Fund Established with Winneshiek County Community Foundation to Support St. Benedict School

Winneshiek County Community Foundation

November 1, 2023

The St. Benedict School Endowment Fund has been established with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. The fund was established with a lead gift from donors Michelle McLain-Kruse and Allen Weis. This permanent endowment fund is invested and grows over time, providing a long-term, stable source of income to carry out the mission of St. Benedict School in Decorah.  Funds will be used for general purposes, building maintenance, equipment, assistance for students who can’t afford tuition and other uses benefiting the students of St. Benedict School.

St. Benedict School is founded on the core values of faith, leadership and responsibility with an emphasis on prayer and service, as modeled by Saint Benedict. As an educational component of St. Benedict Parish, the school welcomes students and families of all faiths who seek academic excellence through Gospel values and Catholic teachings. The school serves students in preschool through eighth grade from Decorah and surrounding rural communities. 

“St. Benedict School is here to serve all students and help them learn and develop skills that allow them to not just be successful, but to contribute in positive ways to our world,” said Michelle McLain-Kruse. “This new fund will allow St. Benedict School to have a forever source of funding and is important to sustainably carrying out our mission for the youth and families it serves.” 

Financial gifts of cash/check and stock are accepted through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613, which is the administrative office of the Winneshiek County Community Foundation. Checks to the endowment fund should be made payable to the St. Benedict School Endowment Fund. Gifts can also be made on the Community Foundation’s secure website at fund.cfneia.org/stbenedict. Gifts to the endowment fund are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit through the Endow Iowa program. Learn more about the program at www.cfneia.org/endowiowa.

Questions about giving to the fund may be directed to Terry Gaumer, Affiliate Development Director with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa at 319-243-1354 or tgaumer@cfneia.org.