Foundation Commission’s governance committee reflects on the value of a Diocesan Foundation ahead of final phase

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Diocese of Covington’s new strategic planning process is well underway, as the commissions and their sub-committees continue to meet and discuss the future of the Diocese. Discerning together, with the Holy Spirit, how best to serve the needs of diocesan schools, the community of Catholic Charities and the future of charitable giving in the Diocese through 2030 and beyond. Soon, the committee chairs will meet with Bishop John Iffert to update him on progress made and discuss with him possible next steps for their respective commissions.

Each commission has at least three sub-committees with Catholic Charities and Schools Commission having four. The committees of each commission are unique and were formed to serve specific functions within the structure of that commission. However, each has a governance sub-committee whose role is to evaluate the systems and structures currently in place for their commissions organization and to determine the best system of governance moving forward.

John Garvey III, Governance sub-committee co-chair for the Foundation Commission, shared that the strategic planning process, for them, has been one of education and understanding, immersing themselves in the culture and language of charitable giving through a Diocesan Foundation.

“It’s been a big learning process,” he said. Specifically, on “the needs of the Diocese as a whole, and the opportunity to explore the concept of a foundation, and how that could be of great service to many aspects of diocesan life and parish life, and the schools.”

“It’s been very fun,” said Mr. Garvey, “to dream big and contemplate whether a foundation could bring value to serving God’s people.”

To help the sub-committee discern the potential value of a foundation, the Foundation Commission has met with Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, school principals from the Diocese of Cleveland, and the development staff of the Christ Hospital Foundation. Throughout these meetings, the governance sub-committee has explored the models of different foundations so that they can make an educated recommendation to Bishop Iffert.

“The question, or the common refrain is, … ‘What does this really look like? How does it change lives? How does it improve parish life, improve education, improve charitable services, improve the functioning of the Curia.’ We’re looking for best practices and success stories,” said Mr. Garvey.

For Mr. Garvey, the possibility of a foundation surpasses the dollars and cents which could be raised, it exceeds the material goods which a foundation might steward. It is rather a foundation rooted in service to the Diocese and to the people, focused on the mission of the Diocese.

“Our Diocese, hands down, has everything it needs to get people into Heaven, that’s my belief in this foundation. My goal, my hope, is that collective wisdom to move forward with one (a foundation). I have an unshakable belief that a foundation in Covington would absolutely advance that goal.”