The Independent Catholic Foundation, a public charity, is pleased to announce the expansion of our charitable services by administering Donor-Advised Funds. A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF for short) can be thought of as a "charitable giving account" through which the donor...

LIEB FAMILY ENDOWMENT FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION TO BENEFIT STUDENTS AT TWO CAMBRIA COUNTY SCHOOLS (ALTOONA, PA) – A legacy that began close to fifty years ago will continue for many generations into the future thanks to the family and friends of the late Ralph Lieb who...

Participant surveys of our first Catholic Investing Summit indicate it was an overwhelming success. ICF CEO Chris Ringkamp presented an overview of the US Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops' social investing guidelines. Keynote Speaker and Chief Investment...

As stewards of 40 Catholic-invested scholarship and general operations endowments benefitting the Bishop McCort Catholic High School community, we are pleased to strengthen our partnership by securing naming rights to the conference room in the new Toyota Media...

For the 12th straight year, we have earned a rating from Charity Navigator - the global evaluator of nonprofit stability, efficiency and sustainability! You can #GiveWithConfidence knowing that we have been independently evaluated for being effective with donations....

This one-page flyer explains how ICF stewards new endowments for the financial benefit of cherished Catholic causes.

ICF Trustee Annette Isgan and Office Administrator Annette Wholaver present a $6,000 grant to Father Brian Saylor and Diocesan Coordinator of Youth Ministry Francine Swope at Camp Zacchaeus earlier this summer. Open to youth in grades 4 through 9, Camp Z applied our...

Thursday, August 24 at 4:00 PM is the deadline for parishes and schools in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese to submit an Impact Grant Application to receive matching funds for a critical initiative. A pool of $46,691 is available for Student Retreats, Parish Renewal/...

We are pleased to announce a new online catalog featuring 280 endowment funds. The main webpage is organized by these categories (number of endowments in parentheses): Parish Endowments (61) Music Ministry (3) Vocations (8) Religious Orders (3) Life & Justice (8)...

JoAnn Taricani was a member of Our Lady of Victory Parish in State College, PA, during her childhood and youth. She would go on to earn her Master and Doctorate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She arrived at the University of Washington, Seattle,...

ICF CEO Chris Ringkamp joined the Faithful at all four Sunday Masses on the weekend of August 13 & 14 to celebrate three new endowment funds. ICF is now the steward of six endowments for the benefit of this Somerset County Faith Community. Each endowment produces...

On July 21, CEO Chris Ringkamp conducted a 26-minute webinar about the Foundation's mission. You can view it at your convenience from our Newsletters & Publications webpage. Click the [ ] within the frame to expand it to full screen. To stay current with ICF news,...

Despite recent volatility in the investment markets, the ICF Board of Trustees approved a record release from our permanent endowments to parishes, schools, ministries, and cemeteries for the 2022-23 fiscal year that began on July 1. We were also entrusted with...

A Blair County individual who believed that every life is precious ensured her concern would benefit current and future generations by creating an endowment with a charitable gift in her last will (bequest). This permanent endowment fund will provide annual financial...

Our Board of Trustees approved a record $1.65 million release to endowment beneficiary parishes, schools, ministries, cemeteries and other Catholic causes for the 2022-23 fiscal year that begins this month. Our five-year spending policy formula smooths the quarterly...

For ten years, the Independent Catholic Foundation has networked informally with peer executives throughout the country, Last year, ICF became a Founding Member of the Consortium of Catholic Foundations, a peer community of chief executives who seek to accelerate...

Click on this PDF document to access the link to the session of interest. https://www.independentcatholicfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sept-Key-Findings-Session-Zoom-Links.pdf

The family of Father Tony Legarski has created the “Rev. Anthony J. Legarski Educational Endowment Fund for Seminarians and Permanent Deacons.” Known affectionately as Father Tony, he had a great sense of humor and a talent for imitating others. However, according to...

After only three grant cycles, our Impact Grant Program has awarded a cumulative total of $105,931.50. The Foundation's Trustees designated an unrestricted bequest from the late Lou Fleckenstein as the source for Impact Grants. The bequest is invested using the same...

Three decades ago in June 1990, Frank Pasquerilla and Jim Saly approached Bishop Adamec with an idea to form a foundation lead by the laity that would initially provide endowment support to Catholic schools. What began with endowed funds of $218,667 has blossomed into...

Established in 1995, the Adelaide G. Welge (WELL-ghee) Scholarship Endowment Fund provides financial assistance to college juniors or seniors registered at a Blair County Catholic Parish (other than Saint Matthew Parish, which already has a substantial scholarship...

In these unprecedented times, we have distributed the following Impact Grants to several parishes so they can communicate with parishioners using new technology: Prince of Peace Parish, Northern Cambria (live streaming camera), St. Rose of Lima, Altoona (text/email...

Download a PDF version here to re-print or share with pastoral or finance council members. March 19, 2020 Solemnity of St. Joseph Dear Foundation Partners, As you are well aware, the coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected global financial markets. While our...

Please join us in welcoming Annette Wholaver as our Mission Advancement Associate. In addition to administrative responsibilities, Annette will coordinate our Impact Grant Program and annual endowment distributions as well as audit our endowment deposits and...

Despite a volatile investment cycle in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, the Board of Trustees of the Independent Catholic Foundation recently approved a 4.5% distribution rate for each of its 268 permanent endowments. This action will result in a record $1.3...

We begin our fiscal year with news that Charity Navigator has awarded us its coveted 4-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Charity Navigator's award letter to us continues: "The nonprofit sector is...

Applications are now available for Impact Grants that we will award in September to eligible Catholic parishes, schools and service organizations within the diocese. The Grants Committee has decided to give priority to projects emphasizing Clergy/Lay Leadership...

In several instances recently, fellow Catholics have asked us, "How was the office move?" The question has afforded us the opportunity to offer a friendly reminder that the Independent Catholic Foundation did not move because we are not a diocesan office. [Prior to...

Scholarships Available for College Juniors & Seniors The Independent Catholic Foundation seek applicants for the 2019 Welge Scholarship which provides financial assistance to worthy parishioners who are entering their junior or senior year of college and are a...

We would enjoy a confidential conversation with you so you too can honor your family with a Catholic legacy that will give witness to your faith for generations to come.

A year-end gift to your parish or one or more of our permanent endowments in honor or memory of a family member or friend helps fulfill our mission of providing for Christ’s ministries for the benefit of current and future generations.  The following are a few...

At the annual meeting of the Independent Catholic Foundation in June, the board of trustees accepted the recommendation from the Finance Committee to set this year's distribution rate at 4.5%. Taking the average market value of the full portfolio from the six most...

As students from throughout our diocese make their way to college campuses near and far, the Independent Catholic Foundation announces three recipients of the 2018 Adelaide G. (Heverly) Welge Scholarship. Sierra Stevens from Mount Carmel Parish, Altoona, attends...

Scholarships Available for Blair County Junior and Senior College Students Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 Welge Scholarship which assists Blair County students who are entering their junior or senior year (third or fourth year) at an accredited...

The Board of Trustees of the Independent Catholic Foundation has elected William D. Stasko of Johnstown to serve a three-year term effective July 1, 2017.

Due to healthy investment returns, the Board of Trustees of the Independent Catholic Foundation recently approved a distribution percentage of 4.5% for each of its 250 permanent endowments.

During the past five years the number of endowments held by the Foundation has enjoyed steady growth.  So far this fiscal year (2015-16) the Foundation has added one new endowment which bring the total number to 241.

New High School Scholarships Added Unbeknownst to each another, graduating classes of 1960 of each high-school (now Bishop Guilfoyle and Bishop McCort Catholic High Schools) have created new scholarship endowments. This past summer each class had reunions...