2030 Strategic Plan | The Catholic Foundation of Southern MN

Building a Stronger Catholic Future, Together

In fiscal year 2026, our Board completed a strategic planning process grounded in a diocesan wide listening exercise. We met with 45 individuals and 17 groups: pastors, parish leaders, donors, school principals, and Catholic organizations across Southern Minnesota. Our goal was simple: to understand how we can better serve Catholics in our diocese and identify the most effective ways to create positive impact.

At our March 4, 2026 Board meeting, we gathered all of that input and asked a central question: What does our Catholic community need most right now, and how can the Foundation serve those needs faithfully and effectively?

Taken from what we heard, the answers became clear, honest, and hopeful. They point to a future where our parishes are stronger, our Catholic identity is clearer, and our Foundation plays a vital role in supporting the mission of the Church.

Five themes emerged as priorities within our diocese today. We will take these on as our focus for the fiscal year beginning in July 2026 through June 2030. They include:

• Long term financial stability of our Catholic institutions
• Catholic identity, formation, and evangelization
• Priestly vocations
• Economic strain on families and workers
• Mental health, social isolation, and pastoral care

 

 

If you’d like to learn more about how we’ll bring these ideas to life, read on.

Our Top Two Priorities: Where We Can Make Impact Now

Financial Fragility Is Our Most Urgent and Actionable Challenge

Across the diocese, many parishes are struggling with financial instability. This is not a surprise to anyone who has served on a finance council or looked closely at parish budgets. We heard repeatedly that:

• Parishes lack reserves, endowments, and long‑term planning
• Priests and finance councils need more education and practical tools
• Donors want clarity, transparency, and confidence
• Endowments and planned giving are “low‑hanging fruit” that can make a major difference in the next 5-10 years.

This is the area where the Foundation can make the biggest impact quickly because of the financial expertise and years of service we have within the diocese. Our Board sees this as a top priority for the next several years.

What this means for the future: We will focus on building parish financial strength through an endowment toolkit, planned giving seminars, priest empowerment trainings, and a Philanthropic Summit that brings together Catholic organizations to collaborate rather than compete.

Catholic Identity, Formation, and Evangelization Remain Central

Our Catholic identity is not an optional add‑on; it is the heart of our mission. Board members affirmed that:

• Bishop Barron’s synod priorities align strongly with our work
• Seeds of Faith and other Foundation endowments are serving the community well
• Donors and grant applicants would benefit from clearer communication about process and the impact of these grants on Catholic formation and evangelization

The Foundation’s role here is not to run programs, but to fund, strengthen, and amplify the ministries that already exist.

What this means for the future: We will continue to support Seeds of Faith grants, improve communication about existing opportunities, and explore new ways to help families live their Catholic faith with confidence.

How We’re Working

The Foundation Will Not Try to “Do Everything”

One of the most important insights from the Board is that the Foundation must stay focused. We are not positioned to run counseling centers, food shelves or vocations offices. But we can:

• Fund the work of others organizations
• Convene stewardship, financial and development leaders
• Build local parish capacity
• Provide toolkits and education

This clarity helps us stay aligned with our strengths.

The Foundation Will Step Up in Community Leadership

Many Catholic organizations across southern Minnesota are doing excellent work, but they often operate in silos. The Board sees a major opportunity for the Foundation to:

• Bring together Catholic Charities, DOW‑R, St. Vincent de Paul, Newman Centers, and others
• Bring together donors with the missions they’re passionate about
• Reduce anxiety around finances, technology, AI, and rapid change
• Provide education, clarity, and practical tools
• Strengthen collaboration across the diocese

Being a true Catholic cannot be about being territorial about a donor or a strategy. It is about helping everyone succeed together because we are all here for the same mission of Christ.

Secondary Priorities

Priestly Vocations Need Financial Support and Clear Pathways

Priestly vocations was the third theme that surfaced to the top. The Foundation’s role in vocations within our strategic plan time frame will be primarily financial. We can:

• Match donors with specific needs and causes
• Support youth ministry endowments, youth programs, and discernment spaces
• Provide grants for seminarian education and priest student loan debt
• Collaborate with the diocese on a parishioner toolkit for supporting youth vocations

This is a practical and meaningful way to strengthen the future of our Church.

Mental Health, Social Isolation, and Pastoral Care Need Prevention and Community

The Board agreed that the Foundation is not suited to run counseling centers or direct mental health services. However, we can support prevention of these issues by funding things like:

• Parish community‑building initiatives
• Programs that help people connect and belong
• Simple efforts that strengthen parish life, such as small groups or community activities

Creating real community through a monthly cribbage group or a parish social night can be just as powerful as a formal program.

More on Southern Minnesota’s hunger for community and purpose is here.

Economic Challenges for Families and Workers Is Real

Families across the diocese are facing financial pressure. While these concerns are not new, the coming of artificial intelligence may magnify them in the near future.

More on artificial intelligence in recent blogs:

• AI, Young People’s Concerns & the Church’s Opportunity
• Work, Dignity, and the Call to Local Catholic Leadership
• When the Headlines Scare Us: AI, Dignity of Work, and Stewardship

As Catholics, we are called to serve the poor. At the Foundation we will help by:

• Reducing anxiety through education and clarity
• Helping Catholics understand the positive potential of new technologies, including AI
• Engaging younger Catholics, who are eager to contribute and learn
• Exploring an owned fund that builds capacity and supports timely community needs

Looking Ahead: A Foundation Focused on Strength, Clarity, and Mission

The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota has a unique and important role to play in strengthening the Church. We are called to:

• Build financial stability in parishes
• Support Catholic identity and evangelization
• Strengthen vocations
• Lead through collaboration
• Provide clarity, education, and practical tools

In the coming years, our focus will be doing the right things well. Our Board is energized, our mission is clear, and our path forward is strong. Together, we can build a Catholic future rooted in hope, stewardship, and the Gospel.

Please visit this page again in the coming months and years to see progress updates on the implementation of our plan.