CSF Fall High School Meeting September 11, 2014

CSF Fall High School MeetingSeptember 11, 2014

Agenda

• Welcome and Opening Prayer• CSF Update

• Discussion of CSF Scholars Program– Review of Program To-Date– Requirements Moving Forward

• Other Grants• Partnerships• Important Dates• Advisory Committee• Red Sox Ticket Raffle

CSF snapshot•Related entity of Archdiocese • 24 Board members• 7 Full time staff• $8.39mm in budgeted grants for FY15• $63mm endowment• ~1500 donors•Do not claim church status

Learn more about CSF

www.guidestar.org

http://www.guidestar.org/

CSF Mission StatementThe Catholic Schools Foundation changes lives byproviding families with demonstrated financialneed an opportunity to give their sons anddaughters a quality education, focused onChristian values and character formation atCatholic Schools located throughout theArchdiocese of Boston, regardless of race, religion,ethnicity or gender.

Operating Principles

CSF supports the concept of a strong Catholic Schools Office (CSO) with a clear mandate, dedicated resources and adequate authority to rationalize and thereby strengthen the network of schools in the Archdiocese of BostonCSF will significantly focus its allocations in support of this objective and will direct funds away from schools that are not meeting the standards and towards schools that are viable in the long-term

Why are we looking at this?

•Obligation to our mission and donors•Need to be able to tell a story • Impact must be measured• Transparency leads to opportunity•Need to be bold to attract funds

What this means• Funding Guidelines reviewed and

updated regularly • Funding Calendar moved up•Application updated to help make

decisions against standards•Opportunities for investment should

emerge •CSF website now be more useful

General Funding Guidelines• Minimum of 80% of CSF allocation budget should be allotted

for scholarship funds each year• Majority of funding should be directed to students at

elementary school level • Opportunities for internal capacity building and sustainability

outside of CSF should be sought by all grantees• All schools should be able to demonstrate they are meeting

or working towards defined standards of excellence in academics, finances, faith formation and governance.

• Complete guideline on CSF website

http://www.csfboston.org/

CSF Scholars Program

• Donors are asking more and more questions about the students who receive CSF scholarships:• Ethnicity• Religion• Family income• Academic performance• Where do they go when they graduate

• CSF must continue to answer these questions and track our students• Must rely on data to do so

CSF Scholars Program

• Established in 2011 to convert block scholarship grants to directed student model

• Funding was originally 30% of a student’s 9th grade tuition, currently 33%• Intentions of program:

• to create a recruiting tool for schools: scholarship guaranteed for 4 years if maintain passing average and good conduct;

• to allow low-income students, especially new immigrants, who otherwise would not set foot in a Catholic high school the opportunity for a Catholic education;

• to help maintain a pipeline between Catholic elementary and secondary schools;• to allow CSF to better track scholarship recipients

CSF Scholars Program:Data as of Spring 2014

• $1.4 million distributed to 461 students in Classes of 2015-17

Ethnicity

Caucasian 30%

Hispanic 28%

African-American 22%

Other 15%

Asian 5%

Religious Af-filiation

Catholic 76%Other Christian 15%Unknown 7%Other Non-Chris-tian 3%

CSF Scholars Program:Data as of Spring 2014

Average School Tuition

$9,461

Average CSF Grant $2,978Average School-Based Grant $2,131Remaining Balance $4,352

CSF Scholars Program: Successes

• CSF is now tracking scholarship recipients year over year;

• Larger scholarships having more of an impact on tuition;

• Program has helped improve pipeline/relationship with Catholic feeders;

• Schools have control over Scholar selection

CSF Scholars Program: Challenges

• Confusion regarding tuition increases and how affects Scholars;

• Confusion regarding academic data collection;

• Withdrawal rate of Scholars at some schools as high as 25%;

• Almost 10% of Scholars finished the 2013-14 school year with GPAs of 1.5 or lower

CSF Scholars Program: Moving Forward

• Selection of Scholars:• Schools are expected to use the CSF Scholar aid as a recruiting tool DURING the

admissions process, not after;• Students should have a high level of financial need;• Preference should be given to students coming from a school’s local Catholic feeder

schools and/or students who are Peter Lynch (PL) Scholars;• If demographically possible, preference should be given to students from families who

are new immigrants to the US;• Students should demonstrate high potential to contribute positively to the school

community through academics and/or leadership;• Students should have a goal for post-secondary education


• Awarding of Funds:• Scholarships offered to students in the 9th grade class will be locked in at this amount

for the duration of the student’s time at the school;• In order to keep tuition payments predictable and affordable, we suggest schools lock

in the tuition amount at the 9th grade level;• If a school does raise tuition and the CSF Scholar requires additional financial aid to

remain in the school, it is up to the school to provide this additional aid;• Once a school year has begun, if a Scholar withdraws or transfers the funding for this

student is forfeited. It will not follow a Scholar to another Catholic school nor may it be redistributed to another student.


• Awarding of Funds:• Scholarships offered to students in the 9th grade class will be locked in at this amount

for the duration of the student’s time at the school;• In order to keep tuition payments predictable and affordable, we suggest schools lock

in the tuition amount at the 9th grade level;• If a school does raise tuition and the CSF Scholar requires additional financial aid to

remain in the school, it is up to the school to provide this additional aid;• Once a school year has begun, if a Scholar withdraws or transfers the funding for this

student is forfeited. It will not follow a Scholar to another Catholic school nor may it be redistributed to another student.


• Notification to CSF:• Should involve tuition or business manager;• CSF Scholars in the current classes of 2015-18 must be recorded in

FACTS Grant & Aid by SEPTEMBER 30;• Scholars should be designated as CSF Scholar Class of 2015, 2016,

etc.;• Scholars in the Class of 2019 must be recorded in FACTS by APRIL 1;• If Scholars are not recorded in FACTS by these dates schools will not

receive funding for them


• Reporting for Scholars:• Should involve guidance counselors• Forms will be standardized and simplified, no more copies of transcripts

• Mid-Year Reports due February 23 Require :• Any CSF Scholar who has withdrawn and reason for withdrawal;• Mid-Year GPA or Average for Current Scholars;• Test Scores:

• 9th Grade: Stanford 10• 10th Grade: PSAT if applicable• 11th Grade : PSAT and SAT if applicable• 12th Grade: SAT

• Extracurricular activities, including employment and activities outside of school

• Year-End Reports due July 15 Require :• Any CSF Scholar who has withdrawn since the midyear and reason for withdrawal;• Year-End GPA or Average• Any test scores taken since the mid-year report


• Expectations of Scholars:• He/she must remain enrolled at the same school;• He/she must re-apply and re-qualify for aid each year through FACTS Grant & Aid;• He/she must work to the best of his/her ability and maintain a passing average; • He/she must maintain good conduct;• His/her family must sign a waiver at the school for release of information to CSF,

including transcripts and test scores;• His/her family is expected to remain up-to-date on their portion of the tuition balance

each year


• Expectations of Schools:• Utilize the CSF Scholar program as a recruiting tool during the admissions process;• Inform Scholars and their families of their selection as CSF Scholars and the

expectations that go along with the award; • Send at least one representative to the CSF Mass and Reception with the Cardinal in

May;• Promote the selection of CSF Scholars using the PR toolkit;• Adhere to deadlines and reporting requirements for the program

CSF Scholars Program: 2015-16 (FY16) Application Process

• Schools may apply for ADDITIONAL numbers of CSF Scholars in the Class of 2019;

• May also apply for HIGHER LEVEL scholarship funds for the Class of 2019: up to 50% of the 2015-16 tuition;

• Schools are required to submit the following as part of their application, due OCTOBER 31: • Most recent audited financials;• Number of additional Scholars requested and why;• Amount of 2015-16 tuition or estimate and % of tuition requested for scholarship

amount;• Recruiting and retention plan for Scholars and feeder schools to be targeted

CSF Scholars Program: 2015-16 (FY16) Application Process

• Applications will be reviewed by allocations sub-committee with the following data taken into consideration: • Retention rate of current CSF Scholars;• Overall academic performance of current CSF Scholars;• Audited financial statement;• Clarity of plan for recruiting and retaining Scholars;• Current relationship with Catholic feeder schools;• Results of Class of 2015 Catholic Identity Surveys

• Schools will be notified of decisions by DECEMBER 12

Class of 2015 CSF Scholar MeetingOctober 29

• For all current Class of 2015 CSF Scholars and school representatives• Purpose is to gather info from Scholars and update them on why we want

to stay in touch: • Gather updated contact info, including cell phones and e-mail addresses;• Administer anonymous Catholic Identity Student Survey; • Will be tracking students after graduation using National Student Clearinghouse;• Role of graduates as mentors for incoming CSF Scholars

Other Grants

• CSF Prize Grant: $100,000• Established for FY15 to award non-scholarship funding for

innovation/impact in one of four areas of excellence;

• Schools encouraged to collaborate on application; • Intent is to fund programs that can have a wide impact of innovation

and excellence across Catholic school system

Other Grants

• CSF Prize Grant• 15 applications, all but one from two or more collaborations of

schools • 3 finalists:

– Building Bridges Through STREAM– Lowell Collaborative Campus Ministry– Boston Area Catholic Schools (BACS) Tech Collaborative

• Winner: Building Bridges Through STREAM– Blessed Sacrament, Walpole and Trinity Catholic Academy, Brockton

Other Grants

• CSF Prize Grant: FY16• Applications due MARCH 27;• May be additional, smaller grants in addition to $100,000 grant; • Reviewed by allocations sub-committee APRIL 3-24;• Finalists voted on by full allocations committee MAY 1;• Site visits/interviews MAY 11-22;• Recipients announced JUNE 22

Other Grants

• Summer Technology Academy

• Catholic Schools Admissions and Development Collaboratives (CSAC/CSDC)

• Regional Collaboratives

Partnerships

Boston College (BC) Experience

Hill Holiday Internship

Junior Achievement

Important Dates

• September 30: Deadline for Current CSF Scholar Awards to be Recorded in FACTS

• October 28: Student Thank You Letters Mailed• October 29: Class of 2015 CSF Scholar Meeting• October 31: Application Deadline for Additional CSF

Scholars • November 13: Governance Series Meeting• November 20: Fall Grant Deposit• December 12: Schools Notified of Decisions on Additional CSF

Scholars• February 23: Mid Year CSF Scholar Reports Due• March 27: Prize Grant Applications Due

Important Dates

• April 1: Deadline for Class of 2019 CSF Scholar to be Recorded in FACTS

• April 15: ICSF Dinner• April 30: Spring Grant Deposit

• May 7: CSF Scholar Mass and Reception • May 11-22: Prize Grant Interviews/Site Visits• June 22: Prize Grant Recipients Announced• July 15: Year End CSF Scholar Reports Due

Outcomes

• Sense of who we are and how we operate•Clear sense of calendar, process and

expectations• Feedback on our work and how we can

best serve students and schools• Feedback on alternative meeting space

Documents

CSF Fall High School Meeting September 11, 2014