SUCCESSFUL CATHOLIC DEVELOPMENT IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES 1 ISPD Webinar April 2, 2009 Presented by: The Institute of School & Parish Development (ISPD)

2  AGENDA I. Introduction and Background II. ISPD Observations: April 2009 III. Development as a Frame of Reference IV. 15 Major Tenets to Consider V.20 Specific Suggestions VI. ISPD Services

Frank Donaldson, President of ISPD ISPD: National, Catholic Development Consulting Firm headquartered in New Orleans, LA 20 years in business Works exclusively with Catholic schools, parishes and dioceses throughout the country Services include, but not limited to: Long-Range Planning, Capital Campaigns, Total Stewardship, Engaging More People into the Life of Your Parish, Development Assessments, Feasibility Studies 3  PRESENTER and COMPANY

ISPD Website: ISPD General Frank Donaldson’s ISPD Phone Number:  PRESENTER and COMPANY

Many Catholic institutions throughout the country are facing economic challenges in the following areas: – Sunday collections – Annual Fund dollar goals – Student enrollment – Slow paying of tuition – Capital Campaign decisions – Substantial endowment investment losses – Job layoffs of parents, alumni, parishioners and others 5  ISPD OBSERVATIONS: April 2009

Some Catholic institutions have felt that hard-nosed decisions needed to be made and have done the following: – Laid off employees – Cut out the PR and marketing budget – Consistently sent direct mail pieces to stakeholders claiming how tough things are for them and that parents, parishioners, alums, etc. need to give more money – Added more fund-raisers – Preached more from the pulpit about giving more – Raised tuition to make up for any shortfalls 6  ISPD OBSERVATIONS: April 2009

– Pressed the “hold” button on capital campaigns saying that “now” is not a good time – Raised registration fees and added on other ones in lieu of increasing tuition – Frozen faculty and staff’s “cost of living” increases 7  ISPD OBSERVATIONS: April 2009

What ISPD suggests is that we understand the present economic condition from an historical perspective as well as a reality perspective. Even in the recession years of recent times (1970, 1974, 1980 and 2001), giving in the non-profit world declined only an average of 2.7%. ISPD has observed downturns in the economy over our 20 year history and some of our best consults were with parishes and schools who concentrated on building relationships. In the long run, the financial shortfall was not damaging at all. 8  ISPD OBSERVATIONS: April 2009

What a wonderful time to articulate your vision and mission and value to the community you serve. People will respond, and above all, they want to belong and become engaged in something that is meaningful, positive, and affirms their many gifts. Let’s delve further into this very interesting topic of “Successful Catholic Development in Tough Economic Times.” 9  ISPD OBSERVATIONS: April 2009

10  FRAME OF REFERENCE  Definition of Development The meaningful involvement of people in your mission and vision mission and vision for the future.

11 i s 7 Identify Inform Invite Involve Invest Improve Implement  FRAME OF REFERENCE

1.Be able to verbally, and in the written word, articulate the value of your Mission and Vision. 2.Perfect your “brand”. 3.Sharpen your focus/build solid strategy. 4.Stay the course – don’t panic. 12  15 MAJOR TENETS TO CONSIDER

5.Understand True Catholic Development. 6.Invite your nucleus/solidify your base. 7.Concentrate on one or more of the following written plans:  Strategic Plan for Development  Enrollment Management Plan  Customer Service Plan  Affirming – Welcoming – Engaging People Plan  Total Stewardship Plan 13  15 MAJOR TENETS TO CONSIDER

8.Take the proactive stance.  Get out in the community.  Consistently communicate with your ministry, financial, organizational and institutional leaders. They need to see and hear from you.  Sell the vision to anyone who will listen.  Blast the media with your plans for the future.  Assure and affirm your staff. 14  15 MAJOR TENETS TO CONSIDER

9.Understand “Critical Mass”. 10.Build and solidify your Core Team. 11.Understand that “Belonging Leads to Believing”. 12.Believe in the value of “people fuel “ – people want to belong. 13.Provide donors with options. 15  15 MAJOR TENETS TO CONSIDER

14.Optimism has a certain energy that is contagious. Exhibit it. 15.Not doing anything (staying in a holding pattern) is often perceived as a show of weakness. People want to be part of winner. 16  15 MAJOR TENETS TO CONSIDER

1.Freeze or reduce tuition. 2.Lessen pulpit talks on financial crisis or debt and increase ways to engage people. 3.Focus on tuition aid and partial scholarships. 17  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

4.Hold “Flip Chart Sessions” with your “people” (60%-40%) and present them with realistic challenges.  Based upon the 12% drop in Sunday collections over the past year, what positive steps should we take in order to make sure we weather this economic storm we, and many others, are facing? 18  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

5.Invite the three Gifts: Gift of Prayer, Gift of Involvement and Gift of Financial Participation. 6.Begin parish phone outreach to all parish families inviting them to an event at the parish and also just to see how they are doing and if they need anything. 19  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

7.“Go to Meeting” with alums from a specific class. 8.Help parents and alumni and others:  Job Fair  Business Card Directory  Business Extravaganza 20  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

9.Consider the use of interns for the development/stewardship office and efforts. 10.Create Gift Catalogs. 11.Revamp your web site to include online giving. 12.Personally, in their home, visit new parish and school families. 21  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

13.Arrange for a “Donor Huddle”. 14.Provide donors with options  Installments  Gifts in kind  Longer pledge periods  Special projects 15.Push Annual Funds for 10 month installments (September – June). 22  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

16.Host Family Nights for parish and school families. 17.Start a Pastor/Principal/President Cabinet (February 2007 ISPD newsletter) 18.Host Input Sessions. 23  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

19.Sponsor 2-3 fund-raisers that bring in good net dollars, bring people together in a social setting, and surface new leadership. 24  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

20.Take advantage of offerings on ISPD’s Web Site:  Resource Section  Workshops  Free Webinars  Free videos  Free newsletters 25  20 SPECIIFC SUGGESTIONS

 On-site Presentations on all of the topics we mentioned in this Webinar  Long term consultation  One Day Workshops throughout the country 26  ISPD SERVICES

 Make sure that the development director and his/her supervisor revisit the current job description in order to discuss expectations in our challenged economic climate. If that job description, with expectations, is not clear, what a wonderful time to get this squared away. 27  “LAGNIAPPE” SUGGESTION

28  QUESTIONS AND SURVEYS  Questions