Strategic Plan

Strategic Planning Commissions

As the Catholic Community Foundation celebrates its ten-year anniversary in service to our Church, we gathered a commission of planners to examine best practices in philanthropy and determine the best way to position the Foundation to better support new levels of generosity throughout our Diocese.  

This process was conducted in five meetings (November ‘24 – March ‘25) and designed to help us better understand the needs of those whom we serve – our parishioners, parishes, schools and ministries – before we act on those needs.  

Thank You to Our Planners

My Friends,

Where did we begin this journey?

We were celebrating ten years of great progress since our founding in 2014. We were taking pride in the growth of our endowment, which now stands at $240 million. We were reflecting on several successful large-scale fundraising efforts. However, through our campaign experiences we saw glimpses of what more we might be able to accomplish given the generosity of our people.  We had a board that recognized we were not living up to our potential.  We had a staff that was convinced we had to take this to the next level and are prepared to do so.  We had Pastors who were eager to inspire greater generosity in their parishes and for their parishes. We had donors who were challenging us to lead with vision and purpose.

And most importantly, we had a Bishop with the wisdom to understand that the next step would require not the advice of a few, but the collective wisdom of many, of you, all of you – people of faith, experience, professional wisdom, and the passion to re-envision the ways in which our gifts could change lives.

Each of you have spent time in five or more meetings over these last five months – more than 10 hours in thoughtful discussions and deliberations, and yesterday, we heard the results of those discussions and shared it all with the Bishop for consideration.

But more important than the plan was the planning – I trust that we have created something here far more important than a list of tasks. We have created, I hope, a culture of collegiality, collaboration, and innovation – a cadre of leaders who will continue planning beyond the scope of this immediate planning.   We have begun a journey in a continuing quest for excellence and meaningful service – service to those who would be inspired to give their time, talent, and treasure to the Diocese of Richmond.

Will you all continue this journey with me?

My heartfelt thanks to all of you who so graciously and generously gave of your time.

In Christ,

Margaret I. Keightley

Executive Director | Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond

For questions concerning this planning process, please feel free to contact:

Veronica Scholle, Planning Coordinator

Direct: (804) 622-5155

Email: [email protected]