Archdiocese of Denver Launches Office of Capital Campaign Services to Strengthen Parish Mission

(Photo: Denver Catholic file photo)

The Archdiocese of Denver has launched a new Office of Capital Campaigns, a significant investment in the future of parish life across Northern Colorado. Led by David Mehr, executive director, the new office is designed to help parishes confidently move forward with major projects that support worship, formation and community. 

The Office of Capital Campaigns will operate as a centralized Curia-based resource, with services retained directly by parishes. Its work will focus on philanthropic feasibility studies and capital campaign planning, implementation and management, helping parishes raise funds beyond regular offertory. 

“In the life of every parish, there come moments when significant resources are needed beyond weekly offertory,” Mehr said. “Whether a parish is building, expanding or addressing major facility needs, this office exists to walk alongside pastors and parish leadership with experienced, thoughtful support rooted in the life of the Church.” 

The new office is designed to provide personalized, direct support grounded in a deep understanding of parish life, philanthropy and the unique context of the Archdiocese of Denver and Northern Colorado. Capital needs may include anything from building a new church, expanding parish facilities, adding classrooms or addressing major infrastructure projects such as roof replacements, new windows, boilers or parking lot repairs. 

David Mehr brings decades of experience leading philanthropic feasibility studies and capital campaigns for Catholic parishes, churches and schools across the United States. Within the Archdiocese of Denver, his work includes successful campaigns for Parishes of the Valley in Eagle County, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Denver, St. Gianna Molla Parish in Green Valley Ranch and St. John Paul II High School in Windsor. Across these four campaigns, a total of $50.6 million was successfully raised, with each campaign exceeding its philanthropic goal.

Since 2024, Mehr has served as Executive Director of Mission Advancement for the Archdiocese of Denver, supporting fundraising, donor management and engagement across archdiocesan ministries and ecclesiastical entities. From 2020 to 2024, he served as special ministry campaign director and senior executive philanthropic coach, including leading offertory recovery efforts in response to the financial impacts of COVID-19. During that time, Mehr worked with Msgr. Bernie Schmitz and parish priests, business managers and volunteers throughout the archdiocese. 

Mehr holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master’s degree from Emerson College in Boston. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been married since 1999 and are the parents of three children: Charlotte, Mary and William. 

Pastors, along with parish business managers and committee chairs, are encouraged to reach out to discuss upcoming projects or broader conversations about parish philanthropy and fundraising. David Mehr can be contacted at david.mehr@archden.org.