In June of 1989, the Institute for School and Parish Development opened for business. This month, as we begin our 34th year of working with Catholic schools, parishes, and (arch) dioceses throughout the country, we are hosting our annual ISPD Development School right here in New Orleans from June 26th thru June...
With the 2022-23 fiscal year coming to a close, there is a question that many Catholic leaders face in the months of May and June: how are we going to improve our operational vitality (advancement/development, enrollment management, communications, etc.) and stewardship efforts in 2023-24? For some, it is a burning...
Happy New Year! We hope the Christmas Holidays were a wonderful and blessed time for you and your family to grow closer, share stories, worship together, and get that well deserved “down time” that all of us need in order to charge the battery. Here’s wishing that 2023 may be...
As the end of 2022 nears its end, now is a great time to check in on your Annual Fund and see how things are going. We have often said that a Catholic school/parish Annual Fund is the single most important Development $$$ effort that you can implement. Simply because...
Note: Before the start of each school year, ISPD has shared this newsletter for the past 10+ years with Catholic leaders across the country. It is also one of the chapters in the “25 Lessons Learned” publication. Again, we hope it will spark some creative ideas as you begin the...
In a four-count rhythm, with the tip of the rod at 12 o'clock, and the right-hand wrist doing all of the action, I sat in a chair out in the front yard and learned how to use a fly rod. I was ten years old, and the black inner tube...
Catholic Parish Development/Stewardship Crisis in 2022: How Many Catholic Parishes Are Simply Running Out of Time? There Are Answers! 2021-22 Sample Headlines “Seattle Archdiocese plan to close churches stirs sadness, anger, and resistance” “In Cincinnati, the number of priests is projected to drop by 20% in five years. Participation in...
“Making a List and Checking It Twice” In August 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, ISPD released a newsletter titled, “Can I Check These Ten Boxes as Being Complete or In-Progress?” Many Catholic schools and parishes responded by saying that this list was helpful in assessing where they were after...
As a young man growing up with a wise father, there were those memorable times where I knew what my dad was telling me could be (especially in later years) classified as meaningful and profound. One of those moments took place right after I graduated from De La Salle High...
Part 1 on “The Future of Catholic Schools and Parishes” was released on March 24, 2021; Part 2 was released the week after Easter; Part 3 was released at the beginning of May 2021, and Part 4 is being released on June 1, 2021. The subject matter of this four-part...