Running the Newman Center in the Future

It costs about $700,000 per year to run the current Newman Center. The diocese contributes $300,000 per year and over the past few years the Newman Center has consistently been able to raise the remainder. Thus, the center has already been able to raise roughly $400,000 per year with a database of 3,000 names, a non-functioning CRM, ancient accounting software, and in spite of significant staff turnover every few years.

The campaign has grown the database. There are currently 12,000 names that we are working with and we expect this number to grow to around 25,000 by the end of the campaign. We now have a fully functioning and integrated CRM. A new financial management system has been put in place. In terms of staff and management, the campaign is purposefully grooming a handful of staff to remain after the campaign to manage the Newman Center going forward. Everything that can be done to use the campaign to create a stable future, is being done. 

A building of 25,000 square feet will cost roughly 50 to 75 cents per square foot per month to operate and maintain, which would add $150,000 per year to the budget.  There may be the addition of another priest, perhaps more staff, and certainly some additional programming costs. We are forecasting that the annual budget for the new center will be roughly $900,000 per year. 

One goal of the campaign is to raise $32 million but a secondary goal is to receive support from at least 10,001 donors. This goal has a dual purpose. One is to raise money to build the new facility, but the other is to develop a large roster of donors who will care about St. Teresa’s into the future and continue to contribute. 

Finally, the cost to build the new center is actually $28 million. The additional $4 million in the campaign goal is to leave behind a bridging stability fund. There will certainly be some donor fatigue by the end of the campaign but the stability fund will provide both the center and the donor base a very important buffer.