New! Online Endowment Catalog

New! Online Endowment Catalog

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)...

ICF Overview Webinar

ICF Overview Webinar

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,...

Summer 2022 Newsletter

Summer 2022 Newsletter

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...

Respect Life Endowment

Respect Life Endowment

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...

Trustees Approve Record Release

Trustees Approve Record Release

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...

Consortium of Catholic Foundations

Consortium of Catholic Foundations

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...

Endowment Honors Father Tony Legarski

Endowment Honors Father Tony Legarski

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...

Impact Grants Exceed $100,000!

Impact Grants Exceed $100,000!

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...

Celebrating 30 Years!

Celebrating 30 Years!

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...

Attention Blair County College Juniors & Seniors!

Attention Blair County College Juniors & Seniors!

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...

Impact Grants

Impact Grants

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...

Special Statement from Our Chair and CEO

Special Statement from Our Chair and CEO

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...

Welcome Annette!

Welcome Annette!

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...

Ready To Distribute $1+ Million Again!

Ready To Distribute $1+ Million Again!

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...

Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity

Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity

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...

2019-20 IMPACT Grant Applications Now Available

2019-20 IMPACT Grant Applications Now Available

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...

We Did Not Move

We Did Not Move

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...

College Scholarships Available

College Scholarships Available

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...

Year-End Giving Opportunities

Year-End Giving Opportunities

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...

2018-19 Available Distribution Data Released

2018-19 Available Distribution Data Released

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...

2018 Welge Scholarships Awarded

2018 Welge Scholarships Awarded

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...

Stellabotte Joins Foundation Board of Trustees

Stellabotte Joins Foundation Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the Independent Catholic Foundation has voted to accept Ronald Stellabotte as Trustee to a three-year term.  Born and raised in Altoona, Stellabotte graduated from St. Francis University in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree. He then graduated as a...

Scholarships Available

Scholarships Available

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...

Strong 2017 Investment Growth!

Through the efforts of its Finance Committee, portfolio manager Christian Brothers Investment Services, and consultant Cornerstone Advisors, the Independent Catholic Foundation announces that its investment portfolio increased 14.7% in calendar year 2017. With its...

Have Faith with Year-End Giving!

Have Faith with Year-End Giving!

A year-end charitable gift to one or more of our permanent endowments for the benefit of your most cherished Catholic causes – a parish, school, religious order or diocesan ministry – within the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown will be invested in perpetuity. Each year...

$250,000 Faith Center Endowment Challenge

$250,000 Faith Center Endowment Challenge

An anonymous donor has approached Father Matthew Laffey, O.S.B., director of Catholic Campus Ministry for Penn State University Park campus, with $250,000.00 and a challenge for others to match that amount by December 31.

Stasko Joins Board of Trustees

Stasko Joins Board of Trustees

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.

Foundation Announces 2017 Funds Distribution

Foundation Announces 2017 Funds Distribution

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.

Number of Endowments Continues to Grow

Number of Endowments Continues to Grow

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.