February 25 - 26, 2026
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
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
Fund Development
You’ll learn how to raise more money with a sustainable approach.
Organizational Health
Learn to work efficiently as a team to avoid burnout and turnover.
Marketing strategy
Learn to maintain a relationship with your supporters, sharing your mission success across multiple platforms.
Training Schedule
Day 1 | 8:45 am - 8 pm
Welcome & Introduction
Understanding Why You Are Here
Where Are You on the Journey?
Organizational Health Overview
Lunch
Development Paradigms
Development Toolbox
Development Campaigns: Stewardship & Annual Fund
Print Media Marketing
Engaging Social Media
Annual Development Plan
Good Soil Fund Overview
Mass
Social Hour & Dinner
Day 2 | 8:45 am - 4 pm
(8:15 am Travelers Mass)
Welcome & Questions
Development Campaigns: Major Gifts & Designated Funds
How to Make the Ask: A Faith-Inspired Approach
Beyond Stability: What’s Next?
Organizational Health: Building for the Future
Church Tour: Donor-Focused Fundraising
Lunch: Are Your Spaces Reflecting Your Mission?
Development Campaigns: Capital and Planned Giving
Expansion Planning: Preparing For Your Future Growth
Team Work Session
Your Journey Forward
Open Forum
Mass
Cost & Details
Training Price
$2,500 per institution — bring your whole team!
MEals Included
Over the two full days of training, we’ll provide lunch on both days and dinner on the first night.
Who Should Attend
Development staff, pastors, marketing team, bookkeepers, and development committee board members.
Location
The training will be held at the Newman Center - St. Thomas Aquinas Church at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Accommodation
Located in the historic Haymarket District, the Graduate is perfect for exploring Downtown, UNL Campus, and more.
What to Bring
FY 24-25 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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yes, we will provide you with a hotel recommendation within walking distance.
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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.
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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!
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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!