Private school fundraising consulting services from Graham-Pelton

The Situation

In Newark, New Jersey, half the population lives in poverty. And only 12% have a college degree. Yet 98% of St. Benedict Preparatory School’s students – 84% of whom receive financial aid – are admitted to college. At a school that does things differently and lives their ethos “never do for students what they can do for themselves,” the outcomes they obtain are extraordinary. Yet the need remains great. In order to provide critical education that helps students transcend statistics and fulfill their potential, St. Benedict’s Prep announced, at their 150th anniversary gala in 2018, a $100 million comprehensive campaign.

The Success

“Forever Benedict’s: The Campaign for St. Benedict’s Preparatory School” successfully concluded in 2022, surpassing its goal and raising nearly $109 million. Graham-Pelton provided strategic counsel throughout the campaign, including prospect management and counsel, prospect pool development, volunteer leadership organizing, and development staff coaching. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Benedict’s achieved extraordinary outcomes, including a record-setting giving day that outperformed all previous efforts by a wide margin.