Some gifts are given for today.

Others are carefully designed to serve the future.

For one donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, that future began to take shape as she worked with The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia to establish a permanent endowment fund in 2025. Through her generous commitments – both during her lifetime and as part of her estate plans - she will help ensure that students from underserved communities can receive a high-quality Catholic education at an Independence Mission School (IMS).

Her decision was rooted in gratitude.

“My parents sacrificed significantly to send me to Catholic school despite having very little money,” she shared. “Expenditures that most people consider necessities, like home repairs, dental work, or new clothing, were often set aside so my sibling and I could receive a Catholic education.”

Those sacrifices changed the course of her life.

The academic formation and discipline she received in Catholic school helped her excel in her studies, eventually leading to financial aid for college and two successful professional careers. Looking back, she recognizes how deeply those early opportunities shaped the path that followed.

“I would not have had my careers nor without my parents’ sacrifices and the high academic standards of the Catholic schools I attended. They helped build character and resilience.”

Now, she hopes to help create similar opportunities for others.

A Thoughtful Plan for the Future

After retiring, the donor began reviewing her financial plans and updating her estate documents. As she reflected on the legacy she hoped to leave behind, she decided that a portion of her estate should support a charitable cause.

Her search eventually led her to The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia.

The philanthropic experts at The Catholic Foundation took the time to meet with the donor, understand her intentions, and explore ways that her generosity could be used for maximal impact. Through multiple conversations with the team, as well as with a member of the Foundation’s Professional Advisors Alliance, one option stood out: establishing an endowment fund.

An endowment allows a donor to create a permanent source of support for a cause(s) close to their heart. Through The Catholic Foundation, the principal of the gift is carefully stewarded and invested, while a portion of the earnings is distributed each year. In this way, the donor’s intention is preserved and continues to guide the impact of the gift for generations to come.

For this donor, that permanence mattered.

“I liked the idea of endowing the gift because it gave me reassurance that my hard-earned money would always be protected and used for a worthwhile purpose.”

She choose to establish the endowment fund with an initial outright cash gift, and also designated a beneficiary gift through her IRA that will significantly grow the endowment in the years to come. In the future, a portion of the earnings from the fund will be used to provide tuition assistance for students attending Catholic schools.

Seeing the Mission Firsthand

The donor knew she wanted to support Catholic education, but needed further assistance evaluating which organizations to support. As part of the gift planning process, The Catholic Foundation team provided the donor with beneficiary ideas and options based on her interests, passions, and goals.  

Ultimately, she was intrigued by the work of Independence Mission School, a network of Philadelphia-area neighborhood Catholic elementary schools steeped in rich individual histories and committed to the academic, spiritual, emotional and physical achievement and growth of every student.

She had the opportunity to visit IMS’ St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic School in Philadelphia where she met teachers and administrators and spent time speaking with students who proudly guided the visit.

What she saw left a lasting impression.

“The tour was heart-warming,” she said. “The students were articulate, respectful, and proud of their school.”

What she encountered that day reflects something deeper at the heart of IMS.  

As Erin Wooley, Chief Advancement Officer at IMS, describes; “IMS believes that every child – regardless of income, background, or zip code – deserves access to a high-quality education that opens doors, nurtures purpose, and helps students realize their God-given potential. IMS students graduate and attend some of the top high schools in the region – continuing their path to success and life-changing opportunities. With the transformational power of a great Catholic school education – IMS can change the trajectory of students’ lives, uplift entire families, and renew communities from within.”

Watching the classrooms in action affirmed something the donor had already begun to feel.

These schools are not simply places of academic learning. They are communities where young people are formed in faith, character, and purpose. And it was clear that donor support is critical to this success.

“IMS is only able to fulfill its mission because of the generosity of its supporters - through gifts, endowments, and tax credits,” Wooley explained. “This support gives students and families the tuition assistance they need to fully participate in the academic, social, and spiritual life of the school, building confidence, friendships, and a strong foundation for the future.”

Future students who walk these halls may never know the role this donor played in helping sustain their education.

But that was never the point.

Her hope is simple: that long after she is gone, children across Philadelphia will continue to have the opportunity to receive a Catholic education that shapes their lives just as it once shaped hers.

Through careful stewardship by The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, the endowment she created will continue opening those doors year after year.

““The experience of working with the Catholic Foundation has been such a blessing. They helped turn my ideas into action. I’m so grateful I was guided to make that first call.”

Endowment Funds at The Catholic Foundation

An endowment is a meaningful way to provide lasting support for a cause close to your heart. Your gift is carefully invested, allowing it to grow over time, while a portion of the earnings is distributed each year to advance the mission you care about most.

You can establish an endowment to benefit a parish, school, ministry, or area of interest that has made a difference in your life. Over time, your fund becomes a reliable, enduring source of support—helping these organizations plan with confidence and continue their important work for generations to come.

To see the impact endowments are making through The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, click here to learn more. Please also considering reaching out to our charitable experts at 215-587-5650 or funds@thecfgp.org to explore your ideas.