The key to our success, in my view, has been our ability to unite our donors around an inspiring question: How do we empower boys to become enterprising young men who will advance the common good?
Dr. Patrick Sillup, Head of School
In 2020, Malvern Preparatory School, an independent, Catholic institution for boys in grades six–12 located in the Philadelphia suburbs, was not just reeling from the COVID pandemic. The school stood on the heels of a campaign — a $20M effort focused narrowly on capital investment — that had failed to gain traction.
Today, Malvern is nearing the finish line of the largest capital campaign in school history. Malvern. Forever.: The Campaign for Our Future, a $65M effort which launched in 2022 and will conclude in 2027, focuses holistically on endowment, annual support, and capital projects. The crusade has now raised more than $64M toward its goal.
This dramatic pivot hinges on a bold campaign vision, one closely tethered to Malvern’s mission, explained Dr. Patrick Sillup, Malvern’s head of school.
“The key to our success, in my view, has been our ability to unite our donors around an inspiring question: How do we empower boys to become enterprising young men who will advance the common good?” he said.
Innovation Meets Strategy
Malvern was founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine as the high school extension of Villanova University, also in Philadelphia. Both schools are guided by the same values: the principles of truth, unity, and love touted by St. Augustine. For the Malvern Prep community, philanthropy is a natural extension of these values.
Malvern. Forever. is closely aligned with Malvern’s master plan, which boasts the buy-in of the entire Malvern community — students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. The plan answered critical questions related to boys’ education: How do we solve the “boy crisis,” a phenomenon identified in the 1990s whereby boys trail behind their female peers in traditional school settings? What do boys need in the wake of COVID — in an era of high stress and digital overwhelm? How do boys learn in a way that is distinct from girls, from a brain science perspective? The plan — and Malvern. Forever. — identifies the resources needed to answer these questions, from quiet study spaces, to physical wellness resources, to hands-on learning opportunities.
“Boys learn by doing, so we’re building a teaching kitchen,” said Michael Treston (’02), the school’s director of development. “Imagine learning about Chinese history and culture through the culinary arts.”
Not only is the campaign tethered to the school’s strategic vision, but it’s also comprehensive enough that any donor — parent or alum — can find a home within it, from an endowment dedicated to the robotics program, to an annual fund that supports students with financial need, to beautiful capital projects. Though innovative in its approach, the campaign remains true to the school’s core values.
“Even though we’ve grown significantly — in terms of our physical plant, programs, and enrollment — these central values endure,” said Treston. “This is important to donors: we’ll never forget who we are.”
Investment in People
According to Treston, the success of Malvern. Forever. is the result of sustained, intentional investment in a development program’s greatest asset: its people.
“Too often, development teams are expected to achieve more and more every year with the same or fewer resources,” he said. “But turning ambition into reality takes focused investment — in people.”
When Treston assumed his post in August 2020, the development team had only three staff members. He grew the team to eight, identifying individuals whose personal values aligned with the school’s — and compensating them competitively.
In addition to stellar staff, Treston’s own leadership is a core strength. He and Malvern’s head of school, Dr. Patrick Sillup, have built a culture based on work/life balance, recognition for a job well done, and strong yet humble leadership, according to Jason Bozzone, Malvern’s director of major gifts and planned giving.
“The culture we have here is unparalleled,” said Bozzone. “The servant-leadership style Mike and Pat bring is so well aligned with the school’s focus on Augustinian values, everything is firing on all pistons.”
Malvern’s well-oiled development operation has built a thriving culture of philanthropy on campus, where students, faculty, and staff outside development know the fundraising staff by name.
“At too many educational institutions, students don’t hear from development until they’ve graduated,” said Bozzone. “Our team ensures that students know what development is and why it’s important — so they’ll remember us down the road.”
This approach has already yielded strong results. Young alumni are giving at higher rates, and faculty and staff outside development are meeting with donors, staffing donor events, and identifying prospects. This same energy is apparent among donors, with new individuals joining the established ranks.
Measures of Success
Today, Malvern Prep is reaping the rewards of its bold vision and intentional investment in people. The team is poised to meet their campaign goal a year ahead of schedule, and they have also reached an array of milestones: renovating the middle school building; creating a counseling center; endowing the robotics, college counseling, and rowing programs; and providing scholarships to 70 students who would not otherwise be able to attend Malvern. With more than a year remaining in the campaign, they’re not slowing down.
Yet for Treston and Bozzone, the greatest measure of success is not a number or even a new building; it’s the campaign’s impact on students.
As Bozzone puts it, “Through the Malvern. Forever. campaign, we’re preparing enterprising young men to become bold leaders for the future.”
Alumni Golf Outing
Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving Jason Bozzone P'25 with Hall of Fame alumnus and Malvern Prep parent Glenn Davis '94, P'23'25 at the Rev. David J. Duffy O.S.A. '48 Memorial Golf Invitational—where the Malvern family gathers to celebrate community, honor legacy, and invest in the future of our mission.
Michael Treston
Director of Development at Malvern Preparatory School
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