Success Stories

Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School

In 1990, the building that housed Norfolk Catholic High School needed extensive work. Enrollment had been declining as well, mainly because the region’s demographics had changed dramatically since the school opened in 1950. Most of the students it could serve were now growing up in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.

Having never done major-gift fundraising, the board turned to The Curtis Group. A feasibility study proved that it was time to relocate the school. Just two years later, a new Catholic High School opened in Virginia Beach, only the second Catholic high school built on the East Coast in 40 years.

The ongoing relationship between the high school and The Curtis Group has been long and productive. Since 1991, the firm has helped the school raise more than $12 million through a series of capital campaigns for the original school building, for a library media center in 1997, an expanded cafeteria and athletic facilities in 2001 and a fine arts center in 2004. Most recently The Curtis Group has been working with the high school on developing an endowment program.

After its campaign success, the board of Catholic High continues to turn to The Curtis Group for guidance on strategic development issues and building its endowment.