Funding Through Faith: How the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota Gives Locally
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Minnesota’s Cathedral of St. Paul. Photo: Gang Liu/shutterstock
Just under one-third of Minnesotans are reportedly affiliated with Roman Catholic traditions, and that figures in the region’s philanthropic landscape. Many of the state’s Catholic individuals and families give to charity through the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCFM), a major grantmaker in the Upper Midwest. Interestingly, CCFM is a good local funder to know even for secular organizations or a groups affiliated with another religion entirely.
More Than Just Spiritual Grants
CCFM is primarily a funder of Catholic organizations, but it doesn’t limit itself to Catholic churches and schools. In the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2019, for example, only about a third of grants went to spiritual causes. The remaining grants were pretty evenly split between social and educational needs.
CCFM donors can make grants to any organization that benefits the community as long as it doesn’t engage in activities that contradict Catholic teachings. The United Jewish Fund and the Gutherie Theater Foundation are examples of non-Catholic organizations that have received CCFM grants. The funder also set up the Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund to provide emergency grants to Catholic schools and parishes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or by George Floyd’s death.
Both Foundation-Directed and Donor-Directed Grants
Most CCFM grants, by far, come from donor-advised funds. However, DAFs are not the only source of funding at CCFM. Annual funding also comes through endowed funds, institutional endowed funds and other restricted funds.
In the 2019 fiscal year, donor-directed grants accounted for $15.3 million, while CCFM-directed grants totaled $1.3 million. Around 92 percent of grants are donor-directed, with the remaining eight percent up to the foundation’s discretion. This suggests that CCFM is not the most accessible foundation for unaffiliated grantees to get involved with.
Unsolicited Requests Are Not Welcome
Something that donor-directed grants and CCFM-directed grants have in common is that neither are open to unsolicited applications. DAF advisors recommend donor grants, while foundation grants are part of a competitive, invitation-only grant proposal process. There is actually an entire online guidebook dedicated to informing grantseekers about CCFM’s grants processes and procedures.
An Influential Minnesota Funder
Although prospective grantees need to get on CCFM’s radar before getting close to securing support, this is still an important regional grantmaker to watch. The St. Paul-based foundation has at least $387 million in assets and has awarded over $190 million in grants since its inception in 1992. CCFM manages around 1,136 total funds, indicating a strong ecosystem of Catholic donors in the state.
IP’s Upper Midwest and Plains funding guide includes a full profile of the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota and many other local funders that give in Minnesota cities, towns and rural areas.
