February 5 - 6, 2025

Foundations For Your Future Training for Newman Center Leaders

Over two days, you and your team will learn the practical and spiritual principles necessary to build a thriving Catholic campus ministry.

✓ Better Understand Fund Development Principles

✓ Gain More Confidence For Yourself and Your Team

✓ Leave Inspired with a Clear Vision for Growth & Success

Father Ryan Kaup works on a laptop at the UNL Newman Center

Too many Catholic chaplains feel stuck in the role of “CEO of a struggling business” 

Equip yourself and your team with an overview of the tools you need to achieve mission success through fund development, organizational health, and marketing. 

What we’ll cover during your training

calendar and dollar sign icon represents SHC's fund development planning

Fund Development

You’ll learn how to raise more money with a sustainable approach.

A team org chart icon represents SHC's service to chaplains and their teams

Organizational Health

Learn to work efficiently as a team to avoid burnout and turnover.

fundraising mailer for donors icon represents SHC's marketing services to chaplains and their teams

Marketing strategy

Learn to maintain a relationship with your supporters, sharing your mission success across multiple platforms.

  • Patty Marmie & Brandon Pond teach a session at the Foundations for your Future training.

    I feel confident leaving this training that I can take this back to my Newman Center

    “This training helped me to understand things I did not know were necessary aspects of a development program and broke it down into actionable items. I feel confident leaving this training that I can take this back to my Newman Center to grow our annual fund and have a better vision for growth and success for our students.”

    -Training Attendee

  • A young woman in prayer at the UNL Newman Center

    “If you want to learn how to build your ministry with a right heart, grounded in your mission, and focused on vision, Sacred Heart Consulting will come alongside you to run the race - and run it well!”

    - Jennifer Sentz, Phoenix, AZ

  • Benediction at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

    “Invaluable. Supportive. Necessary for the future of the Church.”

    — Training Attendee

  • A group of students participating in the Eucharistic Procession on the UNL Campus.

    "I truly cannot recommend Sacred Heart Consulting enough!

    I'm really thankful for their accompaniment, wisdom, and advice during our fundraising endeavors. They are so knowledgeable and wise. Truly, look no further! Sacred Heart Consulting is the best!”

    - Macy Becker | Hays, Kansas

Training Schedule

Day 1 | 9am - 8pm

Welcome

Why Are You Here?

Where Are You Now?

Lunch

Development: Campaigns, Appeals, and Funds

Tour: Donor-Focused, Mission-Driven Fundraising

Development Toolbox

Open Forum

Mass/Dinner

Day 2 | 9am - 4pm

Welcome

Organizational Health Overview

Marketing Overview

Lunch: Are Your Spaces Reflecting Your Mission?

Expansion Planning: Preparing For Your Future Growth

Everything We Didn’t Say

Your Journey Forward

Open Forum (Optional)

Cost & Details

training icon

Training Price

$2,500 per institution — bring your whole team!

checkmark icon

MEals Included

Over the two full days of training, we’ll provide lunch on both days and dinner on the first night.

team icon

Who Should Attend

Development staff, pastors, marketing team, bookkeepers, and development committee board members.

location marker on map

Location

The training will be held at the Newman Center - St. Thomas Aquinas Church at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

hotel with 5 stars icon

Accommodation

The Graduate Hotel

Located in the historic Haymarket District, the Graduate is perfect for exploring Downtown, UNL Campus, and more.

Luggage icon

What to Bring

  • FY 23-24 Profit/Loss Statement and Budget

  • 3-year Fundraising Results

  • Your Organizational Calendar

  • Samples from Past Marketing

FAQs

At Sacred Heart Consulting, we’ve traveled the Catholic campus ministry journey ourselves. We would be honored to train you and your team at Foundations for Your Future.

We are here to help you!

  • Yes. Our Assessment is the best starting point on your journey. Taking the Assessment will allow you to better understand your organization's areas of strength and weakness so you can get the most out of the training.

  • Foundations for Your Future is typically offered twice per year, in February and July. It is common for fund development staff to attend a second time as a refresher or to bring additional team members along.

  • The pastor is most often the organizational leader and sets both the culture and direction of the campus ministry. Pastors also often play an essential role in major donor engagement. As such, yes, we recommend that pastors attend Foundations for Your Future whenever possible.

  • Everyone from the Chaplain and development director to any other marketing, data entry, and bookkeeping staff can benefit from attending Foundations for Your Future. The training includes workshop sessions where your team will learn to use new concepts and tools together.

  • At Foundations for Your Future, you and your team will gain a broad understanding of professional fund development principles and models. We also provide a brief understanding of organizational health and an overview of best practices in developing an effective marketing strategy. Attendees will engage in the learning process by creating an action plan following each new lesson.

  • Yes, we will provide you with a hotel recommendation within walking distance that provides complimentary breakfast.

  • We will provide lunch, snacks, and beverages each day. There will also be a dinner following the first day of training, fostering fellowship and productive conversations.

  • Foundations for Your Future is designed to teach you the basic principles of fund development, teamwork, and marketing strategy so you have a better idea of how to build and implement a plan for future success. If you need more guidance, we would love to talk about a consulting plan!

  • By the end of the training, we believe you will feel so empowered and have everything you need to get started on your own. However, it would also be our pleasure to walk alongside you as your consultants. Learn more on our Consulting Services page.

Stop stressing over which vital ministries to cut and build a thriving Catholic community on your campus.

Your journey with us starts when you take the Institutional Assessment, so we will ask you to take it before attending Foundations for Your Future if you register but haven’t already done so. The assessment will give you a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of your current fund development program and help us to get to know your organization.

We look forward to meeting you!