Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) President Anne Cullen Miller recently attended the annual meeting of CEOs of Catholic community foundations nationwide. CEOs from 45 foundations gathered in Sioux Falls, SD, to exchange information, experiences, and strategies. Sponsored by the Consortium of Catholic Foundations, the purpose of the group is to accelerate the effectiveness and mission impact of each leader.
From the start, CCF has played a big role in bringing together Catholic community foundations from across the country for shared learning. Before the Consortium was launched, members of the newly formed Catholic Community Foundation of San Jose, CA, came to Minnesota to understand how CCF works and to incorporate ideas and best practices from the more established foundation. Early on, it was clear that the learning was happening — deeply — in both directions, regardless of the size or age of the foundation.
Seeing the value of these grassroots connections, the Catholic Community Foundation of San Jose hosted a group of nine foundations in 2012. CCF was represented by then-president Marilou Eldred and Anne also attended as a presenter. The meeting was well received, and the group agreed to make it an annual event. In her first year as president, Anne offered to host the group in Minnesota.
Now a member of the Consortium’s steering committee, Anne addressed the group this year about the history of the Consortium, its strategic vision for the future, and the multicultural Church.