Their Vision
As the premiere and only all-boys Catholic high school in the San Diego area, the leadership of St. Augustine High School wanted to position the school for the future. In order to continue its strong heritage of providing a well-rounded education in a diverse environment, fundraising needed to grow substantially. School leadership wanted to test the concept of a campaign to double its endowment, creating funds to help offset the rising cost of tuition, and to increase available tuition assistance. Netzel Grigsby Associates was retained to test the viability of doubling the endowment and to plan an ambitious campaign.
Our Strategy
Based on the results of guidance from staff and volunteer leaders from St. Augustine, Netzel Grigsby Associates wrote a case statement articulating the needs for the proposed campaign. A development audit of the school’s fundraising program was conducted using data from the previous five years to show areas of strength and areas of opportunity. An advisory committee helped identify persons to be interviewed whose observations and opinions about the school would be informative and necessary to position the campaign for success. After taking into consideration the results of the audit, the interviews and the study in its entirety, it was recommended that an endowment campaign of $5.3 million be launched, accepting immediate gifts, pledges over time and planned gifts.
Success Together
The “Endowment” Campaign raised more than $10 million dollars for St. Augustine High School. Additionally, a clear plan for solicitation, cultivation and stewardship now provides sufficient donor prospects, the alumni giving program engages both resources and volunteers back to the school and the Board Leadership Development program is thriving as new, high profile Saintsmen are becoming true ambassadors for the school.
“NGA exhibited outstanding leadership throughout St. Augustine’s two capital campaigns. Their approach engages future patrons at an intimate level and enforces a disciplined campaign process from start to finish. It is a process that will lead to success.”
- Edwin J. Hearn, President, St. Augustine High School