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Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota

Annual Giving
$38.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3w

Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $38+ million
  • Total Assets: $667 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3 weeks (Professional Development Grants); varies by program
  • Grant Range: $250 - $15,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Greater Minnesota
  • Total Grants Awarded (2024): 463 grants

Contact Details

Address: 2610 University Ave W Court West STE 500, St. Paul, MN 55114

Phone: 651-389-0300

Email: info@ccf-mn.org

Website: www.ccf-mn.org

Grants Program Associate: Bella Eckert – 651-389-0648, eckertb@ccf-mn.org

VP of Impact: Meg Payne Nelson – 651-389-0882

Overview

Founded in 1997, the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) has become one of the largest Catholic community foundations in the United States, managing $667 million in charitable assets. Since its founding, CCF has granted a total of $288 million to support the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the Catholic community in Minnesota. The foundation operates with a clear mission: partnering with individuals and organizations to establish charitable funds, stewarding those funds to grow in perpetuity, and impacting the community through purposeful grantmaking.

CCF distributes grants through two main channels: donor-directed grants (approximately $43.7 million in FY2025) from donor advised funds and institutional endowments, and CCF-directed discretionary grants (approximately $1.6 million in FY2025). Under the leadership of President Anne Cullen Miller since 2013, CCF has grown significantly in both assets and impact. Miller, who announced her retirement effective January 2026, has emphasized that "donors give through us, not to us, and Catholic values are infused in all we do." The foundation earned a Four-Star rating (94%) from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Professional Development Grants (Rolling deadlines)

  • Lay Ecclesial Ministers: Up to $1,000 for graduate education, ministry certificates, or continuing professional education
  • Catholic School Teachers: Up to $750 for religious formation, instruction in Catholic thought and teaching, and spiritual growth programs
  • Three annual application cycles with three-week turnaround
  • Grants paid to parishes/schools, which reimburse recipients

Preschool, Youth, and Young Adult Ministry Grants ($250 - $3,000)

  • Annual application cycle (Opens June 1, Deadline June 27, Awards announced mid-August)
  • Supports programs, retreats, events, or youth service projects
  • Priority given to parishes with limited budgets, rural areas, and programs targeting underprivileged communities and people of color
  • Must benefit people in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
  • Proposals should be for new or supplemental activities not already covered by parish youth ministry budgets

Community Priorities Grants ($1,000 - $5,000)

  • One-time grants on a rotating annual focus (elderly, youth, young mothers and fathers)
  • Serves the most vulnerable elderly age 75 and over, at-risk kids age 5-14, and young mothers with families at risk
  • Priority given to organizations utilizing volunteers for service delivery and with annual budgets under $1 million
  • Application window varies; contact Bella Eckert for current cycle information

Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund (MCRF) ($5,000 - $15,000)

  • Emergency relief fund for qualifying parishes and schools within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
  • Awards for unexpected urgent needs

Salt & Light Fund

  • CCF's flagship unrestricted fund addressing urgent and emerging community needs
  • Donor contributions support unmet needs in the Catholic community collaboratively

Priority Areas

  • Spiritual formation and faith development
  • Catholic education at all levels (elementary, secondary, higher education)
  • Programs serving vulnerable populations: elderly (75+), at-risk youth (5-18), young mothers with families at risk
  • Youth and young adult ministry and engagement
  • Emergency relief for parishes and schools
  • Culturally responsive services and programs for underprivileged communities and people of color
  • Programs utilizing volunteers for service delivery
  • Small to medium-sized organizations (annual budgets under $1 million) through Community Priorities grants

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly listed on their website, CCF's screening process excludes organizations that:

  • Do not align with Catholic social teachings
  • Lack proper 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (for most grant programs)
  • Operate outside the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis (for most discretionary grants)
  • Have poor financial practices, accountability, or transparency

All nonprofits are screened for financial standing and alignment with Catholic values before grant distribution.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Anne Cullen Miller, MBA – President (retiring January 2026)

  • Joined CCF in 2008 as investment officer and vice president of finance and investments
  • Became president in 2013
  • Under her leadership, CCF grew to $667 million in assets and $38+ million in annual grants
  • Quote: "I have been profoundly shaped, stretched, and lifted by the people I have met and served alongside — our extraordinary staff and board, Archbishop Hebda, generous donors, passionate ministry and community leaders, and countless individuals who believe in the power of shared purpose."

Christopher D. Nelson – Executive Vice President of Development and Donor Engagement

Casey Scott – Vice President of Finance and Administration (oversees finance, human resources, IT, facilities, and risk management)

Meg Payne Nelson – Vice President of Impact (651-389-0882)

Jules Vierling – Grants Manager (651-389-0880)

Bella Eckert – Grants Program Associate (651-389-0648, eckertb@ccf-mn.org)

Board of Directors

The Board includes 25 members "inspired by their Catholic faith" who "bring an incredible breadth and depth of expertise and experience to help drive strategy," according to President Miller. Members include:

  • Jason Morrison, MBA – President, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
  • Margaret Murphy, MBA – Retired Chief Credit Officer, Specialty Lending, Old National Bank
  • Roshan Rajkumar, J.D. – Managing Partner, Bowman and Brooke LLP
  • Marya Robben, J.D. – Partner, Lathrop GPM LLP
  • Rachael Scherer, CFA®, MBA – Retired Vice President, Medtronic
  • Nancy Utoft, MBA – Retired Executive Director, Abria Pregnancy Resources
  • Kate Wenger, J.D. – Community Volunteer

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CCF operates multiple grant programs with different application processes:

Professional Development Grants:

  • Three annual application cycles with rolling deadlines:
    • Summer programs: March 15 – May 1
    • Fall programs: July 1 – August 15
    • Spring programs: November 1 – December 15
  • Applicants notified within three weeks of each deadline
  • Application available at ccf-mn.org/grants/professional-development
  • Contact: Bella Eckert (651-389-0648, eckertb@ccf-mn.org)

Preschool, Youth, and Young Adult Ministry Grants:

Community Priorities Grants:

Other CCF-Directed Grants:

  • Some grants made on invitation-only basis
  • Others through open, competitive application process
  • Contact Jules Vierling, Grants Manager (651-389-0880) or Meg Payne Nelson, VP of Impact (651-389-0882) for information

Donor Advised Funds:

  • CCF manages $43.7 million in donor-directed grants (FY2025)
  • Recipients identified by founding donors or current fund advisors
  • All recommended charities screened for financial standing and alignment with Catholic social teaching
  • Can grant to any qualified 501(c)(3) that aligns with Catholic social teachings

Decision Timeline

  • Professional Development Grants: 3 weeks from application deadline
  • Youth Ministry Grants: Approximately 6 weeks (deadline late June, awards mid-August)
  • Community Priorities Grants: Timeline varies; contact foundation for current cycle

Success Rates

CCF made 463 grant awards in 2024 (402 in 2023, 380 in 2022). However, the foundation does not publicly disclose:

  • Total number of applications received
  • Overall success rate/percentage
  • Application-to-award ratio

Given that discretionary grants represent approximately $1.6 million annually while donor-directed grants account for $43.7 million, competitive grant programs constitute a smaller portion of CCF's total grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions or waiting periods mentioned for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations are welcome to reapply in subsequent grant cycles. For Professional Development Grants with three annual cycles, applicants could potentially apply multiple times per year for different programs.

Application Success Factors

Mission Alignment is Critical: All nonprofits are screened for alignment with Catholic social teachings. CCF's investment philosophy screens out organizations involved in abortifacients, weapons production, predatory lending, or gambling. Ensure your organization's mission, programs, and partners align with Catholic values and social teaching principles.

Financial Health Matters: CCF screens all nonprofits for tax status, financial management practices, accountability, and transparency. Be prepared to demonstrate sound financial management, even if you're a small organization.

Leverage Priority Areas: For Community Priorities Grants, organizations with annual budgets under $1 million and those utilizing volunteers for service delivery receive priority. If this describes your organization, emphasize these characteristics.

For Youth Ministry Grants, Emphasize:

  • Parishes with limited budgets, especially in rural areas
  • Programs targeting underprivileged communities and people of color
  • New or supplemental activities not already covered by existing parish budgets
  • Balance of social, spiritual, and service elements
  • Creative outreach and opportunities for encounter

Understand the Grant Type: CCF emphasizes that many grants are donor-directed, meaning recipients are identified by individual donors or fund advisors. For discretionary grants, the foundation identifies recipients based on strategic priorities. Some grants operate by invitation only, while others are open competitive processes.

Professional Development Grants Specifics:

  • Teachers: Must be employed in the Archdiocese at time of program
  • Lay Ministers: Preference given to paid employees actively working at parishes
  • Propose programs that genuinely support religious formation and spiritual growth
  • Remember that grants go to parishes/schools, not individuals

Build Relationships: With multiple grant cycles per year and various program offerings, maintaining contact with grants staff (particularly Bella Eckert, Jules Vierling, or Meg Payne Nelson) can help you understand which programs best fit your needs and when to apply.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Dual Grantmaking Model: Understand that most of CCF's $38+ million annual grantmaking ($43.7 million) flows through donor advised funds and institutional endowments, while discretionary grants ($1.6 million) are more competitive and strategic
  • Catholic Values Screening is Non-Negotiable: All grant recipients must align with Catholic social teachings; this is rigorously screened using USCCB guidelines
  • Geographic Focus: Most discretionary grants serve the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, though some programs extend to greater Minnesota
  • Size Matters (But Smaller Can Be Better): Community Priorities grants prioritize organizations with budgets under $1 million that utilize volunteers—small size can be an advantage
  • Multiple Application Opportunities: Professional Development Grants offer three cycles annually; track all program deadlines to maximize opportunities
  • Quick Turnaround: Professional Development Grants provide decisions within three weeks—faster than most foundations
  • Contact Program Staff Early: Bella Eckert, Jules Vierling, and Meg Payne Nelson are key contacts who can guide you to appropriate programs and answer specific eligibility questions

References

Accessed: December 23, 2025

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