Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is a landmark in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, and stands as the oldest operating church in the state with a congregation dating back to 1856. At a time when urban congregations are shrinking and closing, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is growing and thriving. In 2018, it was ready to tackle the biggest fundraising campaign of its storied history, second only to when the congregation built its neo-Gothic cathedral. Trinity dreamed of remodeling its 60-year-old parish center and launching an innovative new outreach initiative. So the church hired the Steier Group for the Cathedral Commons Capital Campaign. Making specific dollar requests to donors was not a part of Trinity’s culture, so the fundraising team employed careful planning, consistent messaging and one-on-one meetings to prevent misunderstandings. The Steier Group also worked closely with the cathedral to refine and strengthen the case for support based on feedback received from major donors during the study. The campaign has raised nearly $2 million– nearly six times the church’s annual offertory – toward Trinity’s important goals.