St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church

A decade ago, St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church in Kirkwood, Missouri, carried out a major construction project that changed the parish landscape. The important project included the addition of a narthex, an adoration chapel and a new education center. Though the parish diligently paid down the construction debt, the parish still owed a significant amount. The payments made it challenging for the parish to concentrate resources on its ministries. After careful study of parish needs and development of a strategic plan, St. Gerard partnered with the Steier Group on the Cherishing Our Past … Strengthening Our Future Capital Campaign. Along with addressing the debt, the campaign focused on making much-needed upgrades to the church and enhancing campus security. Communication is key with any fundraising drive, and the Steier Group’s strategy included interviews, surveys and other steps to make sure parishioners felt their voices were heard. As a result, the campaign received strong backing from parishioners. With the help of active volunteers and visionary leadership, the campaign raised more than $3.7 million toward the parish’s important goals.