January 26, 2006

Diocesan Foundation announces

Catholic School Development Program initiative

In a move to bolster efforts to strengthen Catholic education, the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is partnering with the Catholic School Development Program (CSDP) to effect change in the financial, administrative and governance structure of Catholic elementary schools by providing free consulting services for marketing, fundraising, management and governance.

The partnership will be announced tonight (Thursday, January 26) at the “Celebrate Catholic Education” dinner at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo.

Founded by Robert T. Healey, CSDP was started by the International Education Foundation in 2004, working with the Diocese of Camden, N.J. Healey, who will be the keynote speaker at tonight’s dinner, said, “We came to the realization that the high schools are fed by the Catholic elementary schools, and the colleges and the universities are fed by the high schools.  We saw, in the Diocese of Camden, the elementary schools were struggling.  We’re closing them and so forth. What the bottom line is, if you lose the elementary schools, you’re going to lose the high schools; you’ll lose the system.”

In the Diocese of Camden, the turnaround has been dramatic. Enrollment of 700 has increased to 1,100 and the schools that were once more than $3 million in debt are now self-sustaining.

CSDP works with selected dioceses to effect change in the financial, administrative and governance structure of Catholic elementary schools by providing free consulting services. Using a proven model for strategic planning designed for schools, CSDP works to enhance programs, increase revenues and strengthen school management and governance.

In the coming weeks, the Foundation will announce the first six to 10 Catholic elementary schools that will take part in a pilot project that will lead to the development of site specific business plans.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, called the program, “Further demonstration that as we re-imagine the diocese, we are using creative, proven methods to strengthen Catholic education. We are working to give our schools the tools they need so we can provide our students with the very best Catholic education.”

David Kersten, executive director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo said, “What we’re envisioning is a collaborative project between the International Education Foundation and our diocesan foundation, and hopefully, other community partners. It will be a program that complements the diocesan and school strategic planning process.  It’s clear that there are some significant structural challenges in the diocese that are being addressed through that strategic planning process. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, when all those conclusions and decisions are reached and the restructuring happens, the question will be, what tools have we put in place that will help the remaining institutions thrive and be successful?

“We’re going to build enrollment, grow enrollment. We’re going to sell and market Catholic education on its merits and not hide that fact.  Catholic education has a tremendous track record,” Kersten added.

CSDP responds to the needs of Catholic schools through a combination of aggressive fundraising, creative collaborations, dynamic financial management, governance reform, grassroots organization and legislative advocacy.

Other services provided by CSDP include development of a professionally designed and tested marketing model, including campaign strategy, media recommendations and sample materials, and CSDP assists with creation of a scholarship fund and legislative advocacy.

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