Hello Friends,

As Thanksgiving approaches and I reflect on my first year with the Foundation, I am struck by the many ways generosity strengthens our community. Beyond meeting immediate needs, generosity has the ability to create lasting impact, connect generations, and support organizations that help people thrive.

Throughout this season of gratitude, I am thankful for the donors, fundholders, nonprofit leaders, parish leaders, advisors, volunteers, and partners who make this work possible. As I think about the year behind us and the opportunities ahead, I am also mindful of the legacy we are building together for the future.

This past year year, I have had the privilege of listening to and learning from many of you, and I am continually inspired by your commitment to serving others. I am especially grateful for those who entrust the Foundation with helping them achieve their charitable goals. Increasingly, I have seen donors embrace the opportunity to become grantmakers themselves, supporting the ministries, programs, and organizations that reflect their values and make a meaningful difference in our community.

Many of today's opportunities exist because previous generations chose to invest in the future. Their example reminds us that generosity is not only about what we give, but also the values and spirit of service we pass on to those who follow. As we look ahead, I am filled with gratitude and optimism for all we can accomplish together as we continue building a lasting legacy of generosity rooted in faith and service.

With Gratitude, 

Camie VanKeuren

Chief Executive Officer

In this Edition

Living the Faith Grant Recipient Spotlight: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Donor Advised Fund Story: Mike and Lisa's "Make a Difference" Fund

Donor Designated Fund Story: First Five Funds Established

2026 Giving Guidelines: Important Deadlines & Closures

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Hebrews 10:24

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Deepens Faith Through Families, Worship, and Formation

In the heart of East San José, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish stands as a place of faith, welcome, and hope. Every week, thousands of parishioners gather for Mass, prayer, formation, and fellowship, creating a vibrant community rooted in devotion to Christ and care for one another. As a recipient of a Catholic Community Foundation Living the Faith Grant, the parish is building on that strong foundation to strengthen families, enrich worship, and expand opportunities for spiritual formation.

Each year, the Foundation visits a handful of grant recipients to deliver our Living the Faith awards and learn firsthand about the ministries transforming parish life across the Diocese of San Jose. During our visit to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, we encountered a community marked by extraordinary faith, dedicated volunteers, and a shared desire to grow deeper in discipleship.

Mike and Lisa's “Make a Difference Fund”

“We wanted a partner who knows our community and shares our values—someone who can help us find where our dollars will do the most good.”

Mike and Lisa

Mike and Lisa named their Donor Advised Fund (DAF) the “Make a Difference Fund” because they want to support organizations that are moving the needle in Santa Clara County. Rooted in a lifetime of Catholic philanthropy and hands-on nonprofit involvement, they use their DAF at the Foundation to combine careful stewardship with local impact—backing parish needs, community programs, and nonprofits that deliver measurable results.

Mike’s upbringing was rooted in Catholic philanthropy and giving back was part of daily life. Mike’s career at Cisco deepened that commitment: he worked for Cisco Corporate Philanthropy as well as serving as a board member of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, and Network for Good, focused on helping nonprofits scale their impact.

Lisa’s engagement was strengthened at the Newman Center at Cal State University, East Bay, reinforcing a faith-centered approach to service and community, which she continued through multiple volunteer positions and engagements at their children’s schools and in the broader community. Together they raised three daughters and have built a family practice of intentional, values-driven giving.

When they were looking for a way to increase the impact of their giving, a Donor Advised Fund stood out as the perfect solution. When looking for a partner, the Foundation stood out because we combined local expertise and faith-aligned values.

This summer, we launched our new Donor Designated Fund, a flexible way for donors to direct IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and create lasting support for the Catholic organizations and causes closest to their hearts. We developed this option in response to what we were hearing directly from donors who needed a different way to accomplish their charitable goals. 

We are already seeing that need come to life. Soon after the Fund was introduced, a donor came to us to talk through what she hoped to accomplish. Our team worked closely with her to understand her charitable intentions and quickly established five Donor Designated Funds, each supporting organizations and causes that are meaningful to her. 

This is a great example of what it means for the Foundation to be both high touch and high tech. We listen carefully to what our donors are trying to accomplish, create solutions that meet those needs, and make the process of giving as thoughtful and seamless as possible. 

2026 Giving Guidelines:

Important Deadlines and Closures

As year end approaches, The Catholic Community Foundation is here to help you achieve your charitable goals with giving solutions that are simple, flexible, and impactful. We encourage you to plan ahead so that gifts and grant recommendations can be processed before December 31.

Important Year End Deadlines



Check Guidelines: Checks must be postmarked on or before December 31. Checks should be made out to "The Catholic Community Foundation."

Donor Advised Fund Grant Request Deadline:

If you would like your charity to receive its grant before December 31, please submit your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) grant request by Friday, December 11.

Gifts of Cryptocurrency: Please use our partner “every.org” to complete crypto donations. Leave a note stating which fund the donation is for.

• Got to: www.every.org/catholiccf?donateTo=catholiccf#/donate/crypto 

Gifts by Wire Transfer: Contact us by December 29 for our wire transfer instructions. Most banks will have a 1:00 pm cut-off for same day transfers. Some banks may take up to 24 hours.

Gifts of Stock: Stock transfers may take a few days to process, and many brokers’ schedules may be impacted by end-of-year transfers. Communicate with your broker as soon as possible to establish the deadline.

Mutual Fund Transfers: Same deadline as stock, however these transfers typically take longer and may require an extra few days to process.

Gifts of Complex Assets: Please initiate the transfer of these types of gifts as soon as possible. Processing times vary depending on the asset.

Questions? Call us at 408.995.5219

CCF Holiday Office Closures


Thursday, November 26

Friday, November 27

Thursday, December 24

Friday, December 25

Friday, January 1

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