St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church and School

THE CHALLENGE

For years, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church and School in Carson City, Nevada, operated on separate campuses. This physical divide created a challenge for building a unified community rooted in shared faith and mission. As the only Catholic school south of Reno and one of just four elementary schools in the Diocese of Reno, St. Teresa School serves families from a broad region. Yet without proximity to the parish, the school lacked the regular presence of clergy, church spiritual life and parish ministries. The separation also limited opportunities for families to grow together in faith. After 24 years without a major fundraising effort, parish leaders knew it was time to bring school and parish together on a single campus.

THE VISION

The plan for a new school facility located on the parish campus would strengthen Catholic identity, enhance academic offerings and serve the wider regional community. Projects included:

• Constructing main academic and administrative office buildings.
• Building classrooms for K-8 students in a two-story facility.
• Creating specialized space for STEM, robotics, visual and performing arts.
• Adding an amphitheater and sports fields.
• Constructing new playgrounds and landscaped outdoor spaces.
• Developing parking and a pedestrian trail or bridge connecting school and church.

THE SOLUTION

Through prayer, planning and extraordinary generosity, St. Teresa’s first major capital effort in over two decades exceeded expectations, raising more than $4.1 million. The United in Faith, Building Our Future Capital Campaign unified the community behind a bold and achievable vision. The Steier Group provided strategic support throughout the process including a full-time dedicated campaign manager onsite, in-house graphic design, database services and donor research. These services helped parish leaders engage families, share the mission and build lasting momentum.