Fundraising Coaching and Systems Management for Catholic Ministries

At Shannon Development, we coach fundraisers and manage systems that help Catholic ministries strengthen donor engagement and raise more money.

Who we are

Shannon Development is a targeted, personal, Catholic philanthropy advising firm that helps campus ministries, parishes and apostolates reach their full potential in fundraising while creating and maintaining sustainable and effective back office systems and programming. We offer executive counsel to staff and volunteers at all levels, from bishops, pastors and council members, to directors of development, annual giving, stewardship, marketing and communications and database management. We believe strongly in personally engaging donors and prospects that yield transformational impact for your ministry. Our goal is to help you reach your fundraising goals to confidently move into the future with a sustainable and high-achieving development program.

Frank Shannon

Our founder and “head coach”, Frank Shannon, brings over 30 years of executive fundraising experience that has led teams to raise over $200 million in higher education and Catholic causes, including a $36 million new church at St. Mary’s in College Station, Texas. He can provide your team the expertise of a high-performing development expert with a low key and personal approach to help you achieve your goals.

Learn more

Learn about our services

  • We offer a comprehensive approach to development that will guide you through the process of developing and implementing a fundraising program to meet and exceed your goals. Our approach gives you the elevated perspective you need to grow beyond small individual gifts, to long-term, sustainable, and impactful donations that can support expansion and growth. Our Scope of Services includes:

    • Initial Assessment

    • Planning

    • Strategy Development

    • Stewardship, Donor Engagement and Retention

    • Marketing and Communications Team Collaboration

    • Leadership Councils and Committees Recruitment, Training, and Engagement

    • Annual Fund Campaigns

    • Major Gift Fundraising

    • Ongoing Support, Accountability, and Adaptation

  • In addition to coaching and planning, we can provide hands-on oversight of your Marketing and Communications providers to assure accountability and ongoing progress in the areas of:

    • Multi-media Assessments and Recommendations

    • Brand Consistency

    • Social Media Management

    • Direct Mail and Email Campaigns

    • Website Evaluation and Assistance

  • We can provide oversight and accountability to providers in the areas of:

    • Prospect Management Systems

    • Donor Recognition Programs

    • Ongoing major donor engagement strategies

    • Swag and gifts

    • Event Planning

  • For help in the one system that holds everything together, we provide coaching and management oversight for:

    • Database and CRM Management

    • Gift receipting and processing

    • Prospect Research, Segmentation, and Management

Who we serve

We help any size ministry with the need for effective, strategic, sustainable, and innovative fundraising and donor engagement.  We specialize in Catholic parishes, campus ministries and apostolates. Our services are personalized and scalable and will give you the value-add of our experience and personal care.

Pillars of Practice


Strategic

We assess your specific situation and goals in order to craft a personalized and strategic development plan to meet your unique needs and circumstances.


Innovative

We will focus on finding innovative ways to address your fundraising challenges, using creative strategies and systems to make an impact.


Sustainable

We are dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to succeed over the long haul. Our commitment is to ensure that you can sustain and maintain a robust and effective development program for years to come.


Fundraising Roadmap

Looking for a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the elements of a successful fundraising plan? We can provide a comprehensive framework to steer you in the right direction that offers advice and guidance to help you follow through on a well-organized fundraising plan.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1