Day: July 13, 2016

Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Madison, IN

Prince of Peace Catholic parish had an urgent need. The steeple of the church was falling down and required emergency repairs. In addition to the steeple work, the church also needed exterior paint and other updates. After concluding a feasibility study, the church set a goal of $1.5 million.

Pastor Chris Craig states that the goal represented a significant stretch. “Past campaigns the parish had conducted raised an average of $900,000.” Although another firm had helped with the feasibility study, at the recommendation of the Archdiocese, Prince of Peace parish decided to hire The Covenant Group to provide counsel during the campaign.

“When we first met Len, we could tell he was personally invested in our success. He was committed to the end result and helping us achieve our goal.” Pastor Craig described The Covenant Group’s process as “energizing”. He continued, “They really motivated our leadership, who were a bit reluctant at first. They helped us define our needs clearly and then they helped us get the parish involved. We had over 200 volunteers engaged at some level. The campaign went from ‘we have to do it’ to ‘a genuine excitement about it’ and the spiritual aspect became a key component.”

Father Craig described Len’s leadership style as “very hands on.” He adds that “the process empowered me to become much more confident in fundraising techniques and in striving towards larger goals.” As Celebration Weekend approaches campaign leaders are thrilled to announce that more than $2 million has been raised! “We are shocked. This campaign has been much different than past campaigns. People are doing more, digging deeper. We already have significant funds collected and in the bank. We will begin renovation work next month”.

“One really smart concept The Covenant Group recommended was the 5-year pledge period” commented Father Craig. “By allowing people to spread their pledges over a longer period, people were able to give more. They are choosing weekly and monthly giving options. We have seen gifts grow from $20,000 in a 3-year campaign to $50,000 in a 5-year campaign.” The longer period has really made a difference. He further noted that they are now working to try to get as close to 100% participation in the campaign as possible.

When asked if Father Craig would recommend The Covenant Group to other churches seeking counsel, he responded. “Absolutely! I may be at 2 or 3 more parishes in the future. When I am in a situation where our church needs to raise money, they will be the first call I make”.

by Cheryl Gurr

“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