The Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF) is always exploring ideas for expanding philanthropic support for Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries across the Diocese of Madison. We do this by creating new, specifically purposed investment funds and increasing support for funds already established at the Foundation.
Funds at the CDMF are started by a wide variety of donors, from parishes and schools themselves, to individuals interested in setting up a legacy of giving lasting in perpetuity.
This year, the CDMF has been working with a renewed focus to bring new funds into the Foundation family.
In this article, we would like to highlight some of our most recently added funds, provide a glimpse into our efforts, and give a few examples of how donors are expanding the impact of their giving across the diocese.
Our newest fund (just added this week!) is the Catholic Charities Non-Endowed Fund. This fund was transferred to the CDMF by Catholic Charities and provides general support for the mission, vision, and values of Catholic Charities and their many important and critical ministries in the Diocese of Madison. This fund was the fruit of collaboration and discussions between CDMF executive director Paul Merline, Catholic Charities executive director Shawn Carney, and board members and staff from both organizations.
As previously reported in the Catholic Herald, there has been a lot of work done recently to prepare St. Bernard’s Church on Atwood Ave. in Madison as the diocese’s newly designated cathedral. Thanks to a generous donation from a long-time St. Bernard’s parishioner, the cathedral now has an endowed fund to help with current and future needs.
The new endowment for the cathedral church of St. Bernard of Clairvaux will provide financial support for the annual operating expenses of the cathedral and its related facilities, programs, and endeavors both now and into the future.
Another recently added endowed fund is the Holy Redeemer (Town of Perry) Church Property Maintenance Fund. This fund was started by an individual concerned with tending to the land surrounding their church. This fund will provide financial support for perpetual maintenance and care of the property located around and adjacent to Holy Redeemer, ensuring that the property surrounding the church will be taken care of for years to come.
This spring, an individual came to the CDMF with an idea for a fund to honor a deceased loved one. The endowed fund is known as the Janice M. Weichmann-Werlein Catholic Education Music & Art Fund and will provide financial assistance for art and music materials and programming for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison.
A survey was sent out to music and art teachers in the diocese to see if they would be interested in such a fund, and if so, the survey also asked what ideas teachers might have for how the financial support could be used. The answer was a resounding “yes” and included several ideas on possible areas of support. The fund was generously created and will provide ongoing funding support for these and other creative ideas.
This is just a sampling of the many funds that the CDMF holds which serve a variety of important needs across the diocese, all serving as great examples of how organizations and individuals who want to make a difference can start funds for the greater good.
If you are interested in starting an endowment fund of your own, visit diocesemadisonfoundation.org or give us a call at 608-821-3048.
A very sincere and heart-felt thank you to the generous supporters who make all of this work possible.
Also consider asking your parish priest if he has thought about the CDMF as an option for starting an endowment or non-endowed fund. We would be happy to help in any way possible as we work together to serve Christ and his Church.
Grant McGurn is the operations coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF).