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“When there are so many ways for donors to give, why should we choose the Catholic Community Foundation?”
That’s a question we are often asked, and it is always a welcome opportunity to share what makes the Foundation so unique among the many philanthropic options available today.
Like all community foundations, we help donors take advantage of the tax and income benefits of planned giving through charitable gift annuities and other vehicles. These and other options such as donor advised funds and endowments help donors simplify their giving, while enabling them to leave a legacy for future generations.
But what makes the Catholic Community Foundation truly stand apart is how we apply Catholic faith values to our business practices. We do three things no one else does:
* We screen our investments. Donors can rest assured that the Foundation does not invest in companies whose business activities conflict with Church teaching.
* We screen our grant recipient organizations. That means we do not make grants to charities whose activities are contrary to Church teaching – and we verify that each and every recipient is a legitimate charity.
* We ensure that endowed funds will permanently support the mission of the Catholic Church, in solidarity with the Archbishop.
This strong commitment to Catholic identity has helped the Foundation grow steadily in size and scope. In just 15 years, the Foundation's assets have grown to $178 million (as of June 30, 2008). In 2008, grants totaling $6.5 million were made to hundreds of Archdiocesan schools, parishes, social ministries and other charitable organizations. Since inception, the Foundation has channeled more than $60 million to Catholic initiatives that keep our faith traditions alive. These grants represent the philanthropic interests of the Foundation’s more than 2,300 donors.
As we continue our mission of supporting financially the spiritual, educational and social needs of our Catholic community, we are blessed to have the unique role of channeling the generosity of our donors to the causes closest to their hearts. We invite you to make a personal connection with us and learn how our charitable giving tools can maximize your gifts.
In Faith and Stewardship,
Marilou Eldred, PhD
President
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