Our Story

 SM Coaching Solutions grew from a remarkable story of transformation that began at Monsignor Clarke School, a Catholic school in Rhode Island. In 2016, Sara Marshall was hired as Director of Admissions and Development and tasked with building a formal admissions and development program at a school facing potential closure due to declining enrollment and negative community perception. Sara had no prior experience in nonprofit development. Instead, she brought over 20 years of sales and management experience across real estate, banking, manufacturing, and wholesale, in both domestic and international markets. There she developed a results-oriented approach to relationship building and customer engagement. That background, combined with her genuine passion for the school's mission, brought a fresh perspective that challenged traditional development methods.

For seven of Sara's nine years at Monsignor Clarke, she worked alongside Dr. Arthur Lisi, whose leadership as Principal created an environment where innovative approaches could flourish. Arthur's background in counseling and his gift for building consensus among diverse stakeholders complemented Sara's strategic, results-driven style. Together with their dedicated team, they not only saved the school but transformed it into a thriving institution, with a 70% increase in enrollment and over $1 million raised. Along the way, Sara learned from respected leaders in the field of development, particularly Frank Donaldson and the Institute for School and Parish Development (ISPD). Their insights, combined with her sales and service background, helped her develop a holistic approach to community engagement.

Sara and Arthur's work gained national recognition when they were invited to present at the National Catholic Educational Association's annual conference. Their presentation, "Building a Catholic School for the 21st Century," drew a standing-room-only audience of education professionals from across the country. Through it all, they embraced the principle that development is fundamentally about "the meaningful involvement of people in an organization's mission or vision," a perspective that looks beyond fundraising to authentic engagement. It reflects a belief they share: we all have a responsibility to use our gifts and talents to help others succeed.

That belief became the cornerstone of SM Coaching Solutions. Sara and Arthur realized their collaborative approach could benefit any organization looking to strengthen engagement and drive results, not just schools.

Today, SM Coaching Solutions works with Catholic schools and parishes, health systems, nonprofits, and businesses. We help them build lasting relationships with their communities, and we guide leaders and teams through the moments when trust is tested. Our fundamental belief remains: strategic development through authentic engagement leads to measurable results, and sharing our knowledge and experience with others is both a privilege and a responsibility.