Discover the Difference: Foundation Awards Grants to Five Schools
July 27, 2022
Five Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools and the Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools Office were recently awarded grants from the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa totaling over $32,000. The schools were notified of their awards in May and have spent the summer months planning to implement the programs funded through the generosity of the foundation and its board of directors.
"The Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa was established 10 years ago to connect our Catholic values with philanthropy and investing. As we grew, we knew we wanted to be able to give back to our communities and the wonderful programs and services across our diocese," said Sue McEntee, Foundation Director. "In 2017, we gave out our first competitive grant awards totaling $50,000. In the six years of awarding grants we have given out more than $350,000 including an increased grant pool of $75,000 for the 2022 fiscal year. We are delighted to include many schools in the total number of awards over the years, and this year is no exception."
McEntee invites individuals to expand the impact of the grant program by considering a tax-deductible gift to the CFSWIA Grants Program. Click here to learn more.
HOW WILL GRANT FUNDS BE INVESTED?
St. Anthony Catholic School and Parish, Des Moines
St. Anthony Catholic School was awarded a $5,000 grant to add key fob door access for the school cafeteria and entry points, a camera for the main Eastern entrance, and two-way communication in each classroom to ensure the safety of its facility for all members of the school community. These security upgrades will help the school implement security best practices in alignment with the US Department of Homeland Security.
St. Patrick Catholic School, Perry
St. Patrick Catholic School was awarded a $5,000 grant to transform students' learning experience with the addition of 12 new Chromebooks and a Chrome Cart Charging Station. With a student population that is 45 percent diverse with 65 percent of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, technology in the classroom at St. Patrick is about more than improving student outcomes, its about ensuring equity for students in the community.
St. Joseph Catholic School and Parish, Des Moines
St. Joseph Catholic School was awarded a $5,000 grant to add security cameras, key fob building access, floodlights and two-way communication in each classroom to ensure the safety of its facility and all who enter. These security upgrades will help the school implement security best practices in alignment with the US Department of Homeland Security.
St. Malachy Catholic School, Creston
St. Malachy Catholic School was awarded a $3,140 grant to purchase microscopes for use in its middle school science classes. Microscopes provide a visual learning method that supplements traditional instruction to improve student outcomes. Using microscopes in science class provides a multi-sensory learning experience as students use their eyes, hands, and brains simultaneously to discover a world not visible to the naked eye.
Holy Trinity Catholic School, Beaverdale
To help ensure a high-impact customer experience that converts inquiries to enrollments, Holy Trinity Catholic School was awarded a $4,500 grant to enact a secret shopper assessment. A secret shopper assessment will help identify customer experience strengths, as well as, opportunities for improvements that will drive enrollment. The findings from this secret shopper analysis will also benefit other schools across the diocese and will help shape future enrollment management efforts and training modules developed by the Catholic Schools Office.
Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools Office
In the current environment, a shortage of teachers coupled with historic numbers of open teaching positions mean educators have many choices regarding where to teach, and the factors influencing those choices are changing. By enacting savvy marketing strategies designed to address the teacher shortage and influence the employment decisions of new educators, the diocese can help ensure our teacher and administrator pipeline is strong. To meet this goal, the Catholic Schools Office was awarded a Cornerstone Grant in the amount of $10,000 to implement a digital marketing campaign to highlight the value of working at its schools, ultimately increasing the prospective pool of high-quality candidates.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa was established in 2012 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. The CFSWIA advances stewardship rooted in best financial practices and Catholic values investing. To Catholic parishes, schools, and organizations, we provide strategic tools and fund management to ensure fiscal integrity and promote long-term financial security. To individual and family donors, we provide streamlined, faith-based opportunities for charitable giving. For a number of years, CFSWIA has provided financial assistance via grant awards to dozens of parishes, schools, and other not-for-profit organizations with Catholic values.
Outcomes from this year's grant awards will be shared throughout the year on the CFSWIA's website and social media platforms. Applications for the next grant cycle begin early in 2023. For more information, visit catholicfoundationiowa.org
DIOCESE OF DES MOINES CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools includes 16 schools in 23 counties in central and southwest Iowa. Catholic schools in the Des Moines Diocese build Christ-centered, collaborative, inclusive partnerships with parents, students, and parishes to provide innovative academic excellence and inspirational faith formation for students. To learn more about Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines, visit www.dmdiocese.org/catholic-schools or email ExpectMore@dmdiocese.org.