The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania was recently honored as the 2024 Outstanding Foundation during the National Philanthropy Day celebration, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter.
The Foundation was nominated by Jim Gallagher, superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Erie.
“I am pleased to accept this recognition on behalf of the staff and board of directors of the Catholic Foundation,” said Lisa Louis, executive director of the Foundation. “It is an honor to have our work recognized in this way, and especially meaningful to be nominated by Jim Gallagher, whose work and ministry mission we greatly admire.”
In his nomination, Jim highlighted the ways in which grants from the Foundation have been transformative for Catholic schools. Distributions from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Endowment funded the annual Catholic Schools Leadership Conference, which provides school leaders with invaluable professional development. Other funding led to the purchase of NWEA Map Growth assessments for mathematics and reading, giving teachers essentials tools to tailor learning and elevate instruction.
Most significantly, the Foundation’s stewardship of donated funds that generate grants annually for the Bishop’s Tuition Assistance Program make Catholic education accessible for many families, with some schools relying on this program to keep their doors open.
Beyond support of Catholic schools, the Foundation’s regional impact was noted. In 2023 over $500,000 in grants and distributions were awarded to Catholic parishes, schools, ministries, and cemeteries in the 13 counties of the Diocese of Erie. In recent years, the Foundation has grown exponentially, from stewarding $11 million in endowments in 2016 to over $26 million today.
Grants from the Catholic Foundation are made possible by generous and visionary donors who establish and contribute to endowments that will secure the future of the Catholic community in northwest Pennsylvania for generations to come.