Philanthropy News

For Immediate Release Washington, D.C. – Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA), the leading network of Catholic philanthropists in the U.S., has chosen B.J. Cassin (of Los Altos) as the 2019 recipient of its St. Katharine Drexel Award for exemplary contributions to Catholic philanthropy. Cassin’s philanthropy has been instrumental in making Catholic education across the U.S. more accessible, especially through the innovative Cristo Rey Network model. The announcement comes as Catholic schools throughout the nation celebrate National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27 through Feb. 2. The St. Katharine Drexel Award is named after foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and patron saint of philanthropy. St. Katharine inherited her wealth, which she spent her lifetime giving away, particularly to build schools and support access to quality education for African Americans and Native Americans. B.J. Cassin founded and chaired the Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation (CEIF), launched in 2000 to establish private, college preparatory middle and high schools in economically-challenged communities throughout the U.S. CEIF provided start-up funds for 18 Cristo Rey High Schools and 37 Nativity Miguel Middle Schools. Most recently, B.J. co-founded The Drexel Fund (named after St. Katharine Drexel), a national fund providing start-up capital and advisory support for new, high-quality, financially sustainable faith-based and private schools like Cristo Rey Network schools. The Cristo Rey model is an innovative and proven Catholic high school model for low-income students. The model provides rigorous academics and a corporate work study program that equips students with corporate employment skills and the means to fund their education.

This blog post originally appeared in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s blog, Fresh Perspectives from the World of Philanthropy I am delighted and honored to have recently joined Lake Institute on Faith & Giving Advisory Board. Its mission itself is an inspiration, as is the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from leaders across faith traditions to advance the field of faith-based philanthropy. As the President of FADICA, a peer network of Catholic and Catholic-inspired foundations and donors, I always have my eye to unique partnership opportunities that serve and expand faith-based philanthropy and the common good. Lake Institute is an excellent partner on both fronts! It is convening critical leadership gatherings to explore how faith and values inspire giving across generations, something desired more and more by the philanthropists with whom we work. Lake Institute, as part of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, also brings enriching academic and practical resources and a global lens to faith-based philanthropy. That is why it is such a valued partner, especially for FADICA as we are continually developing and updating tools and resources for Catholic philanthropists. In addition to the institute’s alignment with FADICA’s mission, its robust educational programming is particularly valuable for the Catholic grant seeking ministries who participate in FADICA’s Catholic Funding Guide. The Guide is a searchable database of foundations that support Catholic and Catholic-inspired initiatives and organizations. As we undertake a complete reimagining and renovation of the Guide, incorporating more resources for both fundraisers and donors, FADICA looks forward to partnering with Lake Institute

Most Catholic philanthropists at some point will hear about St. Katharine Drexel, patron saint of philanthropy, and will hopefully have the opportunity to learn more deeply about her life spent dedicated to serving people in need. St. Katharine is an especially inspiring figure for Catholic philanthropists – and here are at least five reasons why. 1. St. Katharine chose philanthropy. St. Katharine was born into and inherited her wealth – two things she did not choose. However, St. Katharine did chose to give her life in service to the poor, modeling philanthropy as a choice, even when resources or examples of giving and service are inherited. Though she was born into wealth and prestige, St. Katharine learned the beauty of service and charity towards others from her parents’ humble examples. St. Katharine’s father would pray for 30 minutes throughout the day and her step-mother ran a back-door charity providing food, clothing, and money to the people in need. This was the beginning of St. Katharine’s call to service. Later in life, when her family took a trip to the Midwest, St. Katharine encountered Native and Black Americans and the poor ways the people in each group were treated, including an inadequate education compared to white Americans. After this experience, she felt a strong call to serve this population, a call that allowed St. Katharine to branch out and further the love her family had taught her. 2. St. Katharine practiced philanthropy beyond checkbook philanthropy. Many Catholic philanthropists experience their giving as a vocation, and aspire to

The annual Giving USA report was released this month, indicating the highest total giving ($390.1 billion) in the report’s 60-year history. Read more.   

Amy Rauenhorst Goldman, CEO and Chair of GHR Foundation, participated in a June 1 panel alongside Cardinal Peter Turkson of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The panel was part of a Georgetown University Convening of U.S. Academic Centers on Catholic Social Thought. In response to a question by Georgetown’s John Carr on lay leadership in philanthropy, Amy shared GHR’s approach: “Focus on the ‘how’ and know that accompaniment is key, as is credibility. Work with unlikely partners and commit to a person-centered approach to philanthropy.”  Watch the video. 

Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, a FADICA member, has launched The Innovation Mission, a new project in partnership with the Cleveland Leadership Center that will engage a distinguished individual for an 18-month innovation fellowship to address the complex challenge of poverty in Cleveland. Accomplished professionals from the nonprofit, for-profit, or government sectors will present an innovative idea through a competitive application process. Full applications for The Innovation Mission open June 2.

This month’s edition of Catholic Health Association’s magazine Health Progress features several FADICA members in Catholic Families and How They Give Back, an article exploring Catholic family philanthropy, particularly in the health field. Interviews include FADICA members GHR Foundation, Healey Education Foundation, Healey International Relief Foundation, and The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities.

GHR Foundation launched a series of three innovation challenges in a joint initiative with OpenIDEO. BridgeBuilder Challenge seeks to bring increased collaboration and a human-centered design approach to international development in the areas of peace, prosperity, and planet. The first “Ideas” phase, open to non-profits and for-profits, ends April 14. The top ideas selected in the final phase of the challenge will receive a total of $1 million in funding, in addition to support provided by experts.

On Tuesday, November 29 the philanthropic and nonprofit community celebrated #GivingTuesday, the social media initiative inspiring generosity and collaborative giving amidst holiday shopping. This year, Giving Tuesday broke all past years’ records, raising $168 million in just24 hours—up from about $117 million in 2015 from 1.6 million donations, coming from people in nearly 100 countries.

Congratulations and blessings upon FADICA members who recently celebrated anniversaries: The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, Inc. (70 years), Connelly Foundation (60 years), SC Ministry Foundation (20 years), Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland (20 years), and Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina (20 years).