To substantially grow financial assistance available to current and new families.

The purpose of Catholic schools is first to catechize our children and to provide an opportunity for evangelization. The effects of Catholic schools are clear: Children who attend them are much more likely to remain Catholic later in life, attend Mass regularly and practice their faith as adults.

It’s apparent that Catholic education is crucial to our mission to “form communities of missionary disciples who Go Announce the Gospel of the Lord.” The most common obstacle to parents enrolling their children in a Catholic school (where one is available) is tuition. From 2020 to 2023, the total need from all FACTS applications increased by 74%.

We seek to substantially grow the financial aid endowment fund created during the Witness to Hope campaign to allow the distribution of more than $1.5 million in aid each year to assist more families. We also will establish “New Family Grants” that will help make Catholic education a reality for children not already enrolled in our schools. Both of these efforts will significantly lower the financial barrier to a Catholic education.

Increasing the Catholic Schools Financial Aid Endowment by $19 million will:

• Increase current endowments by over 150%.
• Increase grant amounts to families.
• Grades K-8: from $750 to as much as $1,500 (35% of average 2023-24 tuition)
• Grades 9-12: from $1,000 to as much as $3,000 (30% of average 2023-24 tuition)

With a “New Family Grant” fund of $2 million, we will be able to offer:

• Grants up to $1,000 for children in grades K-8.
• Grants up to $2,000 for children in grades 9-12..