St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church and School

THE CHALLENGE

St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church and School in Omaha is a parish rich in history and faith. Established in 1919, the parish has long been a “city on a hill,” with a beautiful campus that reflects generations of commitment to worship, education and community life. However, a longstanding mentality that left the heavy lift of giving to a select few challenged the community’s ability to keep up with rising costs and a growing community.

THE VISION

Due to a community growing in size and need, St. Margaret Mary leadership articulated a hopeful and comprehensive vision that honored its legacy while boldly preparing for the future. Goals focused on strengthening all aspects of parish and school life:

• Addressing maintenance needs, including pews, accessibility, lighting and electrical systems in the sanctuary.
• Upgrading classroom space to maintain excellence in instruction.
• Renovating the west campus to provide flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for parish operations, meetings and fellowship.
• Building a new parish center with dedicated gathering spaces to support ministries, groups and community life for all.

THE SOLUTION

St. Margaret Mary leadership chose to partner with the Steier Group for the second time in its history for a complex and dynamic capital campaign. Leading with adaptability, presence and personal engagement, the Steier Group team prioritized deep listening and maintaining positive and forward-looking energy, even amid changes in momentum and leadership mid-campaign. Through a personalized cultivation strategy, frequent and creative communication and a consistent onsite presence, the Steier Group campaign manager, who was also a parent of four former St. Margaret Mary students, worked tirelessly to help rebuild trust, broaden participation and recalibrate donor expectations. The team successfully navigated extraordinary circumstances including leadership transitions and an expanded fundraising scope while keeping the campaign aligned with the mission through strong communication, guiding this community always toward unity and generosity.