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A Trusted Charitable Giving Expert

Important: 2024 Circle of Life Seminar Online Registration
Register For Seminar

All are invited to a free seminar on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. involving advance planning for important end-of-life issues from a Catholic perspective.

The free Circle of Life seminar has been designed to help keep you and your family from having to make difficult decisions on the fly, and offer your entire family peace of mind.

About The Catholic Foundation

What We Do

The Catholic Foundation serves as a community foundation and a trusted charitable giving expert that partners with generous individuals, families and organizations to raise the quality of life in our Catholic community and beyond through charitable grants.

Founders of The Catholic Foundation. L-R: Edward R. Maher, Bishop Thomas K. Gorman and Thomas C. Unis

Our History

The Catholic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was established in 1955 by a group of visionary Catholic business and professional leaders in the midst of a period of remarkable growth and prosperity in the Dallas area.

What began as a perpetual endowment, has evolved into a community foundation and grown both monetarily and in services provided. In 1965, managed assets of the Foundation were less than $1 million. At the beginning of 2024, managed assets exceeded $290 million and the Foundation managed more than 570 charitable funds and charitable trusts. 

Today, The Catholic Foundation typically awards grants in excess of $20 million annually.

Our Mission

The Catholic Foundation promotes compassionate charitable giving, builds legacies and stewardship that serves donors and the needs of the community.

What is a Community Foundation?

A community foundation is a type of foundation formed by broad-based community support from multiple sources: trusts, endowments, individual contributions and  private foundation grants. This type of foundation generally makes grants only within a specified geographic area and is governed by a board representative of the community it serves.

As a community foundation, The Catholic Foundation enjoys the tax benefits and spending flexibility afforded a public charity by relevant federal legislation and IRS regulations. It appreciates the efficiency and cost savings realized by investing and managing in tandem charitable resources from many sources. And, as an established source of charitable funding, it possesses an unparalleled knowledge of ongoing and emerging community needs.

Who We Serve

The Catholic Foundation assists donors in creating a meaningful and lasting impact through planned giving and charitable fund management. The Foundation also works closely with the charitable entities that the donors designate as beneficiaries throughout the United States, as well as with Catholic organizations that apply for grants within the Diocese of Dallas.

Why Choose Us

The Catholic Foundation offers individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits a way to make giving easier, more effective and to leave their legacy uniquely aligned with their Christian values and beliefs. 

Donors enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that their gift directly supports the Catholic and non-Catholic organizations that they choose. Setting up a charitable fund with The Catholic Foundation is an easy way to streamline your giving and realize your philanthropic goals.

67 Things

The 67 Things to know about The Catholic Foundation and the importance we make in our Catholic community represents one fact for each year of our existence as of the end of 2022.

Meet Our Team

The Catholic Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of trustees, citizens of integrity with diverse interests and abilities who share a common commitment to community service. The Board sets policy and establishes the direction of The Catholic Foundation, and through its committees, oversees the Foundation’s professional management.

Contact Us

We’re conveniently located in Dallas and provide support to assist the charitable giving goals of a wide range of individuals.