Case Study
How a Private School Achieved 97% Parent Participation and Nearly Doubled Annual Gifts
The Challenge
When the School of the Cathedral's communications and social media coordinator moved on in July 2023, school leadership faced a daunting situation: they needed to replace a full-time employee before the start of the school year—with only weeks to spare and a finalized budget that left little room for a new hire.
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The departing coordinator had managed a substantial portfolio:
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Weekly parent communication newsletter (Principal's Notes)
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All ad hoc parent email communications
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Parish and School social media efforts
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Development and fundraising campaigns
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CASPA (volunteer-parent organization) communications
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Regular website updates, maintenance, and student stories
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Beyond the time and budget constraints, a new principal was also stepping into her role—inheriting these communication responsibilities on top of her core duties.
The Solution
Make Your Path Marketing proposed a comprehensive outsourced solution: taking over SEO and website services, all parent email communications, and providing strategic support for social media efforts aligned with fundraising and admissions goals.
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Because of our existing familiarity with their systems—WordPress, Constant Contact, Instagram, and Meta—we were fully operational within two weeks. This allowed the new principal to focus on leading the school while we handled the communication workload she would have otherwise inherited.
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We established direct relationships with key stakeholders in Development, Admissions, and the Parish, enabling seamless support across all of the school's communication needs.
The Results
Development & Fundraising Impact
The numbers tell a compelling story. Comparing the school's fundraising metrics from before our partnership (2021-2022) to our most recent results (2024-2025):
Parent Communications & Engagement
The Principal didn't have the time to inherit all the duties of parent communications. With our partnership, we set up a framework and easy system for her to provide only her feedback and final approvals while we took care of the rest. Our partnership involved all parent newsletters, ad hoc emails, event promotions, Open House support, website updates, and more.
Cost Savings
Our services are delivered at a fraction of the cost of a full-time communications employee—while providing the school with access to a seasoned marketing communications professional and a full team's worth of expertise.
Why This Partnership Works
Private schools face a unique challenge: they need sophisticated marketing and communications capabilities, but often can't justify—or afford—a full in-house team. Our partnership with the School of the Cathedral demonstrates how outsourced marketing support can deliver professional results while respecting budget realities.
After three years of partnership, we continue to support the school's communications, development campaigns, and admissions efforts—proving that the right marketing partner can become a true extension of your team.
Is Your School Facing Similar Challenges?
Whether you're navigating a staffing transition, looking to improve fundraising participation, or need strategic marketing support without the overhead of a full-time hire, we can help.
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Let's talk about how Make Your Path Marketing can support your school.