November 2025 Newsletter
Charitable Giving Strategies
As the end of 2025 approaches, we ask that you keep the parishes, schools, and ministries within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas in mind while making your year-end gifts. A gift through Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas helps to promote the spiritual mission of the Catholic Church, while collaborating with parishes and institutions to develop additional resources and support. To make your year-end gift today, click here.
December 16, 2025
All grant recommendations for 2025 distribution must be submitted by the end of the business day. Any recommendations submitted after this date will be processed in 2026.
December 30, 2025
Stock gifts must be received by Country Club Trust Company by 2:00 PM.
Stock Gift Instructions.
December 31, 2025
Remember that contributions made by check to the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas must be dated and postmarked by USPS no later than this date.
December 23, 2025 - January 5, 2026
Please note that our offices will be closed from December 23 through January 4 for the Holidays. We will return Monday, January 5, 2026.
This Giving Tuesday, our archdiocese is proud to celebrate the many wonderful parishes, schools, and ministries participating in this year's #iGiveCatholic initiative. Their inspiring work strengthens our communities and brings Christ’s love to countless people across the region. We invite you to visit www.igivecatholic.org/kansascity to scroll the leaderboard and explore our participating organizations. Make a gift today to support your favorite ministry and help our Catholic mission continue to flourish!
Please note: Advanced giving is currently open, so you can make your early Giving Tuesday gift TODAY!
On All Saints’ Day, November 1, the Catholic Education Foundation held its annual Gaudeamus Celebration. Gaudeamus is a special evening where we come together to stand behind Catholic education and the thousands of children whose futures depend on it. This year’s celebration honored Monsignor Thomas Tank, celebrated students’ remarkable achievements, and reflected the joy that faith-filled education brings to families across our Archdiocese. The event raised more than $4.4 million, ensuring that thousands of children will continue to receive the gift of a Catholic education. The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas was proud to be a key sponsor of the event. We at CFNEK are truly grateful for the opportunity to support the impactful work of CEF and its ongoing mission to provide scholarships that make a K–12 Catholic education accessible to students of all backgrounds.
The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) is hiring a Gift Planning Consultant to join our team. Learn more about the position and APPLY TODAY!: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/3630737
The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) and the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) were proud to host a luncheon and seminar at Kansas City Country Club on tax-advantaged charitable giving strategies—and we were thrilled with the turnout! A heartfelt thank-you to our knowledgeable speakers for sharing their expertise on the Kansas Low Income Student Scholarship Tax Credit Program. Your insights sparked engaging conversations, thoughtful questions, and a renewed commitment to creating meaningful impact through strategic giving. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and to CEF for helping make this event such a success.
On November 6, we partnered with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa to host an educational workshop, Tax-Reducing Strategies for Pre- and Post-Retirees. Twenty one parishioners attended the session to learn practical ways to steward their resources wisely while supporting their families and Sacred Heart Parish. The presentation was led by Bill Eckert, Accredited Estate Planner, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, and Senior Financial Advisor with Renaissance Financial. Bill shared tax-efficient methods that can help individuals create more efficient income streams, minimize taxes, and ultimately direct more resources to family and charitable causes. We are grateful for the opportunity to support parishes in providing financial education that empowers Catholics to plan well, give intentionally, and build lasting legacies of faith.
The Catholic Fine Arts Council and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas were delighted to welcome music ministers from across the archdiocese for the St. Cecilia Celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. We were honored to celebrate this special Mass with Archbishop Shawn McKnight and to gather in gratitude for the gift of sacred music in our Church. The Holy Angels Choir, directed by Laura Beeves, offered beautiful musical accompaniment throughout the liturgy. After Mass, attendees enjoyed a warm and lively reception with food, refreshments, and fellowship. We were grateful for the wonderful turnout this year—it was inspiring to see so many who serve in music ministry come together to connect, share, and celebrate. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this uplifting event!
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas has served people in need across 21 counties for more than 65 years, offering help to individuals of all faiths. In the past year, the organization distributed $11.2 million in food assistance, provided nearly 31,000 meals and snacks to children, and helped 170 families improve financial stability. Recently, our Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, Derek Lyssy, visited and toured many of these amazing sites, capturing the impact firsthand. These efforts highlight Catholic Charities’ ongoing commitment to empowering the most vulnerable in our community. Catholic Charities serves as a key partner with us as we work to help grow their endowment so their mission can continue for years to come. Reach out to us today if we can help you create a giving legacy by investing in our Catholic Faith.
During a time of togetherness and gratitude, the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas would like to take a moment to thank our Catholic community. We are incredibly grateful for our donors, as well as our parish, school, and ministry partners. May God bless you and your families this Thanksgiving, and know that you are in our prayers. Happy Thanksgiving!