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 the majority of today’s parents of school-age children.

As the years progressed, the next generation of young parents, the Millennials, are now enrolling their children in faith-based schools.  These men and women are more about “we” than “me,” and demonstrate that mindset in their use of social media, the Internet and valuing “experiences” over sacrifice.

An additional factor affecting Catholic schools is also different at this point in history than it was when Catholic schools began in this country.  At their inception, their mission was to help immigrant children participate in American culture while nourishing their own cultural heritage, reinforcing their Catholic faith and avoiding the discrimination present in public schools at the time.  Now, Catholic schools 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.

These changes in society have resulted in faith-based schools shrinking, merging and/or closing due to rising costs and changing demographics.  Conversely, some areas of the country have experienced growing populations, producing a desire for additional faith-based schools. Unfortunately, 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.

The bottom line: schools cannot rely on traditional fiscal approaches to fund their ministries.

While school leaders grapple with the changes they’re facing, isolated successes have been experienced in some areas of the country, while other dioceses, deaneries, parishes and their respective schools, as well as Christian schools, strategize to plan for the future.  Sadly, they try to solve these problems with the same kind of thinking that created them.

Rather than continuing to “reinvent the wheel,” this site’s goal is to provide guidance gleaned from schools which have experienced successes, accepting responsibility for achieving not just excellence, but sustainability.

For over 20 years, SchoolAdvancement.com shared “next” practices, unique and differently distinctive strategies, and suggestions regarding how some small “shifts” can have a significant positive impact on the future of a school.

Though the curriculum of various faith-based schools may be different, the five elements of Advancement – Asset Management, Retention, Marketing, Enrollment and Development are the same, and represent the “operations” system at work in every successful school.

SchoolAdvancement.com arranged these elements to form the acronym DREAM, putting Development first to fund financial aid efforts to drive Retention efforts, which would lead to an increased Enrollment bringing additional Assets to the school to fund Marketing initiatives to drive Development.  It was an effective solution – for private schools, but not necessarily for faith-based schools.

Reconfiguring those elements into The ARMED Framework aligns with the words of one Christian school leader who stated, “The Battle Is Real” at and educational conference.

The word “Archangel” alludes to St. Michael the Archangel., since the prayer to St. Michael contains a petition to “Defend us in battle” as Catholic and Christian schools strive to raise up disciples for Christ.

Additionally, within the word “Archangel” is the word “Change,” which is what school leaders need to do with current “the way we’ve always done it” mindsets and thinking. Doing what you’ve always been doing and working harder at it simply validates the Law of Diminishing Returns.

Lastly, the letters of the word ARCHANGEL are an acronym from the 9 components of an effective Development program at a school. Notice there is not an “F” in the word, which means “fundraising” isn’t one of those elements.

In Ephesians 6:11, St. Paul advises us to “Put on the armor of God, so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

While some school leaders and boards are beholden to the belief that “It’s all about the money,” others have said “It’s all about enrollment.” Actually, “It’s all about all of it!” Your school’s customers will evaluate “the experience” of your school based on their expectations of excellence.

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” – Deitrich Bonhoeffer