The National Catholic Development Conference began as a response to the needs of a specific group of Catholic organizations that were originally members of the Catholic Press Association. As publishers of magazines and other educational materials, the Catholic Press Association served them very well. However, because these organizations were also involved in direct mail and other development efforts, they were looking for opportunities to enhance their skills and network with other Catholic organizations engaged in fundraising. Thus, the Catholic Fundraising Conference, as it was first called, was created.

In 1968, the Certificate of Incorporation of the National Catholic Development Conference Inc. was filed in the state of New York. Mr. Frank Doyle became the first Executive Director and Fr. Richard Drabik, M.I.C. was the first elected Chairman of the Board. The NCDC office was first located at 103 Park Avenue in New York City. In September 1968, NCDC held its first National Conference.

The Precepts of Stewardship, our ethical code, won unanimous approval in 1969 and was sent to every bishop, major religious superior, related organizations, and all NCDC members.

In 1983, after three years of work by the Accounting Standards Committee, the 24 page Guide for Preparing a Statement of Accountability was mailed and this "timeless" guide has been a great resource to our members ever since.

In 2007, after two years of work by the Accountability Task Force, the NCDC membership approved the Code of Stewardship and Ethics. All nonprofit NCDC members recommit to this document annually, pledging to practice public accountability and ethical fundraising.

Governance
Since 1968, the NCDC Board of Directors has always governed NCDC. The accredited representatives of the active membership elect the NCDC Board of Directors, who are individuals from membership organizations. A Director may serve for two consecutive three-year terms. The Board elects its own officers. These officers include: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers and the President form the Executive Committee. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is governance.

NCDC President/CEO
The President /CEO of the organization is responsible for the management of the NCDC Staff, the National Office in New York, and the administration of the organization. The President also serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for the organization to its public and is directly accountable to the Board of Directors.

George T. Holloway served as President/CEO of the organization for more than twenty-five years and did much in terms of membership growth as well as the creation of programs and activities to promote professional excellence in the ministry of fundraising. Sr. Georgette Lehmuth, OSF is NCDC's current President/CEO.

Changes in NCDC
Throughout the years, NCDC has grown and evolved in a number of ways. Our membership has become both geographically and organizationally more diverse. In the past, our National Conference and Exposition attendees consisted mostly of priests, brothers and sisters. Today, however, highly committed lay women and men represent fifty percent of our membership organizations and conference attendees. This same diversity is reflected on the Board of Directors. In fact, in 1992, Mr. Peter Eltink became the first layman to be elected Chair of the Board.

As stated by past President and CEO, Mr. George T. Holloway, "NCDC is not just another association. We are a family of member organizations who view fundraising as a ministry to assist each other and to support the many charitable works of the Catholic Church." Our mission is to continue to bring this support to you, our members. We will continue to support fundraisers by "leading the Catholic development community towards excellence in the ministry of ethical and competent fundraising."

Current Conference
Current Conference
Conference History
Year	Date	Location
2013		Grapevine (Dallas), TX
2012	September 23-26	Nashville, TN
2011	September 11-14	Orlando, FL
2010	September 18-22	Chicago, IL
2009	September 20-23	Arlington, VA
2008	September 28-October 1	Orlando, FL
2007	September 13-16	Phoenix, AZ
2006	October 1-4	Chicago, IL
2005	October 2-5	New Orleans, LA
2004	September 16-19	Orlando, FL
2003	September 28- October 1	Los Angeles, CA
2002	September 15-18	Philadelphia, PA
2001	September 16-19	Orlando, FL
2000	September 10-13	Desert Springs, CA
1999	September 19-22	Chicago, IL
1998	September 27-30	Toronto, Canada
1997	September 28- October 1	St. Louis, MO
1996	September 22-25	Orlando, FL
1995	September 24-27	Chicago, IL
1994	September 11-14	Scottsdale, AZ
1993	September 19-22	New Orleans, LA
1992	September 27-30	Atlanta, GA
1991	September 16-19	Washington, DC
1990	September 17-20	Orlando, FL
1989	September 18-21	New Orleans, LA
1988	September 19-22	St. Louis, MO
1987	September 28- October 1	Baltimore, MD
1986	September 29- October 2	Orlando, FL
1985	September 23-26	St. Louis, MO
1984	September 25-28	Anaheim, CA
1983	September 19-22	Orlando, FL
1982	October 4-7	Chicago, IL
1981	September 28- October 1	New York, NY
1980	September 15-18	Orlando, FL
1979	September 17-20	San Francisco, CA
1978	September 18-21	Chicago, IL
1977	September 19-22	New York, NY
1976	September 27-30	Atlanta, GA
1975	September 22-25	Chicago, IL
1974	September 16-19	New York, NY
1973	September 9-12	Washington, D.C.
1972	September 17-20	New York, NY
1971	September 7-10	Boston, MA
1970	September 18-21	Chicago, IL
1969	September 7-10	New York, NY
1968	September 18-20	New York, NY