Resources + Insights

Most school fundraisers follow a familiar pattern: a committee forms, a venue gets booked, tickets go on sale, and three weeks later everyone is exhausted and wondering why they volunteered. The event might raise money, but it rarely builds anything lasting.

What does it take to turn a modest $500 annual fund gift into a $25 million transformational commitment? The answer isn't a single brilliant ask — it's years of genuine relationship-building, strategic stewardship, and knowing exactly when to make your move.

One of the most meaningful leadership workshops I have ever facilitated began with a simple but powerful question: What is your personal mission?

As we approach the tax season, now is a great time for your Advancement Office to be educating donors about the importance of planned gifts. Most schools raise funds through the annual fund, events, and special campaigns, but neglect promoting planned gift commitments. The most common reasons are a ...

The Annual Fund is one of the most powerful and most underutilized tools in a Catholic school's advancement program. When done well, it creates a sustainable, year-round culture of giving that supports the school's mission, strengthens donor relationships, and reduces reliance on exhausting ...

Partners in Mission is thrilled to announce that Cristy McNay has joined the firm as a Partner, expanding our capacity to help Catholic schools strengthen enrollment management and drive sustainable, mission-centered enrollment growth.

One of the hardest parts of parish life—and campus ministry too—is that you can be doing a lot of good and still be losing people quietly.

Prospect research can feel intimidating, especially for advancement teams with limited staff and resources. I often hear people say, “We do not have time for research,” or “We do not know where to start.”

Each year, Catholic Schools Week invites us to celebrate the mission of Catholic education. It is a time to honor the schools, leaders, faculty, and families who help form students academically, spiritually, and morally, often with limited resources and remarkable commitment.

Admissions is often a family’s first real interaction with a Catholic school. Long before an open house or meeting a principal, families engage with forms, emails, requirements, and timelines. Those early interactions shape how they feel about the school and whether they continue forward. When I ...

Strategic planning in Catholic schools is often approached as a technical task. We gather data, write goals, and build timelines. Those elements matter, but they are not enough. Catholic schools are ministries, not just institutions, and planning must reflect that reality.

Capital campaigns are often viewed as a response to need. A building requires renovation. Enrollment has shifted. Endowment growth feels urgent. For Catholic schools, these moments can create pressure to move quickly. Yet as Chris Hagerty and Kevin Quinn emphasize in their work with schools across ...

The Quiet After Christmas There is a particular quiet that settles in on the Monday after Christmas. The poinsettias are still out, the candles have burned low, and the calendar already looks like it is pushing you into January. As a pastor, or ministry leader, you know the feeling. You just ...

The author Antoine-Marie-Roger de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Unfortunately, for many advancement professionals, this wishful thinking model of fundraising is more the rule than the exception. It often leads to an activist environment where staff rushes from one ...

Leadership donors are among the most influential champions of a school’s mission, yet too often, their experience is limited to seeing their names printed in an annual honor roll. A leadership giving society should be far more dynamic: a relationship-building engine that deepens belonging, ...

Leadership transitions are defining moments in the life of a Catholic school. Whether anticipated or unexpected, a change in President or Principal can impact stability, morale, enrollment, donor/parent confidence, brand perception, and long-term mission alignment.

As Catholic school leaders, Thanksgiving offers more than a moment to pause. It’s a reminder of why our work matters and an opportunity to show gratitude in action.

How Catholic Schools Can Build Momentum Through a Day (or Week) of Giving Giving Tuesday is just around the corner! Giving Tuesday, or any giving day or week, is an opportunity to rally your community around your mission. For Catholic schools, a focused day or week of giving can energize donors, ...

Partners in Mission offers two distinct national gatherings designed to strengthen every level of Catholic school leadership. While both share a commitment to mission, community, and practical excellence, each conference serves a unique purpose. The National Leadership Conference in Naples focuses ...

Discover how data-driven decision making is revolutionizing school performance, empowering educators to unlock student potential and foster academic excellence.

Leadership in Catholic education is more than a role. It is a responsibility to guide, serve, and help others grow in faith and purpose. The most effective leaders I have worked with share a few habits that set them apart. They live out five simple verbs that I call the Five Verbs of ...

Congress recently passed a comprehensive tax reform bill, informally called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), that introduces several important changes to the rules governing charitable giving. These changes will take effect beginning in 2026 and may influence how individuals and families ...

I’ve been saying this for years, and I still believe it: every act is a marketing act.

A focused giving effort, whether it’s a single day or a week-long campaign, can do more than raise money. It can energize a school community, boost participation, and build pride in your mission. When done well, it becomes a celebration of generosity that engages parents, alumni, faculty, and ...

When it comes to admissions, your school’s best advocates are often already in your community. Parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and coaches are the people who can share authentic stories and create connections with prospective families in ways no marketing campaign ever could.

If you are part of a small advancement team at a Catholic school, chances are you wear many hats. Enrollment, fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, events, the list never ends. With so much to juggle, it is easy to feel stretched thin. The good news is that you do not have to do everything at ...

One of my favorite movies is the cult-classic, coming-of-age film, Scent of a Woman. One of the film’s most iconic moments centers on the headmaster’s brand-new Jaguar—a gleaming perk of his prestigious position. To the students, the car is both a symbol of authority and a reminder of the ...

Every Catholic school has a story: a living, breathing personification of its mission. It’s more than a list of facts or achievements. It’s who you are, what you value, and the unique spirit that sets your community apart.

Board members can be a school’s greatest asset or its greatest challenge. Some boards are so engaged they drift into micromanagement. Others struggle to stay involved beyond a few annual meetings. In both scenarios, school leaders often ask: How can I build a board that contributes meaningfully and ...

Catholic schools have long been celebrated for their academic rigor, spiritual formation, and commitment to service. But what happens after graduation? How do we truly measure the enduring value of a Catholic education? At Partners in Mission, we believe the answer lies beyond diplomas and test ...

When school leaders think about improving their institutions, the focus often lands on strategic plans, new programs, or ambitious enrollment goals. But as Jim Collins famously notes in Good to Great, strategy comes second. First, you need the right people on the bus. In Catholic schools and across ...

The world of Advancement is evolving. The best time to start a planned giving program was twenty years ago. The second best time is today. Now is the time to get in the game. Over the next few decades, financial experts anticipate that more than $80 trillion will be transferred from one generation ...

A strong social media presence is more important than ever - and it takes more than just the occasional post. To truly connect with your community and attract new families, Catholic schools must strategically blend organic and paid social media efforts.

In Catholic schools, one of the most effective tools for enrollment growth isn’t found in advertising budgets or elaborate campaigns—it’s the power of parent-to-parent connection. The Parent Ambassador Program, first launched in the Archdiocese of Chicago, channels this energy into a structured, ...

In today’s competitive educational landscape, retaining students is just as critical as recruiting them. Strategic Enrollment Management offers a comprehensive approach to managing the entire student journey from initial inquiry to graduation. As Catholic school leaders, understanding and executing ...

The strength of a Catholic school is deeply rooted in the strength of its board. A highly competent, mission-driven board not only provides critical governance but also brings vision, strategy, and sustainability to the school community.

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." -Theodore Roosevelt.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to reflect on and honor the sacrifices of our nation's veterans. This day of gratitude reminds us of values that resonate deeply with Catholic education: service, commitment to others, and a dedication to a higher purpose. We ...

If your school’s Vision is its ultimate destination, and the Mission is the daily work that drives you forward, then the Strategic Plan is the map that guides your journey. But before the journey can begin, you need a well-defined Strategic Planning Process.

Happy New Year! Have you set your New Year's resolutions yet? Like many, you may be focusing on personal health—exercising more, eating better, or cutting back on indulgences. These are excellent ways to enhance your well-being.

Strategic Planning: The Key to Transforming Catholic Schools

As we navigate the registration season for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, our Catholic schools across the country are focusing not only on attracting new families but also on retaining current ones. Retention efforts in our Catholic schools go beyond mere administrative tasks; they embody our ...

Finding the right leader for a Catholic school is about more than qualifications and experience—it is about true mission alignment, spiritual and operational leadership, and a deep commitment to continuing excellence in Catholic education. While you may attempt to handle the hiring process on your ...

In today’s digital landscape, an engaging video can be one of the most impactful ways to tell your school’s story and connect with your community. However, the process doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With a bit of creativity and some budget-friendly tools, you can create a compelling ...

It’s the start of the school year! Need Volunteers? How to Get the Rights Ones, Manage Them and Keep Them

As Catholic schools continue to pursue growth in an ever-evolving educational landscape, one constant remains: the need for exceptional leadership. Whether it's a principal, head of school, president or superintendent, attracting mission-driven and qualified candidates is crucial for long-term ...

In times of economic uncertainty, Catholic school leaders understandably begin to worry - Will donors pull back? Will giving slow down? Should we pause our campaigns?

In the time it takes for you to read this post you could have reached out to a donor, volunteer, or potential benefactor (but keep reading!).

At Partners in Mission, we have found one tool consistently effective at inspiring generosity and strengthening donor relationships: the Proof Letter.

As a “seasoned” Admissions professional, I often liken my journey in this field to “batting for the cycle” in baseball. For those unfamiliar with this term, it refers to the achievement of hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in a single game.