Welcome to SchoolAdvancement^(SM)

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This site was created to foster knowledge and communication among advancement professionals, development and marketing directors, business and enrollment managers, pastors and principals, and all those who have a burning desire to help Catholic, Christian and Faith-based schools advance toward their vision in the 21st century.

In the years following the Second Vatican Council, a myriad of both internal and external forces began to impact Catholic Schools.  Most notably, changes began to take place in the make-up of the family, the building block of any society.  Consequently, a new generation began to take shape which has come to be known as Generation X - the first generation that has made the realization that their lifestyle experience may not necessarily be better than previous generations.  Because of that realization, they have been referenced as "The 'Me' Generation."  Members of that generation comprise today's parents of school-age children.

Further, at this point in history, nearly a century after Catholic Schools in America as we know them came into existence, their reason for being is not the same as it was at their inception.  At their onset, they were founded to help immigrant children be able to participate in American culture while nourishing their own cultural heritage, as well as to reinforce their Catholic faith and avoid the discrimination that was present in public schools at the time.  Now, they educate children in an environment where God and matters of faith can be discussed openly, forming young men and women that are "counter-cultural" to secular values of today's American society.  

Most recently, many parishes across the nation have seen their schools close or merge due to rising costs and changing demographics.  Schools simply cannot rely on traditional fiscal approaches to fund this ministry.  Conversely, some areas of the country have experienced a growing Catholic population, producing a desire for additional Catholic Schools.  Some of those populations do not have the financial means to pay for large construction projects, and growing communities are put in the same financial conundrum as those that are shrinking.

While parishes grapple with the changes facing our schools, a new paradigm has begun to emerge.  Isolated successes have been experienced in some areas of the country, while other dioceses, deaneries, parishes and their respective schools strategize to plan for the future.  Rather than continuing to "reinvent the wheel," this site's goal is to connect those individuals and organizations that have accepted this responsibility at this time in history.  We can best do this in a community atmosphere - sharing best practices, strategies that are proven, experiments that have failed, and suggestions as to what to avoid along the path.

Christian and other Faith-Based schools also share the same difficulties.  Though the curriculum is different, the five aspects of Advancement (Development, Retention, Enrollment, Asset Management and Marketing) - the "business side of the mission," are essential for every school's success.  While some schools have stated that "It's all about the money," other schools of thought have begun to emerge that say "It's all about enrollment."  Actually, "It's all about all of it."

As for simply sharing ideas, recall the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility."

Are you ready to share in the responsibility? Then "Welcome In!" (Click to join SchoolAdvancement's eCommunity.  Use the menu options at the top of this page to explore the site.).