Offerings
Advancement
Advancing Schools. Fueling Growth.
About the Program
The Advancement Certificate Program is offered to schools interested in accelerating their advancement efforts. Participants receive education, coaching, and tools to develop and implement a proven advancement plan tailored to their school’s mission and culture.
Why it Matters
Strategic advancement strengthens financial sustainability, deepens donor relationships, and provides long-term growth potential for Catholic schools. Through this program, participants gain clarity, structure, and practical skills to build a thriving advancement strategy.
What's Included
Program breakouts include:
- Annual fund planning and execution
- Major gifts and donor relations
- Marketing and communication for advancement
- Fundraising events and campaigns
- Board development and engagement
- Strategic planning for long-term success
By strengthening advancement leadership, this program ensures Catholic schools have the resources to grow, innovate, and serve families for generations to come.
Partner School Testimonials
What Catholic School Leaders Say
“Since participating in last summer’s Advancement Certificate program, Saint Raphael has experienced significant growth in both donor relations and overall fundraising efforts. It equipped me with the tools, vision, and confidence to help our school thrive and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.”
Tanya Barakat
Advancement Director, St. Raphael Catholic School | Crystal, MN
“We are incredibly grateful for the Advancement Certificate Program. Prior to this training, we truly had zero expertise or a concrete advancement plan in place. The program gave us the confidence, knowledge, and structure we needed to move forward with intention. One of our biggest accomplishments has been successfully creating a comprehensive advancement plan that now guides our work throughout the year and well into the future. This alone has been a game changer for our school.”
Katie Wise
Advancement Director, St. Joseph's School | Moorhead, MN
“I wanted to share how much this opportunity has meant to me personally. The advancement courses demystified the ‘scary’ parts of fundraising and replaced them with a steady, manageable rhythm. Learning how to truly be in a relationship with our donors has made my job so much more rewarding. Having the tools to organize our data and set achievable goals has given me a new level of confidence, and we are already seeing the results in our school’s growth.”
Samantha Smith
Annual Giving Assistant Director, Loyola | Mankato, MN
“The CSCOE Advancement Certificate Program gave Holy Redeemer School clear direction and confidence in our advancement work. Since completing the program, we have strengthened our fundraising strategies, improved our enrollment processes, and built a more intentional approach to engaging our community. The progress we’re seeing is a direct result of what we learned and implemented through this experience.”