What is Development?
 
Development is a fairly recent phenomenon within Catholic elementary and secondary schools.  Some colleges and universities have had annual giving programs since the early 1900's, while the mid-1940'2 saw practically all institutions of higher learning establishing development programs.  Development is concerned with establishing a strategic plan, improving the public relations of the school, marketing it, recruiting and retaining students, and securing support for the school in terms of human and financial resources.
 
Why Catholic School Development?
 
Schools can no longer rely just upon tuition and fund-raisers to balance the budget, enhance programs, and build for the future.
 
There is a great need to plan for the future so Catholic schools can meet the needs of students, faculty, and parents well into the 21st century.
 
Greater need to broaden the base of support include:
Alumni
Parents of Alumni
Grandparents
Community leaders
Corporate community
Foundations
Small Business owners

Greater need to establish an endowment for each Catholic school.
Greater need to have an organized development program in each Catholic school that will do the following:
Market for image
Market for students
Market for donors

Catholic schools cannot keep raising tuition and shrinking our share of the market place.
Catholic schools must compete in the market place, and to do this we must have the following:
Technology
Outstanding facilities
Qualified faculty
The best resource materials available

We must involve people in an organized, professional manner to invest in the future of our Catholic schools.

Because, when done correctly, development is successful and is making a tremendous difference in hundreds of Catholic schools across the country.