Advancement Consulting

Partners in Mission brings a talented, highly regarded, and proven national team who have been or currently are successfully facing the same fund raising and advancement issues that challenge each of us today. Our team distinguishes itself through our genuine passion, dedication and sole focus on the advancement of the mission of Catholic Education. As a result, our shared experience understands the fundamentals, allows us to develop creative, faith-based solutions and stay with you from planning through implementation to assessment.

Our approach is designed to first understand your school, parish, diocese or religious congregation while identifying the critical issues with you. Once understood, we work with you to craft solutions, engage your key people in the process, develop effective and measurable strategic plans and then work with you each step of the way for the successful implementation of your program through a variety of services, such as: feasibility studies, advancement program assessments, capital campaign, annual fund, major and planned giving programs and other advancement programs.

As Partners in Mission with you, your success in developing the resources you need to advance the mission of your school, parish, diocese or religious community through a professional advancement program is our first and only priority. Together, we bring our entire team and resources to help you, to guide, support and to pray with you that our work will help bring Christ closer to all who are touched by your mission. Indeed, we consider it a privilege and honor to work with you through one or more of the following advancement related programs:

Advancement Program Assessments
From decades of personal experience in advancement, Partners in Mission understand fundamentals and we understand how even the best programs and personnel benefit from an external assessment. Our process critically examines each component of your program in terms of its goals, personnel, strategies, processes, systems, technology, and results. Read More
Capital Campaign Feasibility and Planning Studies
Catholic schools, parishes, dioceses and religious communities often view capital campaigns as the answer to their many needs and prayers. While this can be true, Partners in Mission knows that a successful, transformative capital campaign begins with a strategically developed and professionally implemented Feasibility and Planning Study.
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Capital Campaign Counsel and Management
Raising millions of dollars in a capital campaign does not happen automatically. Partners in Mission provides the experience and expertise to: professionally plan your campaign; prepare and organize the myriad of details required for success; implement prospect research, cultivation and solicitation strategies, moves management systems and procedures; help produce print and electronic communication messages; provide training for your Board of Directors, Alumni and Parent Leadership and Volunteers; and work with your staff to coordinate and effectively carry out the demands of a successful capital campaign. Read More
Case for Support Statement Preparation
Fundamental to the success of any Capital Campaign or Major Gifts Program is a clear, concise and compelling Case for Support Statement. Reflecting your mission, vision, goals, compelling need and request for support, Partners in Mission works with you create an effective Case for Support Statement that will be integrated into every aspect of your capital campaign or major gift program.
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Annual Fund Program Planning and Counsel
While the strategies frequently utilized in annual giving programs such as direct mail, telemarketing, online, reunion giving, faculty and staff giving, leadership gift club membership drives, and matching gift strategies may be similar, Partners in Mission knows there is nothing similar in the results between strategically planned and executed programs versus those that simply count on the typical strategies. Read More
Annual Fund Segmentation and Analysis Program ©
Smart marketers and fund raisers today know and appreciate the value of segmentation. Partners in Mission applies segmentation to your database to target the messages and requests for support to your donors in ways that will generate the highest number of gifts as well as the optimum amount of gifts to your annual fund. Read More
Board and Volunteer Leadership
Every consultant or conference presenter speaks of the importance of leadership from your Board and key Volunteers. From an advancement perspective, this means philanthropic leadership. Partners in Mission agree and frequently speak about the importance of Board and Volunteer Leadership.
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Major Gifts and Planned Giving Counsel
Fund raising in the 21st Century depends, more than ever, on the ability to secure major and planned gifts in support of your mission. Partners in Mission, regardless of the current status of your overall advancement program, provides the guidance you need to: identify fundable major gift projects; develop a clear, concise and compelling Case for Support; identify and research major and planned gift prospects; create cultivation and solicitation strategies; and provide whatever assistance you may need to successfully complete a major gift project or planned giving program.
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Communications Counsel
People will support what they know, understand and believe.... Partners in Mission know that there is a long continuum between knowledge and belief. We also know what it takes to connect the two through a strong, strategic communications program. Read More
Advancement Team Professional Development and Training
It is rare to find someone working in an advancement program that grew up believing advancement in a Catholic school or organization would be their career and life’s work. Partners in Mission are testimony to this in that each member gravitated to work in Catholic education from a variety of professions. Read More
Institutional Strategic Planning
Reflecting upon and affirming your mission while engaging your entire school community in its vision for the future can be an exhilarating experience and one that is critical for the foundation of a strong advancement program to help you realize your vision. Partners in Mission walks you through each step of a comprehensive process that shapes the vision in the context of your mission and then helps you lay out the strategies, programs, resources, staffing, budgets, timelines and evaluation processes to guide you over the next three-five years. Read More
Strategic Planning for Advancement
The difference between success and failure in advancement is the development of and adherence to a carefully prepared, professionally implemented, effectively communicated and measurable strategic plan. Partners in Mission bring its extensive experience in developing Strategic Plans for Advancement and its experience in knowing what works from a planning and implementation perspective.
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Prospect Research
Advancement programs today enjoy the advantage that results from Prospect Research. Partners in Mission, armed with both traditional research techniques and those made possible through today’s technology, moves your program into the 21st Century. Read More
Donor Relations and Stewardship
Regardless of the purpose or size of a gift made to your advancement program, the gift signals the donor’s desire to support your mission and to be in relationship with your school or organization for the long term. Partners in Mission helps you recognize the opportunities for relationship behind each gift, establish a program that welcomes each donor into relationship with you, and develop a “moves management” program for each that recognizes the interest, philanthropic capability, relationships, and other factors that will move the donor from their first gift to their ultimate gift.
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Selection and Implementation of Donor Information Systems
Technology and donor information systems can be among your greatest challenges, frustrations and expenses. Partners in Mission has seen and experienced most of the various systems in one form or another and is able to help you sort through your best choices to lessen the challenge, frustrations and expense related to selecting the right system. Read More
Advancement Program Policies and Procedures
Professionalism in establishing and managing the policies and procedures of your advancement program creates high levels of respect and confidence among your prospects and donors – especially in the area of leadership level capital, major and planned gifts. Partners in Mission bring the depth of experience of its team members over many years of establishing and managing their own programs. Read More
Alumni and Constituent Relations
Your alumni are likely to be your greatest source of current and future support. Partners in Mission recognizes that may be true but we also know that small numbers of Alumni, Parents and Friends can capture significant amounts of your time and energy while presenting many difficult challenges that do not turn into gifts. Read More
Special Event Management
Frequently your alumni, parents and friends look to special events in the form of Golf Tournaments, Gala Dinners, Auctions, and other such events to raise money for your school. Partners in Mission, through its strategic approach to planning, guide you to utilize special events to your optimum advantage. Read More
Blackbaud “Raiser’s Edge” Consulting
Recognized as the leader in donor management technology, the Raiser’s Edge is a powerful tool that may find you utilizing only a portion of its capability. Partners in Mission can bring our experience and expertise right to your office to help you understand the capabilities that will make the most significant difference for managing your advancement program.
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St. Catherine of Siena School
Norwood, MA