Covington Catholic High School, Park Hills, KY

June 6, 2016

Covington Catholic is a Blue Ribbon award winning, all-male high school in the Diocese of Covington. Recognized at state and national levels for academic and athletic excellence, the 604-member student body continues the legacy of Brotherhood; Faith; Excellence; Innovation; Service; Spirit and Teamwork that has defined the school for more than 90 years. It had become apparent to school leadership that the time was right to take steps to improve both academic and athletic facilities. Sue Finke, Director of Institutional Advancement remembers, “There was interest in adding tennis courts. We had also purchased a building for which we needed to define the best use and there were other projects as well. We hired The Covenant Group to help us with outlining a campaign plan and structure to take us through a $4 – $6 million campaign.”

Sue mentions that, “For those of us who don’t do this everyday, The Covenant Group instilled confidence in us. They helped us get through the fear and apprehension by providing us and our volunteers with training and motivation.” A key component to the success of any campaign is the strength of its steering committee. Covington Catholic recruited a solid team of 53 committee members and 6 co-chairs to lead the campaign.

She credits The Covenant Group’s training as a crucial factor in the campaign’s success. “They trained our volunteers on how to make calls and the right ways to develop and keep donor relationships. In addition to the peer-to-peer solicitation training, Finke also states that keeping the campaign on task was vital. “They were able to apply the right amount of pressure. If a task was not completed on time, they took an encouraging approach rather than one where they seemed upset or disappointed. She adds, “We realized they were not just taking us through a process, but they were really vested in it. They were our biggest cheerleaders and made it feel like a team effort. We were not left alone to try to figure it out ourselves.”

From the beginning, The Covenant Group laid out clear expectations regarding their role in the solicitation process. Finke explained, “We initially expected that the firm we hired would do more of the calls for us, but that was not the case. They taught us how to do it ourselves and that was for the better. We have built lasting relationships with donors and we will continue to steward these relationships long after the campaign is over. This is a new approach to fundraising for us.”

The basic needs goal was set at $4.5 million. Just 18 months into the five-year campaign that goal has long been surpassed. “We are just short of $7.5 million and we are not finished yet”, said Finke excitedly. When asked if she would recommend The Covenant Group to other organizations seeking counsel she laughed. “It’s funny…the last consultants we worked with we fired…we asked lots of questions but never got the answers. That was not the case with The Covenant Group. They were informative, direct and involved. We would absolutely recommend and use them again!”

“I really support The Covenant Group’s strategic planning process because their approach encourages staff-based support with board buy-in, and I felt that was important given what we were trying to achieve. The outcome is an effective plan that builds consensus and provides a clear sense of direction.”
- Jennifer Scott, Director of Development - The Cabbage Patch Settlement House

“The Covenant Group is highly competent, very experienced and knowledgeable. They provided a broad perspective by equipping us with useful data…and best practices in the field. All in all, they are excellent.”
- Dan Jones, CEO - 21st Century Parks

“The campaign has truly been a miracle. People were committed from the beginning, but…even raising $650,000 seemed like a stretch. To nearly double that amount is incredible! When the plan they developed allows you to hit a goal like that, it builds such a sense of community. The momentum built by the campaign is spilling outside the walls of our church and benefiting others in the process.”
-Father John Hollowell - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

“For those of us who don’t do this everyday, The Covenant Group instilled confidence in us. They helped us get through the fear and apprehension by providing us with a process, training and motivation. They taught us and helped us plan in a way that was for the better. We have built lasting relationships with donors and we will continue to steward these relationships long into the future.”
- Sue Finke, Director of Institutional Advancement - Covington Catholic High School

“No one anticipated we could raise this amount. Even the Archdiocese is surprised. The funds raised represent about 15 times our annual giving. But it’s not just the financial results. People stand around talking more than they did before the campaign. There is also a renewed and energized spirit among the parishioners. It’s the most exciting thing to happen in our parish in the last 100 years.”
- Gary Libs, Campaign Co-Chair - St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church

“The Covenant Group’s process involved a lot of people in our congregation doing small tasks … that built ownership. They took our vision and put it into a concrete plan. They helped us understand the importance of making our vision clear and laid out the steps to make the vision a reality. Their process built consensus and showed people how they could help. Their methods are based on a solid theological foundation that includes key documents, prayer support, and requisite training … all of which were invaluable.”
- Daniel Montgomery, Pastor - Sojourn Community Church

“Everything The Covenant Group did to help us…in the initial stages was helpful…the development of the case statement; our materials; the training of our Board members; strategies; all these steps laid the foundation for eventual success. They brought such a high level of professionalism, a wealth of experience and a strong track record of integrity and success… just being associated with The Covenant Group helped us.”
- Nancy Doctor, Development Director - Wellspring

“The structure The Covenant Group provided was excellent. It allowed our members to use their God-given talents to benefit the church community They helped us develop a plan and identify key leadership candidates to chair the effort, as well as engaging between 80 to 100 people to carry out the work of the campaign. It was truly a whole congregation effort and The Covenant Group helped facilitate that. They helped us reach our full potential as a congregation.”
- Ron Poisel, Pastor - Christ Lutheran Church

Covington Catholic High School, Park Hills, KY

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