By Carol Incarnacao-Schirm
August 29, 2024
Earlier this year, Foundations in Faith published its first impact report. The mission of the Foundation is to transform pastoral care ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport by providing vital funding, resources, and inspiring discipleship and in reading the impact report, one could say mission accomplished.
Foundations in Faith has existed in some way since 1996, when Faith in the Future a not for profit endowment fund was established to support education and pastoral ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport. It was officially named when the Faith in Future Board of Trustees voted to change in 2017. In 2019 Kelly Weldon took the helm as director.
“A five-year review is especially significant as it marks the transformative journey of Foundations in Faith since 2019. What began with a single fund—the St. John Paul II Fund for Faith Formation, distributing approximately $100,000 to parishes—quickly evolved into a far more expansive operation. Within a year, three funds were added, soon followed by four more through the We Stand With Christ Capital Campaign. During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, we swiftly established our ninth fund, the St. Francis Xavier Fund for Missionary Parishes, enabling immediate emergency support to parishes on the brink of closure. Most recently, the Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Fund became part of our portfolio, bringing our total to ten funds dedicated to sustaining vital pastoral care ministries throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport. Today, we distribute around $1 million annually. This extraordinary growth over just five years undoubtedly calls for a comprehensive impact analysis.” said Kelly.
Here are some of the things that stood out as the report came together.
While Foundations in Faith is mostly associated with funding parish and diocesan ministries, Catholic education has in fact received around 25% of the funds distributed since 2019, or $1,675,983. Over the years, these funds have gone to essential educational programs that helped keep the cost of tuition affordable as well bringing critical resources to serve special needs students in our schools and at the St. Catherine Center for Special Needs.
Another category of extraordinary impact has been the St. Francis Xavier Fund for Missionary Parishes. Each year a group of parishes becomes eligible to apply for SFX grants. Applications are reviewed by committee and awarded on rolling basis throughout the year. Parishes encompassing a vibrant community of faith with strong leadership in need of financial assistance or some other human resource to realize its full potential have received $1,703,965 from the SFX Fund since 2019, or 26% of the total distributed in the five year period by Foundations in Faith.
The impact of its Mini Grants—a rapid response grant program aimed at innovative approaches and exceptional needs in our diocese and parishes is also worthy of note. After an initial assessment conversation with staff, applicants may be invited to submit an application which, if approved, the award, between $500 and $2,000, is received inside a week. 2023-2024 Mini Grant awards totaled $21,700 towards faith formation and evangelization ministry programs at six parishes and four diocesan initiatives, including the Young Adult Eucharistic Guardian program during the Eucharistic Procession in May.
Counting ten endowed funds, eighty-four grant recipients—including 76% of Diocese of Bridgeport parishes—and $6,428,946 distributed since 2019, Foundations in Faith looks back in order to illuminate the road ahead.
Please visit foundationsinfaith.org/2024-impact-report to read the report in its entirety.
