Catholic School Sustainability Initiative Grant

Catholic School Sustainability Initiative Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Catholic Extension
Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Summary

The Catholic School Sustainability Initiative Grant aims to support struggling Catholic schools in becoming viable, well-managed institutions. In partnership with Catholic School Management, Inc., this program offers a four-year consultation service to enhance school operations, fundraising, and enrollment management. With a proven track record, only 13 out of 3,000 schools have closed post-consultation. This initiative is vital for ensuring the sustainability and academic excellence of Catholic schools for years to come.

Overview

Catholic School Sustainability Initiative Grant Program The purpose of this initiative is to help struggling Catholic schools in your diocese become viable, well-managed institutions. Catholic Extension has partnered with Catholic School Management, Inc., a division of Christian Brothers Services, to offer its Strategic Management and Development Program to Catholic schools in mission dioceses. This agreement currently covers 70 percent of the total cost of this initiative for six schools per diocese. The Strategic Management and Development Program is a four-year, onsite consultation service that helps schools to position themselves for long-term viability and vitality through improving the effectiveness of school boards, enhancing school image and communications, raising money, managing enrollment, and marketing themselves more effectively. This program promises to make a significant difference for participating schools because of CSM’s track record: Only 13 of the more than 3,000 schools it has worked with have closed after fully completing this consultation program. Schools that participate will: Promote clearly their fidelity to mission, Catholic identity, and academic excellence Enhance school board and committee operations Be able to articulate their short and long-term goals – through a formal and collaborative strategic planning process Significantly increase their fundraising capabilities More effectively manage enrollment (student recruitment, admissions, and student retention) Manage their finances transparently Enhance their marketing and communication efforts Become more sustainable institutions for years to come Duration: 4 years Value to Participating Diocese: $204,000 (per group of 6 schools)

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Catholic Extension provides funding directly to designated Extension Dioceses that are approved by Catholic Extension’s Board of Governors.

Ineligibility

Funding is not available to individuals or organizations that do not work in these specified dioceses.