Facilities Master Plan, Notre Dame Catholic School

The Call: A School That Needed to Plan Across Two Campuses Before It Could Fundraise

Notre Dame operates across two sites: a high school and an elementary school. The school’s leadership saw an opportunity to expand programming at both in a way that would better serve families and give Notre Dame a competitive edge. But the vision spanned two campuses, every dollar would come from donors, and the plan would need the Bishop’s approval before fundraising could begin. The school needed a master plan that evaluated both sites, demonstrated feasibility, and presented the vision in a way that would earn approval from Diocesan leadership and confidence from donors.

Choosing a Partner for a Multi-Site Plan with a Diocesan Approval Process

Planning across two campuses is more complex than planning for one. Every recommendation at one site affects the budget available for the other. The plan has to work as a unified strategy. And when Diocesan approval is required before fundraising can begin, the plan and its presentation materials must be compelling enough to earn that critical first yes. The school needed a partner with experience in multi-site planning, fundraising integration, and creating the marketing materials that help school leaders navigate approval processes. They chose Triad.

The Decisions That Earned Approval and Launched a Campaign

Triad’s planning team assessed both the high school and elementary school sites: condition, capacity, educational adequacy, safety, security, accessibility, and site constraints. The two campuses were evaluated together so the recommendations would function as one connected strategy, with the budget allocated for maximum impact across both locations.

The school’s leadership, staff, and community were engaged to define what expanded programming should include at each campus and how the improvements would strengthen the school’s competitive position. That input ensured the plan reflected the school’s mission across every grade level.

Triad developed the master plan with clear design illustrations, estimated costs, and projected schedules for both campuses. Marketing and pitch materials were created to support the school’s presentation to Diocesan leadership. The plan was designed to earn the Bishop’s approval as the first critical milestone. The Bishop approved it.

With approval secured, the plan became the foundation of a fundraising campaign that is now advancing. The school has moved into the design phase for the expansion. Donors can see exactly what the expansion will look like at both sites, what it will cost, and when it can be delivered.

Approved, Funded, and Moving Into Design

Notre Dame’s leadership now has a comprehensive master plan that treats both campuses as one connected vision. The Bishop approved the plan. A fundraising campaign is advancing with strong momentum. And the school has moved into the design phase. Donors can see what their investment will produce across both sites. The plan was tested against reality, approved by Diocesan leadership, and is now becoming the physical expansion the school’s students and families need. Notre Dame proved that a well-planned vision, presented clearly, earns the approvals and the funding to become real.