Elementary Advancement Solutions

08/12/2026

Imagine your school with 19.6% more families walking through the door this fall.

That's the average enrollment increase for the schools I've partnered with over the last few years. Combined, they've also raised more than $2 million in new advancement revenue.

Here's what surprises people: these aren't schools with deep-pocketed donors or decades of major gifts behind them. Most of them started exactly where you are, good school, good mission, no clear plan for how to grow.

Not theory. Real schools, real numbers, real work. Want to talk about what this could look like for yours?

08/11/2026

Every thriving Catholic school gets six things right: Culture, Community Engagement, Faculty, Individual Student Growth, Operational Vitality, and Leadership. Spending the next few weeks breaking each one down here. Starting with the cornerstone: Catholic Culture and Identity, the thing everything else depends on.

Host: John Mihalyo | Guest: Deacon Dave Kerski, Former Catholic School Principal, Diocese of Raleigh What does it actually mean to be a Catholic school — not just in name, but in everything you do,...

07/13/2026

Summer is the best time to work ON your school instead of just IN it.

I put together a free resource called "The Keys to a Successful Catholic School", and it is jam-packed with thought provoking questions to ask you about your Catholic school. I just updated this resource as of May 2026 to make it even more relevant for you.

Whether you're brand new to your role or you've been doing this for years, there's something in here for you.

It's completely free. No strings, no fluff.

Grab it at

Making Catholic School Growth Seem Elementary!

06/16/2026

Testimonial Tuesday!

"John has equipped me with the tools, structure, and confidence needed to be successful."

— Chandler, Catholic School Advancement Director

That word — confidence — means a lot to me. Advancement work can feel overwhelming, especially when you're building something from scratch or trying to grow something that has stalled.

That's exactly why I do this work. Want to see what that looks like for your school?

Making Catholic School Growth Seem Elementary!

06/09/2026

Testimonial Tuesday!

"Thanks to his support, we've seen measurable growth — not just in numbers, but in the strength of our community and the clarity of our message."

— Lane, Enrollment and Advancement Director

That's what this work is really about. Numbers matter, but culture and clarity are what make the numbers last.

If you're curious what that looks like for your school, let's talk.

Making Catholic School Growth Seem Elementary!

06/06/2026

90+ episodes in and I am still fired up about every single conversation.

The Catholic School Leaders Podcast exists because I believe no Catholic school leader should have to figure this out alone. Every week, real leaders from around the country share what's actually working — not theory, not fluff.

If you haven't subscribed yet, now is a great time to start. Your summer commute just got a whole lot better. 🎧

Leadership in a Catholic school can be a challenging vocation. Whether you are in a current leadership role at your school or are aspiring to be a future leader, this podcast will help you walk with other exceptional leaders from all over the country to grow Catholic education for the next generatio...

06/04/2026

Here's the thing nobody tells you about the first week of summer as a Catholic school leader.

You finally stop. And then your brain keeps going.

The to-do list doesn't disappear just because the students left. The enrollment worries, the budget questions, the staff situation you've been putting off since March, they're all still there. They're just quieter now.

That quiet is actually a gift if you use it right.

The best thing you can do this week isn't to grind through your list. It's to figure out which things on that list actually matter and which ones you've just been carrying out of habit.

What's the one thing on your plate right now that would change everything if you actually dealt with it this summer?

06/01/2026

If you're a Catholic school leader and you're trying to figure out what to actually do this summer to set your school up for a great year, we made something for you.

It's a free workshop called "Ten Things All Catholic School Leaders Should Do This Summer," and you can watch it right now at the link below.

No fluff. No theory. Just practical things that move the needle before August even gets here.

Watch it free:

Making Catholic School Growth Seem Elementary!

04/22/2026

I have to share this one with you today.

Three years ago, Parkersburg Catholic Schools was facing declining enrollment, real financial uncertainty, and whispers in the community that the school might not make it.

This week on The Catholic School Leaders Podcast, I sat down with Tara Nelson, their Advancement & Enrollment Director, to talk about how they turned everything around.

And I mean everything.

Today they are raising $500,000 for a campus consolidation project with a 3-to-1 diocesan match behind it. And they are ahead of schedule.

I've had the honor of working with this school for two years and watching this happen up close. The growth has been real, but more importantly, the way they did it is something every Catholic school can learn from.

They didn't wait for a miracle. They made small promises and kept them. They showed up for their parishes before they ever asked their parishes to show up for them. They told their story authentically and their community responded.

When you dream bigger, your community shows up bigger. Parkersburg Catholic is living proof.

🎧 Give this one a listen — and share it with a Catholic school leader who needs to hear it today.
https://cslp.bepodcast.network/episodes/dream-bigger-how-one-small-catholic-school-turned-everything-around

Making Catholic school growth seem elementary! 🙏

Host: John Mihalyo Guest: Tara Nelson, Advancement & Enrollment Director, Parkersburg Catholic Schools The Catholic School Leaders Podcast Episode OverviewThree years ago, Parkersburg Catholic Scho...

11/19/2025

Another great workshop is coming on December 11th! Register today!

https://luma.com/dwn32p89