Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,084,986 (2024)
• Number of Grants: 67 awards (2024)
• Grant Range: Up to $5,000 (St. Katharine Drexel Grant); varies for other discretionary and non-discretionary grants
• Geographic Focus: 30 counties in northeast Iowa (Archdiocese of Dubuque)
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed and notified in early November (St. Katharine Drexel Grant cycle)
• Primary Focus: Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries in northeast Iowa

Contact Details

Website: https://ourcfad.org

Email: CFAD@OurCFAD.org

Phone: 319-200-4657

Address: 120 5th St NW Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-3962

Office Location: St. Patrick Church Parish Hall, Cedar Rapids

Overview

The Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque (CFAD) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charitable foundation established to support Catholic organizations and donors throughout northeast Iowa. Operating independently from—yet collaboratively with—the Archdiocese of Dubuque, CFAD provides three distinct services: charitable planning, investing, and grantmaking.

CFAD manages endowments and donor-advised funds specifically for Catholic organizations and donors across 30 counties in northeast Iowa. The foundation receives and manages assets through Catholic socially responsible investing, adhering to United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) guidelines. This approach ensures investments align with Catholic Social Teaching while providing sound financial returns to support perpetual funding for parishes, schools, and ministries.

In fiscal year 2022-23, CFAD distributed $3,870,296 across 195 grants, with this figure growing to $4,084,986 in 67 grants in 2024. The foundation is overseen by a 13-member board of directors comprising Church, business, and civic leaders representing various regions of the Archdiocese. CFAD has earned a 4/4 Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

St. Katharine Drexel Grant

• Amount: Up to $5,000 per organization per grant cycle
• Eligibility: Catholic parishes, schools, apostolates, associations, ministries, or other organizations operating under the jurisdiction of, or furthering the mission of, the Archdiocese or universal Catholic Church
• Application Method: Online application through CFAD software (registration required)
• Deadline: July 15 at 4 p.m. (applications received after deadline not accepted)
• Notification: Early November
• Separate Organizations: Churches and schools treated as separate organizations for application purposes

Non-Discretionary Grants

• Distributed from specific endowment funds according to donor agreements
• Support operations, capacity building, and tuition assistance
• No application required; distributed per fund agreements

Discretionary Grants

• Require grant application during specific times of year
• Support operations, capacity building, tuition assistance, and other areas
• Reviewed by Grant Committee, recommended to Board of Directors for final determination

Priority Areas

New Projects (St. Katharine Drexel Grant):

• Works of Mercy needed in the community
• Projects that evangelize Christ's teachings to strengthen the Church
• Community-building initiatives
• Must be NEW projects (not continuation of established programs)

General Grantmaking (other grant streams):

• Parish operations and ministries
• Catholic school operations and scholarships
• Tuition assistance for K-8 Catholic education
• Seminarian education support
• Cemetery maintenance
• Catholic Charities programs
• Capacity building for Catholic organizations

Geographic Focus: Exclusively the 30 counties constituting the Archdiocese of Dubuque in northeast Iowa, serving nearly 200,000 Catholics

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions (St. Katharine Drexel Grant):

• Capital campaigns
• Conference sponsorships or attendance
• Programs that continue already-established activities at the organization
• Grant requests with programs starting before or during the grant committee/board approval process
• Projects outside the 30-county Archdiocese region

Investment Exclusions:

• Investments that contradict Catholic teaching (screened according to USCCB Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Michele Brock, MBA, CFRE - Executive Director (since 2019)

Michele Brock became executive director in 2019 after serving on the CFAD Board of Directors for four years, including her final year as vice chair. She brings extensive fundraising expertise, having worked nine years at AMPERAGE Marketing & Fundraising in Cedar Rapids as director of fundraising, where she helped clients raise over $45 million and led 11 capital campaigns. Prior to AMPERAGE, she spent 10 years as public relations and foundation director for UnityPoint-Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, where she led a successful capital campaign for a new hospital. She holds a BA in journalism/mass communication and Spanish from the University of Iowa, an MBA in organizational effectiveness from the University of Iowa, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

Brock has stated about CFAD's role: "We are pleased to be a behind-the-scenes partner" to Catholic organizations receiving grants.

Board Structure

Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula - Archbishop of Dubuque (member of CFAD board)

Archbishop Zinkula became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in October 2023. He previously served as Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport beginning in 2017. Before entering the priesthood, he worked as an actuary and attorney in Cedar Rapids. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1990 and has served in numerous leadership roles including judicial vicar, episcopal vicar, and rector of St. Pius X Seminary.

Board Composition:

• 13-member board of directors
• Comprises Church, business, and civic leaders
• Members represent various regions of the Archdiocese
• Independent oversight separate from the Archdiocese corporation

The board provides final determination on grant awards to ensure eligibility and alignment with purpose.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

St. Katharine Drexel Grant (Competitive Grant Program):

1. Register: Access the online application system through ourcfad.org/drexelgrant
2. Organization Search: Search for your organization in the system
3. New Organization: If your organization doesn't appear, click "Create New Organization" and follow instructions
4. Complete Application: Fill out the online grant application with project details
5. Submit by Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on July 15
6. Review Process: Grant Committee reviews applications based on requirements and need
7. Recommendation: Committee recommends recipients to Board of Directors
8. Final Decision: Board makes final determination on eligibility and purpose
9. Notification: Applicants notified in early November

Important Requirements:

• Maximum one grant request for up to $5,000 per organization per grant cycle
• Projects must start AFTER grant committee/board approval process
• Must support a NEW project (not continuation of existing programs)
• Must provide a Work of Mercy and/or evangelize Christ's teachings and/or build community
• Complete Grant Policy document available on website detailing all qualifying/non-qualifying projects

Other Grant Streams:

• Non-discretionary grants distributed automatically from endowment funds (no application needed)
• Other discretionary grants available at certain times of year (contact CFAD for details)

Decision Timeline

St. Katharine Drexel Grant:

• Application Deadline: July 15 at 4 p.m.
• Review Period: July-October
• Notification: Early November
• Timeline from submission to decision: Approximately 4 months

Success Rates

Based on available data:

• 2024: 67 awards made
• 2023: 59 awards made
• 2022: 56 awards made
• FY 2022-23: 195 total grants distributed (including all grant types)

Specific application-to-award ratio for competitive grants not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy found in public sources. Contact CFAD directly at CFAD@OurCFAD.org or 319-200-4657 to inquire about reapplication after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Catholic Mission

CFAD exists to "meet both spiritual and basic human needs in a manner that reflects Catholic values." All investments are screened "to avoid anything that is against Church teaching" and encourage practices aligned with Catholic Social Teaching. Applications should clearly demonstrate how the project:

• Reflects Catholic values and teachings
• Operates under or furthers the mission of the Archdiocese or universal Catholic Church
• Serves the Catholic community in northeast Iowa

Focus on New Initiatives

Critical Requirement: "Projects that continue a program already established at the organization will not be considered" for the St. Katharine Drexel Grant.

Successful applications will:

• Present genuinely NEW projects, not extensions of existing work
• Demonstrate a clear need in the community that isn't currently being addressed
• Show how this initiative will provide a Work of Mercy
• Explain how it will evangelize Christ's teachings or strengthen the Church
• Describe community-building aspects

Example of Funded Project

Marquette Catholic Schools - "Our Lives of Mercy" Community Outreach Program

• Received St. Katharine Drexel Grant
• Provides students with opportunities to serve the community
• Aligned with Catholic teachings on service and mercy
• Executive Director Michele Brock noted CFAD was "pleased to be a behind-the-scenes partner, helping Marquette"

Practical Application Considerations

Timing is Critical:

• "Grant Requests with programs starting before or during the grant committee/board approval process will not be considered"
• Plan project start dates for after November (notification month)
• Build in adequate lead time for planning

Relationship Building:

• Catholic philanthropists "tend to fund those institutions that they know personally"
• "Fundraising must be looked upon as relationship building"
• Consider connecting with CFAD before applying to understand priorities
• CFAD serves as planned giving consultant to organizations (service began 2020)

Clear Purpose Statement:

• "Grant proposals today should reflect a clearly stated purpose"
• "Show how the proposal is compatible with a particular foundation's mission"
• Be specific about how your project serves the 30-county Archdiocese region

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. New Projects Only: For the St. Katharine Drexel Grant, your project must be genuinely new, not a continuation of existing programming. This is an absolute requirement.

2. Catholic Values Central: All applications must clearly demonstrate alignment with Catholic teaching and the mission of the Archdiocese. Show how your project reflects Catholic values in addressing community needs.

3. Geographic Specificity: CFAD exclusively serves the 30 counties of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in northeast Iowa. Applications from outside this region will not be considered.

4. Timing Matters: Submit well before the July 15 deadline and ensure your project start date is after the November notification period to avoid disqualification.

5. Relationship Approach: CFAD values relationship building. Consider engaging with the foundation before applying, and explore their other services like planned giving consultation to establish a connection.

6. Works of Mercy Framework: Frame your project within Catholic social teaching, specifically showing how it provides Works of Mercy (feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, teaching the ignorant, etc.) or evangelizes Christ's teachings.

7. Multiple Grant Streams: Beyond the competitive St. Katharine Drexel Grant, CFAD offers other discretionary grants and manages endowment funds. Contact them directly to explore all funding possibilities relevant to your organization.

References

1. Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque official website - https://ourcfad.org - Accessed February 24, 2026

2. St. Katharine Drexel Grant Application page - https://ourcfad.org/drexelgrant - Accessed February 24, 2026

3. Michele Brock leadership profile - https://ourcfad.org/people/michele-brock - Accessed February 24, 2026

4. Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula profile - https://ourcfad.org/people/archbishop-thomas-zinkula - Accessed February 24, 2026

5. Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque - GuideStar Profile - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-1740219 - Accessed February 24, 2026

6. Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of Dubuque - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/451740219 - Accessed February 24, 2026

7. Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of Dubuque - Instrumentl 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/catholic-foundation-for-the-archdiocese-of-dubuque - Accessed February 24, 2026

8. "Marquette Catholic receives CFAD 'Our Lives of Mercy' grant" - Bellevue Herald-Leader - https://www.bellevueheraldleader.com/news/marquette-catholic-receives-cfad-our-lives-of-mercy-grant/article_0f89e0e8-cf4c-11ee-b721-c347acf930d2.html - Accessed February 24, 2026

9. Charity Navigator Rating - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/451740219 - Accessed February 24, 2026

10. Catholic Foundation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourcfad - Accessed February 24, 2026