mechanism for long-term financial sustainability

Getting Ready

As we review the abundance of benefits inherent through a successful Campaign, this process is not simply transactional, meaning the exchange of funds, it becomes truly relational – as in its ability to build relationships through the connectiveness of our prevailing human experience.

The Capital Campaign

With stakeholder engagement and a favorable Discovery Feasibility Study, the Capital Campaign becomes another informed and deliberate step in the implementation of the school’s Strategic Vision.

The Capital Campaign is a professional and intentional process to engage the entire school community of stakeholders to contribute the human and financial capital and gifts required to achieve the goals outlined in the Capital Campaign vision.

Conducted over the course of 12-18 months, as a human endeavor, a successful Capital Campaign relies on a complex mix of emotional appeals and sound business practices. While the response to an invitation to give must connect first with the heart, the rational side of our brain also demands a sound structure and campaign plan.

The successful Capital Campaign must cultivate a climate and disposition that promotes these two dualities, one that communicates the wonder and importance of giving, while synchronously supported by quality communication and effective operations.

The third – and critical factor is the grit and perseverance required over the course of many months to reach the goal and complete the campaign.

In summary, capital campaigns are essential for schools to secure funding for various critical projects and initiatives that contribute to their growth, innovation, and sustainability. These campaigns help ensure that schools can continue to provide high-quality education and resources to their students and community.

Bernard Dumond has the strategy, tools and framework to help your school.  Contact Bernard today to get the conversation started.

Do not fear, we walk in Faith and this is God’s work.

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Thanks, BERNARD