The Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF) provides grants, charitable distributions, and financial support to various parishes, schools, and nonprofits throughout the Diocese of Madison.

Many of the funds that support these great works are started by individuals who wish to make a faith-based difference in their community.

$4.4 million was distributed as of June 30, with the foundation reaching more than $80 million in assets under management (this number has since grown to more than $84 million).

More than $1.73 million was distributed to support vocations.

This money largely came from the CDMF’s Priests for Our Future Fund, which exists to fund the cost of recruiting, education, training, and forming seminarians who are preparing to be ordained as priests in the diocese.

Other funds, such as the Queen of Apostles Vocation Fund, which exists to directly fund tuition, room, and board for seminarians, made significant distributions as well.

More than $1.14 million was distributed to parishes.

Many parishes throughout the diocese have funds with the CDMF, which we invest, grow, and ultimately distribute back to the parishes for various purposes.

These can range from general parish operations to maintenance to more creative endeavors, such as particular ministries at the parish level.

More than $1.09 million was distributed to support education across the diocese.

Parish schools that have funds with the CDMF use this money to support their schools’ programming and upkeep.

We also have funds such as the St. John Bosco Fund, which makes direct grants to schools that are determined to have a need for money for providing tuition assistance to students.

More than $440,000 was distributed to various ministries throughout the diocese.

Many of these are nonprofit organizations that have decided to start funds with the CDMF.

We are blessed to work with organizations such as Our Lady of Hope Clinic, Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Catholic Multicultural Center.

These organizations are part of the bedrock of the Catholic community in our diocese, and they provide key charitable services that make an impact on the entire Madison community, Catholic or otherwise.

The numbers listed in this article and much more will be included in the CDMF’s annual report, which is set to be included in the Catholic Herald in January.

Our annual report will feature letters from our president, photos of the CDMF’s work throughout the year, and highlights of individual funds that make up our portfolio.

We look forward each year to distributing this report to the Catholic community in the diocese.

If you are interested in starting an endowment fund of your own, visit diocese madisonfoundation.org or call 608-821-3048.

Also consider asking your parish priest if he has considered starting an endowment fund with the CDMF.

We would be happy to help in any way possible as we work together to serve Christ and His Church here in the Diocese of Madison.