Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier School

THE CHALLENGE

In Dyersville, Iowa, Catholic education has flourished for 170 years since the establishment of St. Francis Xavier School. Since 1966, Beckman Catholic High School has been a pilar of faith and education for Catholics in the area. However, more recently, both schools faced critical challenges that threatened their ability to sustain and grow their mission. Aging infrastructure, most notably a 60-year-old HVAC system at Beckman and unreliable climate control at Xavier, created inconsistent learning environments for students and faculty. At the same time, limited endowment resources constrained long-term sustainability, covering only a small portion of operating needs. These factors made it clear that a strategic and mission-driven capital campaign was essential.

THE VISION

Beckman Catholic and Xavier Elementary leadership joined together to discern a path forward in a joint fundraising campaign that would serve Catholic school students of all ages. At the heart of the effort was a commitment to unite the two schools under a shared mission while investing in both immediate facility needs and long-term sustainability. The goals included:

• Replacing outdated HVAC systems at both schools to ensure safe, comfortable and energy-efficient learning environments.
• Strengthening the endowment to support faculty, programs and long-term financial stability.
• Completing the turf and track replacement at Beckman.
• Supporting long-term advancement efforts.

THE SOLUTION

Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier Elementary School partnered with the Steier Group to implement a strategic campaign that combined strong major gift cultivation with broad community engagement. Following a comprehensive planning study, school leadership was guided by the onsite, dedicated campaign manager to conduct personalized outreach, resulting in a 65% rise in donors compared to a previous in-house campaign. At the same time, the One Faith. One Family. One Future. Capital Campaign addressed misconceptions about funding through clear communication and targeted, tailored messaging, ensuring stakeholders understood the ongoing need for investment. As the campaign unfolded, it became more than a fundraising effort; it became a unifying force, bringing together two school communities into one shared future. Through disciplined strategy and mission-focused engagement, the campaign successfully raised nearly two-times the Steier Group low-end projection and positioned Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier Elementary to enhance their facilities, strengthen their endowment and continue forming disciples for generations to come.