21. Making an Impact on Diocesan Development

July 14, 2019March 14, 2020 Jim Friend 3221 Views 0 Comments Featured Podcast

Making an impact on a Diocesan Development program takes time and expertise. How can spending more time out of the office help build a development strategy? What relationships should Diocesan and parish development officers cultivate? How can technology assist in development? This week, Jim is joined by Scott Whitaker from the Diocese of Austin to discuss these questions and much more.

Additionally, Jim chats with Diana Curran, Senior Director for Changing Our World. Diana shares her background in educational advancement and the work she’s doing in the Diocese of Albany. We also learn about her 120-mile adventure in through Zion’s National Park in Utah. Diana was recently named a CASE D1 Faculty All-Star, has received awards for: creating innovative stewardship and fundraising programs as well as for her leadership. She speaks at conferences on many topics including: stewardship; fundraising; generation giving preferences and habits; negotiation; and women’s leadership.

Scott Whitaker joined the Diocese of Austin in 2003 and presently serves as the Secretariat Director for Stewardship, Development and Communications and Executive Director for the Catholic Foundation – Diocese of Austin. He oversees all areas of stewardship and development in the diocese. Scott’s areas of focus are supporting parishes and schools in conducting capital campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, and endowment management. Scott is an active volunteer at his parish, St. Vincent de Paul, and his children’s schools.

Scott is a current board member for the Association of Former Yell Leaders at Texas A&M University, and he previously served on the International Catholic Stewardship Council Board of Directors and Hand to Hold, a non-profit that serves families enduring infant prematurity or loss. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and loves Aggie football. He and his wife, Kathryn, have six children, all of whom attend Catholic schools in the diocese. If you have questions for Scott, he encourages you to contact him at (512) 949-2441, scott-whitaker@austindiocese.org

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