Adapting With Purpose: How CFSM Is Preparing for Future Community Needs

You’ve probably heard me say this already: The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota is entering a new chapter.

But let me elaborate. This chapter will be one shaped not only by the needs we see today, but by the needs we anticipate for tomorrow. Across our diocese, parishes are navigating demographic shifts, financial pressures, pastoral transitions, and the changing realities of family and community life. These shifts are not abstract trends; they are shaping the daily experience of Catholic life in Southern Minnesota. 

As a community foundation, our responsibility is to respond with clarity, creativity, and faith. And that begins with two commitments: strategic planning and adapting our programs to meet emerging needs. 

1. Strategic Planning: Discerning Our Mission for the Next Decade 

This year, our Board of Directors began a strategic‑planning process to discern how the Foundation can best serve the Church in a time of rapid change. The questions guiding this work are simple but profound: 

• What does Southern Minnesota need from a Catholic community foundation today? 

• How can we strengthen parishes, schools, and ministries in a sustainable way? 

• Where can philanthropy make the greatest difference for the mission of the Church? 

• How do we honor our Catholic identity while adapting to new realities? 

This process is grounded in prayer, data, and the experiences of parish leaders and families across the diocese. It is also informed by the listening we’ve done over the past year. Not as a standalone report, but as one input among many helping us understand the landscape. 

The goal is not to reinvent the Foundation, but to focus our efforts where they can have the greatest impact: granting, connecting philanthropy with real needs, and providing community leadership rooted in the pastoral priorities of our Bishop. 

2. Adapting Through New Programs for 2026 

While the Board continues its long‑term planning, we are already taking practical steps to respond to the needs we’re hearing. In 2026, the Foundation has launched several new initiatives designed to strengthen stewardship, support parish leaders, and build long‑term stability for our Catholic community. Inquire today to learn more about any of these free or low-cost programs!

Donor Advised Funds. A flexible tool for individuals and families who want to align their giving with their faith and long‑term financial planning. More info here.

Collective Parish Endowments. A no‑cost toolkit for any parish to begin building a permanent, community‑supported fund for long‑term sustainability. Inquire today to learn more.

Legacy Planning Seminars. Free, co‑hosted sessions that help parishioners plan faithfully for their legacy through estate planning and Catholic teaching. A recent seminar example here.

Parish Stewardship Educational Program. A low‑cost, pastor‑partnered series that strengthens stewardship spirituality and encourages consistent giving. 

Fundraising & Development Services. Expanded professional support for parishes discerning capital campaigns, major gifts, or long‑term development strategies. 

Catholic Stewardship Panels. A new diocesan‑wide series launching in March 2026 to equip parish financial leaders with practical insights on investing, money management, philanthropy, and fundraising. We encourage you to mark your calendars or learn more here! 

• Wednesday, March 18 at 5 pm at Pax Christi Catholic Church, Rochester 

• Thursday March 19 at 5 pm at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Austin 

These programs are early expressions of the Foundation’s evolving mission. They reflect what we are learning about the needs of our parishes and the opportunities before us. 

3. Looking Ahead With Hope 

As we look toward 2026 and beyond, our commitment remains steady: to listen, to serve, and to walk alongside the people and parishes of Southern Minnesota. 

The Church in our diocese is facing real challenges, but it is also filled with extraordinary hope: hope rooted in the Eucharist, in the dedication of our priests and parish leaders, and in the generosity of the faithful who want to see their parishes thrive. 

Our role is to help create the conditions where that hope can grow. 

We invite you to stay connected as we continue this journey, through strategic planning, through new programs, and through ongoing collaboration with the people we serve. Your insights, your feedback, and your partnership will help shape the future of stewardship in the Diocese of Winona‑Rochester. Contact us here or give me, Elizabeth, a call at 507-218-4098.