Children of Light
Annual Report 2024
Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
We were once in darkness, and Christ brought us into the light. We receive his light through the sacrament of baptism. And as followers of Jesus, we are called to shine his light for others. Often we do that through acts of generosity. At CCF, we witness the many ways members of our Minnesota Catholic community share their blessings — time, experience, wisdom, prayer, and money. Each gift, big and small, amplifies Christ’s love and grows the mission of the Church.
“Sitting at the intersection of needs and resources, we at CCF are honored to learn about a wide variety of beautiful ministries and missions. It is pure joy to facilitate faith-filled philanthropy on behalf of our donors. At the same time, charitable giving is personal, and it is an extraordinary privilege to be trusted to accompany you on your sacred journey in generosity. Bearing witness to the light of Christ shining so brightly in the Minnesota Catholic community is such a blessing.”
Read the Full Letter from Our President
Dear Friends,
Honor. Joy. Privilege. Blessing.
I hear these words sprinkled throughout conversation every day at the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF). They aptly describe this vocation.
Sitting at the intersection of needs and resources, we at CCF are honored to learn about a wide variety of beautiful ministries and missions. It is pure joy to facilitate faith-filled philanthropy on behalf of our donors. At the same time, charitable giving is personal, and it is an extraordinary privilege to be trusted to accompany you on your sacred journey in generosity. Bearing witness to the light of Christ shining so brightly in the Minnesota Catholic community is such a blessing.
It is with great gratitude and humility that I report on another strong financial year at CCF. We opened 57 new funds, received $54 million in new gifts, and grew funds through investments by $29 million — closing out the fiscal year with $667 million in assets stewarded. Importantly, that growth happened while we also granted a record $38.5 million on behalf of our many donors and partners.
All this is made possible because of CCF’s donors, partners, and grantees. Through you, we have seen goodness and truth. This annual report shares a handful of examples: A donor whose generous spirit continues even after his passing. A parish and school community that work in unity to bring families closer to God. And a grant program 30 years running that helps make Catholic education accessible for students.
God’s glory is all around us. Sometimes the darkness and distractions of everyday life can make it hard for us to see. We offer these stories as sparks of hope. May they ignite further acts of love and generosity to help our community shine even brighter.
With gratitude,
Anne Cullen Miller, MBA
President
Snapshot 2024
$667 Million
Assets Held by CCF
$38 Million Granted
4,309 Individual Grants to 1,165 Organizations
A Luminary of Service
Throughout George Lang’s life, he looked for ways to add benefit and value to our Catholic community. He shared his talents with CommonBond Communities, Cretin-Derham Hall High School, the Knights of Columbus, his parish of St. Odilia, the City of Shoreview Community Foundation and Planning Commission, the Jaycees, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and more — most especially CCF.
George’s servant leadership impacted the lives of countless individuals. Though his earthly journey ended in April 2024, his legacy continues to benefit the communities and organizations he loved. George and his wife of 53 years, Carol, founded the Lang Family Charitable Endowment Fund at CCF, which provides annual financial support to the organizations they designated in perpetuity.
This Little Light of Mine: School Fuels Parish Growth
In 2014, parishioners of St. Therese of Deephaven found themselves in a tough spot. Enrollment at the parish K–8 school had dropped below 100 students, adding more financial pressures at a time when the parish already struggled with heavy debt. Parish leaders considered closing the school until a parishioner stepped in with a sizeable donation to keep the doors open, reasoning that if St. Therese School closed, in 20 years the parish would, too.
Ten years later, St. Therese Catholic Parish and School is thriving. No longer viewed as a financial burden for the parish, the school is celebrated for driving the congregation’s growth. “The school is the most significant ministry of the parish,” says Father Leonard Andrie, pastor of St. Therese since 2016. “It’s the reason families come and engage with the life of God that’s here.”
Blazing a Path to Catholic Schools
For generations, Catholic education was affordable in large part because schools were staffed primarily by nuns. By the 1990s, as the numbers of women religious dwindled, that model became unsustainable. Rising tuition began to put Catholic education beyond the reach of more and more families.
To address the growing crisis, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis earmarked a portion of funds raised in capital campaigns — “Family of Faith” and “Growing in Faith” — for Catholic schools. And it entrusted CCF to steward the funds as endowments to preserve and grow them. Those decisions made more than 30 years ago guaranteed financial support for Catholic schools for generations.
As the endowment balances have grown over the years, so has their impact. In 2024, CCF distributed $748,000 to K-8 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in the form of tuition assistance grants.
Inside CCF
Each day, the staff of CCF serves our community faithfully. They are supported by a talented board of directors who bring extensive expertise from a variety of fields and industries. We are grateful to all of them for their commitment to our mission.
Our Mission
To support financially the spiritual, educational, and social needs of our Catholic community.
Our Guiding Principles
CATHOLIC IDENTITY
We reflect our Catholic faith in all we do; embrace the breadth, diversity, and commonality of Catholic interests; and assure that investments and grant recipients are in alignment with Catholic values.
SERVICE
We respond to the financial needs of the Catholic community and contribute to effective solutions; collaborate with other nonprofit organizations when consistent with our mission; and provide for the needs of future generations.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
We recognize and act on the understanding that community foundations are sustained by public trust, which is earned by full, open, and public disclosure.