Diocese of Nashville

Looking to build a stronger church in Middle Tennessee, the Diocese of Nashville desired to serve the growing and diversifying population of the region. Under the leadership of a new bishop, the diocese chose to meet new challenges with a strategic plan to serve the needs of all into the future. With a focus on the future needs of parishes while also enhancing and expanding ministries, the Diocese of Nashville needed a partner that could customize the efforts of this campaign.

Though some challenges were anticipated when the Diocese of Nashville initially engaged the Steier Group to partner in their five-year plan to revitalize the diocese, the greatest unknown became the changing landscape of the global pandemic. The Steier Group walked with the diocese every step of the way, and, after a brief pause to reorient, focused efforts for the A Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Capital Campaign launched in October 2020. The Steier Group’s unique, hands-on campaign management model, combined with our expert grant writers, award-winning graphic designers and creative fundraising strategies through unprecedented times, helped guide the Diocese of Nashville far past its projected goal.

This successful campaign also led to a marked increase in weekly offertory, where the average across all parishes in the diocese has increased by nearly 50%. Vocations have increased from 25 men in formation for the priesthood and diaconate to 53 over a five-year average. The collection from the annual bishop’s appeal is now more than double than before the campaign. Additionally, there has been a 12% increase in Catholic school enrollment after years of losing students.  A premier project of the campaign, the new St. Michael Academy, is under construction and slated to officially open in the fall of 2024. The campaign revitalized every aspect of the diocese, and the effects will be felt for generations to come.