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The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation was established in 2004 by Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy. Mr. Schulze’s foundation has been extending support to Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for the last five years through the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence. The efforts of this organization have been to provide grants, professional development, marketing, and mentorship to Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese. Impact from the Schulze Foundation has been unwavering and remarkable.

Improved programming, principal and teacher development, and strategic marketing has resulted in better retention of teachers and administrators and noticeable enrollment growth at the elementary school level for so many schools across the Twin Cities.

Last spring representatives from the Schulze Foundation reached out to the dioceses of Greater Minnesota to identify how the foundation could support Catholic schools outside of the Twin Cities. Initial communications resulted in a relationship with the foundation that we hope and pray will be long lasting. A representative from the foundation visited every Catholic school across Northern Minnesota to better understand the strengths and challenges of each school and where opportunities existed for the Schulze Family Foundation to provide support.

To kick start this relationship, elementary schools have been extended the opportunity to solicit a matching grant for $25,000 that will fund or support a self-identified need. Stella Maris Academy has been offered two grants for the academy. The Schulze Family Foundation requires that each school raise the full $25,000 to be eligible for the match— in essence, once we raise $25,000 it will be matched dollar for dollar. Our deadline is December 31, 2021.

To learn more about the Schulze Family Foundation, please visit schulzefamilyfoundation.org