Frank Donaldson
Founder of ISPD. Author of seven books on Catholic school and parish development. Thirty-seven years helping Catholic communities build a Culture of Belonging.
Frank Donaldson founded the Institute for School & Parish Development in 1989, after fifteen years inside Catholic schools as an English and journalism teacher, a development director, and an administrator.
He started the firm because he had seen the same problem from all three chairs. Catholic schools and parishes were being handed secular fundraising models that did not fit their communities, their calendars, or their mission — and were being told the shortfall was a failure of effort rather than a failure of fit.
Thirty-seven years later, ISPD has facilitated hundreds of long-range planning processes, established development and advancement offices across the country, trained hundreds of Catholic leaders, and helped Catholic institutions raise millions of dollars — without asking any of them to stop being Catholic to do it.
The idea underneath the work
Frank Donaldson’s central argument is that sustainable giving is a consequence of belonging, not a substitute for it. A community that knows its people — parishioners, parents, alumni, past parents, grandparents — and engages them in the mission before it ever asks them for anything will out-raise a community that simply runs a better event.
He calls this building a Culture of Belonging, and it is the through-line of every ISPD process, book, and course.
Teaching
Through ISPD’s partnership with the University of Dayton’s Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, Frank teaches online courses in Catholic school and parish development, stewardship, and marketing. Courses award Continuing Education Credits and a Certificate of Completion from both UD and ISPD.
His books serve as the textbooks and workbooks for those courses. See the current course schedule.
Books
The Cadence of Catholic School Development: Connecting the Dots
National Catholic Educational Association, 2025 • ISBN 978-1558337961 (NCEA Bookstore | Amazon)
Adapting to Change: Successful Catholic School Development in a Virtual and Hybrid World
National Catholic Education Association, 2020 • ISBN 978-1558337565 (NCEA Bookstore | Amazon)
15 More Lessons Learned in 30+ Years in Catholic School Development
National Catholic Educational Association · ISBN 978-1558337251 (NCEA Bookstore | Amazon)
25 Lessons Learned in 25+ Years in Catholic School Development — Textbook
National Catholic Educational Association · ISBN 978-1558336032 (NCEA Bookstore | Amazon)
25 Lessons Learned in 25+ Years in Catholic School Development — Workbook
National Catholic Educational Association · ISBN 978-1558336414 (NCEA Bookstore | Amazon)
Total Parish Development: Understanding, Organizing and Implementing Your Plan for an Engaged Catholic Community
Textbook and workbook · 23rd Publications · ISBN 978-1627854832 (Amazon)
Catholic School Publications: Unifying the Image
National Catholic Educational Association
Development Directions
Frank writes Development Directions, a monthly newsletter on Catholic development that reaches more than 10,000 Catholic leaders nationwide.
Speaking
Frank is a frequent presenter at national conferences and conventions, including the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), which publishes and distributes several of his books.
