ascension catholic church oak park

 

Ascension Church
808 S. East Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304

Phone: (708) 848-2703
Fax: (708) 848-2773

 

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 Ascension Catholic Church

Institutional Advancement

Ascension School opened a Development Office in 2001, with the intention of solidifying fundraising and marketing programs, increasing enrollment, and growing predictable sources of revenue. In 2008, the Development Office became the parish Advancement Office.

What happens in the Advancement Office?
Anything that advances the institution. Specifically, these are some of the things for which we are responsible:

Communication. (Ascension School news; Ascension School, Alumni and Parish e-letters; Ascension School, Alumni & Parish website content) By communicating we let everyone with a stake in our community know what is happening. We tell the story of Ascension, past and present, and invite people to become a part of our future.

Marketing and advertising. (School recruitment and retention programs; print advertising; press releases) We develop the Ascension "brand" so that our message is consistent, professional and instantly recognizable. We raise the bar, working toward ever higher standards of the delivery of our message.

Fundraising programs and events. (Online giving programs; Memorial Bricks; Teach the Children; autumn auction; special programs such as Lenten fish frys, Bags Tournament, variety show) We coordinate the efforts of different parish groups so that our community not feel that they are constantly inundated with requests for financial support. On the other hand, we let our constituents know what our needs are, what we are working toward, and what we are doing with gifts that they have given us. We express our gratitude promptly, graciously, frequently and, when appropriate, publically. We see to it that gifts are applied to the purpose for which they were given.

Leadership development. (Advancement Team; Ascension Ambassadors; development associates; Alumni Advisory Board) We work with volunteers, with students, with part-time staff to "grow" the Advancement Team to include all of parish leadership. We teach Ascension history to everyone who will listen so that they are aware of the rich traditions of our parish. We help the community value the support that we are shown by local businesses. We help facilitate the stewardship of parish resources through the involvement of volunteers.

Ascension School alumni programs. (Database management; solicitation mangement; gift tracking and reporting; thanking; restricted and memorial gift management; class reunions; alumni data profiles; alumni cultivation.) We are the current custodians of an institution that is nearly one hundred years old. It is our responsibility to honor the Ascension of past generations, share their story with current tenants of the building and prepare Ascension School for the next century.

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