We are the Good Soil Capital Campaign

Roger Bacon High School Announces Successful Completion of “We Are the Good Soil” Capital Campaign

Historic $10 Million Campaign Will Transform the Future of Roger Bacon High School

Roger Bacon High School is proud to announce the successful completion of its We Are the Good Soil Capital Campaign, officially reaching its ambitious $10 million goal eight months earlier than originally planned.

This milestone marks a historic moment for Roger Bacon and reflects the extraordinary generosity, commitment, and belief of alumni, families, faculty, staff, and friends who came together to invest in the future of Catholic Franciscan education.

Launched in December 2023 to strengthen Roger Bacon’s mission for generations to come, the campaign focused on increasing student safety and security, enhancing campus facilities, expanding opportunities for students, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Signature achievements of the campaign include the creation of the Anne Nurre Heidt Atrium, which remains under active construction and is scheduled for completion in August 2026. The atrium will also be home to the first dedicated chapel in Roger Bacon High School history, creating a sacred space at the heart of campus for prayer, reflection, and worship. Additional campaign investments include improvements to learning spaces and student resources, as well as increased support for scholarships and student programming.

Roger Bacon President Steve Schad shared his gratitude for the overwhelming support shown throughout the campaign. “This campaign is a direct reflection of our entire school community – families and alum who love and support Roger Bacon and believe in our students, our faculty and our mission. We are blessed to have reached this milestone and will continue to move forward to greater things!”

Director of Advancement Brandon Spaeth ’11 also reflected on the significance of the accomplishment.

“The level of support for this capital campaign over the past 2.5 years has been nothing short of extraordinary, and for that, I am incredibly grateful. To accomplish this ambitious campaign goal while also surpassing our record-breaking Annual Fund drive goals is truly remarkable. Thank you to everyone who supported, prayed, and shared the story of Roger Bacon. It has been a privilege to meet so many people throughout this campaign who believe in and support our Franciscan mission. The Roger Bacon community is truly special and unlike any other.”

While the school celebrates reaching the $10 million goal, fundraising efforts will continue as Roger Bacon moves forward with the next phase of campus improvements to meet growing needs.

Among the first priorities is the expansion of the school’s back parking lot, which has been moved up in the project timeline to address significant parking demands on campus. The completed expansion will create a 110-space parking lot that is expected to be fully operational by the start of the 2026-27 school year.

In addition, Roger Bacon will immediately begin the reclamation and renovation of three classrooms inside the school building that are currently occupied as administrative offices. All three classrooms will be completed, occupied, and in use for the 2026-27 school year, helping support continued enrollment growth and expanded student opportunities.

“This achievement belongs to everyone who believes in Roger Bacon,” said Spaeth. “Every gift, every prayer, and every act of support helped make this possible.”

As Roger Bacon celebrates this historic accomplishment, the school looks ahead with renewed momentum and gratitude—continuing its mission of forming young men and women of faith, knowledge, and service for generations to come.

³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:3-8

Statistics tell us that when high school students graduate, many will fall away from their faith. These young men and women are the “seed.” As young adults, many will seek out their faith again once their circle of responsibility grows with work, marriage, and children. When they reach this point in their life, Roger Bacon will be the "good soil" which will support their faith journey.

We are excited to introduce the “We are the Good Soil” campaign for Roger Bacon High School. As we approach our 100th anniversary, it is a campaign with a vision solidly fixed on our next 100 years. More importantly, it is an effort to enhance the student experience and provide the “good soil” that will form the foundation of our students into the future.

This is an ambitious campaign to be sure, but as Pope Francis exhorts us: “Don’t be scared – dare to have fabulous plans. I encourage you to not be afraid to dream, to have great ideals, to be builders of hope.” We have fabulous plans, and they revolve around two objectives – the construction of an atrium with a 160-seat chapel and an enhancement of student opportunities funded through our Endowment. These objectives, which include the first dedicated chapel in Roger Bacon’s history, reflect the importance of our Franciscan charism and our Catholic faith. To achieve these goals, we have set out to raise $10 million.

Investment in and support of this campaign will immediately impact our need for increased student safety and allow expansion opportunities throughout our school. The new atrium permits us to have a designated visitor entrance during school hours which limits visitor access to student areas. The addition of a dedicated chapel will help reinforce our Catholic and Franciscan charism. Relocating administration will provide for additional classrooms as well as student opportunities with the reimagining of our Student Services Program.

This campaign, while ambitious, will put an exclamation point on our first 100 years and lay the foundation for the next century. Your support will directly impact students across a wide spectrum of activities and needs. This campaign does not define what we are, but rather who we are!

We thank you for your interest in supporting us and your prayers as we embark on this endeavor. Feel free to explore the links to the right to learn more about our fabulous plans.

If you are interested in supporting us, please click here to give online by selecting "We are the Good Soil Campaign" under Donation Type.

If you are interested in making a pledge, the pledge form is available here.

Please contact our Advancement Director, Brandon Spaeth '11 with any questions at bspaeth@rogerbacon.org or call 513-641-1313.