Meitler consultants are back to meeting with parishes and schools in person to listen to their visions for the future. Virtual meetings are good, and they definitely serve a purpose, but nothing beats meeting face-to-face to feel the energy and passion people have for their schools and parishes!
Schools
It’s In The Numbers
Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the rework attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics.
—Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s and Disraeli’s observations on data and statistics are interesting and often true. Yet, on the other hand, we also often hear “the numbers never lie” or “you can’t argue with the data.” We at Meitler have learned, however, that when it comes to planning, we have to give data its due.
As a planning firm whose hallmark is effective data research and analysis, we tell our clients that data and numbers don’t solve a problem, but rather, help us ask the right questions to approach a problem and break it down into solvable parts. What are the issues or challenges that caused the problem and that we need to address? What kind of data and information will we need? Once we get the right data, how do we set it up so it is coherent and makes sense? And then we can begin to analyze the numbers: what does the data mean for us, what are the historical trends and how do they influence future projections and what potential impact might those projections have on our future as a diocese, school or parish community.
Think of data as an “early warning system” when planning. It helps dioceses, schools and parishes to understand trends in a very concrete and quantifiable way. Relevant information provides the groundwork that elicits questions and brainstorming as to what the numbers and data mean for my school or my parish at this moment in time. Appropriate data should inspire us to conduct more research into what is working for us, what isn’t and what steps we may need to take to adapt, change, and proactively shape our future rather than simply react.
Data to be researched, collected and analyzed need to be from internal and external sources and be quantitative and qualitative. Internal quantitative information for schools and parishes include Catholic demographics, enrollment and membership trend data, staffing, and financial data. External quantitative information would focus on community demographics and socio-economic trends and projections. Qualitative data for schools and parishes focus on the experience and culture of individual schools and parishes, how they live and operate every day and every year. It is the quality of life in a school or parish and the perception of the many constituencies connected to our institutions that is the source of the qualitative information we need.
Getting the data we need is usually pretty straightforward. The challenge is how to analyze and use it effectively. We can use data in a number of ways as we plan: to identify trends and challenges in our schools and parishes, to help prioritize the challenges and concerns we identified, set goals and objectives around the priorities, and monitor progress toward implementing action plans to achieve our goals.
Data is not an end in itself in planning. It is instead the springboard for dialogue, moving us to raise questions and understand the trends that have brought our school or parish to its present moment. It provides the opportunity to create change, seek a new path or direction for the future, be flexible, adapt and determine our own future. The figures may often beguile us and if we can’t arrange them ourselves to make sense, it is essential to find someone who can make sense of it all.
National Catholic School Mentorship Program Reflections with Dr. Mazie McCoy
Enrollment management, both new enrollment and retention, is one of the primary concerns of Catholic School leadership. Dr. Mazie McCoy developed a strong plan for Corpus Christi Catholic School with support from her peers at the National Catholic School Mentorship program and Meitler consultants.
Meitler Minute
Why is now the right time to make a plan? Planning helps differentiate between “urgent” and “important.” Planning articulates a vision that pastors, lay leadership, and principals will use as a basis for making decisions about organizing and utilizing resources. We would be happy to meet with you to show how Meitler and Ruotolo Associates can help you make a great plan for your future.
Is Getting Money Really That Hard?
I accepted my first principal position in 2000. I was excited at the prospect of leading and creating a culture of learning and continuous school improvement. I set my focus on developing a comprehensive plan for curriculum and instruction, expanding programming, and onboarding new staff. With my skilled and dedicated teachers, we received formal recognition for our curriculum work. Not only was hard work essential to achieve our goals, but it also required money, and getting money was the easiest part. Having a supportive pastor and financially sound parish allowed us to move forward in many improvement initiatives. It was what I fondly remember as the school budgeting “good old days”.
Fast forward 15 years and three schools later, I identified two areas of needed improvement, instructional programming, and a plan to increase teacher salaries. Both initiatives required substantial funding. At the same time, our school enrollment was declining and unsurprisingly parish financial commitments decreased as fewer parishioners participated in stewardship. The school had been dependent on the deep pockets of parents to accomplish its goals and thus, there was no funding strategy. To move forward with our important work my focus quickly became fund development planning, aka getting the money.
Fund development planning requires a team of dedicated individuals and a clear direction. Here are some valuable points to help guide your work.
- Using a SWOT Analysis
It is important to look at your school’s current situation with your newly established fund development team. Diving deep into Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats will guide you in your planning and define your objectives. - Donors
Identify alumni, parents, grandparents, and businesses in your community that have demonstrated interest in your school’s mission. With those key persons identified, develop strategies to build those relationships while determining methods of solicitation. Create opportunities for outreach, appeals, and giving. Keep in mind, your beginning touchpoints should focus on positive and consistent communication about your school before an “ask” is made. - Create a Database
It is vital to create a database of alumni, parishioners, grandparents, and businesses. Again, it is important to include personal or face-to-face solicitation with each group. Outreach should be enhanced through your school’s marketing team. - Development Funds
Categorize your plan into three areas: What, Three-year periods of Results, and Future Expectations. - Development Action Plan
This section of the plan is comprised of actionable items and the persons responsible. Categories include What, Who, When, Status, and Expected Results - Measuring Success
Annually, measure the following areas: Donation amounts, Number of new prospects, Number of reoccurring donors, Effectiveness of relationship-building strategies, and Number of pledges.
We experienced an increase in funding by effectively engaging and building positive relationships with our donors. By following our plan, getting the money became much easier.
