Welcome To The Team: Ari Picos
Ari Picos started at the Catholic Foundation in April and has taken on the Community Services Coordinator position. Ari is responsible for many essential projects that are managed by the Catholic Foundation such as offertory programs, capital campaigns, and Our Catholic Appeal. Below Ari shares a little bit about her life to introduce herself to our loyal patrons. Join us in welcoming Ari Picos to the Foundation team! Tell me about yourself. Where are you from and can you tell me a bit about your background and what brought you to the Foundation? “I was born and raised in Cuba, in a small fishing village called Cojímar. Despite the many limitations on the island, my childhood remains one of my…
Join Us in Celebrating Our Team Members CAP ® Designation
The Catholic Foundation, with our trusted partners for the Central Florida CAP® Study Group, hosted a breakfast at the Edyth Bush Institute in honor of the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP ®) graduates of 2024. The American College of Financial Services grants the CAP ® designation to those who complete the three graduate courses. The various courses provided professional advanced training in the best practices regarding estate planning, charitable tax strategies, legacy planning, and much more. The study group cohort brings together multi-sectors and multi-disciplines which can support donors in maximizing their philanthropic impact. We are blessed to announce two of our team members received their CAP® designations this year, Nia Herald CAP®, CEP, VP-Chief Financial Officer, and Sarah Pinto…
Fr. Saldanha Shares His Experience Using Our Offertory Programs
Our Offertory Enhancement Recovery and Restoration Initiative and Online Giving Campaign programs support deepening faith and stewardship to help parishes with their day to day expenses. “I am very pleased with the overall results of the ORRI+OGC [Offertory Recovery and Restoration Initiative and Online Giving Campaign programs] at St. Thomas Aquinas (St. Cloud) which was done with the assistance of The Catholic Foundation. Overall, there was an increase of 21% in the offertory and a 30% increase in the number of people giving online. This has led to an increase in our weekly collection. The [offertory programs] brought awareness to our community about the importance of stewardship and tithing. The [programs] shared the message that stewardship involves time, talent,…
Plant Your Roots This Spring
Spring brings new possibilities. It reminds us of the foundations created with thoughtful planning, both in nature and in our lives. Now is the perfect time to plant your roots through estate planning. This might feel like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. For those interested in a customized estate plan, setting up a Trust or discussing options with an attorney, we are blessed to have vetted Catholic estate planning attorneys on our Planned Giving Advisory Council. Several of our Planned Giving Advisory Council members have offered a free one-hour consultation for individuals referred by The Catholic Foundation. The Catholic Foundation is also pleased to offer you a one-stop, 100% FREE online estate planning tool from FreeWill…
Welcome Our New Team Member: Natalia Bakurova
Natalia Bakurova joined the Foundation team this past month taking on the Senior Accountant position. Below Natalia shares a little bit about her life to introduce herself to our loyal patrons. Join us in welcoming Natalia Bakurova to the Foundation team! Tell me about yourself. Where are you from and how did you end up here at the Foundation? “I am a native Ukrainian. I have a wonderful and friendly family. I have been married for over 30 years and have 2 sons and an amazing grandson. After moving to America, I lived in a small town near Jacksonville and at the end of 2023 I moved to Orlando. I worked at the beginning of this year at H&R Block as…
The Concord Advisory Group, Ltd: Market Highlights
The Foundation utilizes Concord Advisory Group as our trusted partner for investment management services. We serve both organizations to provide annual income and financial wellness as well as individual donors to meet their philanthropic aspirations or legacy goals. Concord is an Investment Advisory Group with a strong focus in religious-based non-for-profit services providing strategic advice to staff, investment committee and board members to improve the results of our investment services. The Foundation’s investment services include endowment funds, Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), and two time-horizon based reserve funds each with their own targeted performance strategy. Concord has more than 30 years of experience assisting partners manage the balance between spending policy and corpus growth while navigating the challenging factors of SRI…
How The Catholic Foundation Supports Deacon’s Formation
Next month, Bishop Noonan will ordain 18 new men to the permanent diaconate. These men will each serve a different community in the diocese. Here at the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida, we help steward their lives mission by maintaining a Diaconate Reserve Fund. Deacon Joseph Gassman, Secretary of Leadership and Parish Life, established this fund in January 2020. A Reserve Fund enables wise management of money over a period of time in accordance with our Catholic faith. Through the help of our donors, this fund provides partial scholarships for deacon aspirants who cannot meet their financial obligations during formation. The fund also offers partial scholarship to deacons or their wives enrolling in courses to specify them in certifications that…
Join Us in Congratulating Sarah Pinto on Earning Her CAP® Designation
Join Us in Congratulating Sarah Pinto on Earning Her CAP® Designation Sarah Pinto CFRE, CAP® is the Director of Philanthropy at the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida (CFoCF). She recently went through a rigorous course, The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), to be better equipped to lead donors to make the right philanthropic decisions. The American College of Financial Services grants the CAP® designation. This program equips non-profit professionals with comprehensive curriculums to meet their and their donors’ philanthropic goals. “Achieving the CAP® designation has been an enlightening and affirming journey. This program has deepened my understanding of philanthropy and has reenergized my approach to serving our donors and community as a fundraising professional.” Sarah Pinto CFRE, CAP®, Director of…
Wishing Farewell to a Valued Team Member: Jannah Szeibert
Wishing Farewell to a Valued Team Member: Jannah Szeibert Jannah joined the Catholic Foundation team two years ago when her husband relocated from California to Florida. This month, our team wished farewell to Jannah as they made their return to California. Jannah was a devoted member of the Community Services team, which mainly focuses on working closely with parishes and schools to enhance their financial wellness. Jannah said she wore many hats during her time working for the Foundation. She contributed to vital projects, such as Our Catholic Appeal, and generously offered her talents as a photographer for our organization. Though we are sad to see her go, we are thankful for the blessings of her hard work and dedication….
Embracing Spring as a Time of Rebirth
Spring is the season of renewal and growth where nature blossoms back to life all around us. It serves as a beautiful reminder of rebirth, a central theme in Catholic faith. Let us take a look at ways we can practice these concepts of growth through this spring season. Spiritual Renewal through Confession The Sacrament of Reconciliation beckons us during this time of the year, especially as we journey through lent. Confession offers us a chance to shed the weight of our shortcomings and, like a budding flower in the spring, emerge renewed. Take this time for personal reflection and spiritual growth, setting personal and spiritual goals for summertime. Almsgiving and Charity As Catholics, our hearts are always called to…