Dear Friends,
Each week, the staff at the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) gathers for what we call “stand-up meetings.” We come together for a time of reflection and prayer while also checking in on each other personally, separate from CCF-related work and projects. These 15-minute gatherings provide our team a vital opportunity to connect, draw closer to one another, and pray for our community.
At a recent stand-up meeting, a colleague invited us to reflect on this question: Who helps you remain a person of faith and hope? For me, the answer was easy: CCF’s donors.
Every day I witness our donors live and lead in faith. They receive God’s blessings with gratitude and pass them on to those in need. And while they perhaps feel a spiritual need to give, it’s clear that they do not give out of obligation — they give as an act of faith.
St. Paul must have witnessed this phenomenon nearly two millennia ago when he wrote, You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God. (2 COR. 9:11)
Many of our donors feel that they receive more when they give. Their generosity enriches their lives — and our community. And CCF has the privilege of facilitating this giving through charitable strategies that make it easy to give while maximizing impact.
In this newsletter you’ll meet the Steigaufs, a couple who partnered with us to make the most of their philanthropy through a donor advised fund. You can see below that the number of donor advised funds CCF stewards has steadily grown over the years. Wondering why? We’ve provided a brief overview of these funds and all their advantages.
CCF’s mission is to support financially the spiritual, educational, and social needs of our Catholic community. Our grants team is vital to this mission, and I’m delighted to give you the chance to get to know these three key members of CCF’s staff.
As valuable as the CCF staff is, we couldn’t do this work without you — our donors, partners, and friends. Thank you for your continued trust and support.
With gratitude,
Anne Cullen Miller, MBA
President