2020 Annual Report

Because of you

2020 was a year that stretched us in ways we could never have predicted, and yet Catholic Charities rose to the occasion – BECAUSE OF YOU! As our community was asked to stay home, you stepped up, you gave generously, you advocated loudly, and you continued to volunteer your time. Thank you for keeping the mission of Catholic Charities alive and well during this year of unthinkable challenge.

Catholic Charities continues to serve those most in need, providing a warm bed, dignified shelter, care in times of crisis and foundations on which to grow. Thanks to generous donors, advocates and volunteers, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis served nearly 23,000 men, women and children during their time of need in fiscal year 2020. Our community needs are ever-changing, becoming more complex all the time and we are able to continue to serve those most in need because of your partnership.

Thank you for walking beside us now and into the future!

Hayley Mueller, Vice President of Development

Hayley Mueller

About Catholic Charities

Mission and values

Catholic Charities is there in the hardest moments. Catholic Charities serves those most in need. We are a leader at solving poverty, creating opportunity, and advocating for justice in our community. We recognize the dignity and worth of every person, regardless of faith, background or circumstance. Those most in need deserve our very best response – compassionate, high-quality, research-based services to meet immediate needs and to lay a foundation for a better future. Founded in 1869 and rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic Charities is a critical part of the region’s social and civic infrastructure. We are committed to serving those most in need because it is the right thing to do, the smart thing to do and strengthens our entire community. We seek a community where race is no longer a predictor of outcomes.

Governance and Senior Executive Leadership

  • A fully independent nonprofit/tax-exempt organization: voting board members are elected by executive committee and include an ex-officio representative of the Archdiocese; nonvoting members are the President/CEO and Archbishop. Board includes 35 voting members as of January 1, 2021.
  • Michael Goar (President/CEO), Laurie Ohmann (EVP/COO), Richard Johnson (VP/CFO), Wendy Underwood (VP Social Justice Advocacy & Engagement), Hayley Mueller (VP Development), Michael McRath (CHRO).
  • Fundraising and Administrative expense is 14%, consistently well below the Charities Review Council standard of 30%.
  • Catholic Charities is among a rare group of nonprofits nationwide (fewer than 25% of those reviewed) with the distinction of 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator in consecutive years.
  • Accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), a national organization focused on social services.

Our COVID-19 Response

  • Since March 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic has had serious impact on our day-to-day operations. Early changes to operations cost the agency more than $1 million per month to repurpose spaces and adapt program designs to promote social distancing and preventive hygiene measures.
  • In partnership with public partners, we relocated hundreds of the most vulnerable in our shelters to hotels. We’ve also reduced census numbers in shelters and kept Hennepin County services open 24/7 to provide a safe place to shelter at any time. These precautions resulted in only 1% of housing, shelter and drop-in center clients contracting COVID since the pandemic began.
  • Thanks to the support of the community, we’ve distributed nearly 30,000 face masks and delivered nearly 300,000 pounds of food to those residing in our housing units as of December 2020. Nearly $900,000 was raised in private funds and $5 million in public funding to support our efforts.

On the Horizon

  • Exodus 2.0, the new home for the Exodus Residence in Elliot Park will offer permanent homes to 203 people who need housing stability, many of whom are older and medically frail, including many veterans. Construction is underway and is projected to be completed in 2022.
  • Continued navigation of COVID-19 response and related staffing supports.
  • Ongoing efforts to combat the deepening housing and homelessness crisis and improve Catholic Charities’ long-term financial stability through fundraising, advocacy and public engagement.

Your Gifts in Action

Heaven/Lex


Lex

After a hard relationship with her mother, Heaven was kicked out of her home. With nowhere else to turn, Heaven was welcomed at Hope Street. She is grateful for the simplest things, like when staff members care enough to ask her about her day. With your support, Heaven is safe, healthy and working to complete her education.

Lex lived in an abusive household with her parents before she found herself living on the streets. She had no money, no place to sleep and no hope. You made it possible for Hope Street to open our doors to Lex. She now has the skills and confidence to pursue a career in the culinary arts, dreaming of one day opening her own food truck. You gave Lex hope for her future.

Melody


Melody

As a member of our Homeless Elders program, Melody was moved from Higher Ground Saint Paul shelter to a hotel early in the COVID pandemic. Thanks to generous support from donors and cooperation with public and private partners, Melody and hundreds of other vulnerable residents and shelter guests were able to safely isolate from the pandemic in area hotels.

Northside Children


Kids

When the pandemic prompted a stay at home order last spring, parents struggled to figure out the best way to protect their children. Nearly half of the families at Northside Child Development Center had “essential” jobs, making it impossible to stay home with their kids. And, most couldn’t afford to pay for childcare if Northside were to close. Thanks to generous gifts and compassionate partners, the staff at Northside was able to adapt, providing a safe environment for children to learn and play, and peace of mind for families during a very uncertain time.

A year like no other

The COVID-19 pandemic stretched us beyond what we thought possible, but we didn’t do it alone. We have been overwhelmed by the support of our donors, volunteers, community partners and most of all, our front-line staff and clients. Here, they reflect on the early days of the pandemic and what it was like to step up and serve in an incredible time of need.

“I’m aware more than ever during this time of crisis how blessed I am to have a home, a loving family and a good job. And Catholic Charities has given me another great blessing—a chance to feel useful during this tough time. It’s a small thing to email friends asking for volunteers or a donation, and it’s a joyous thing to be able to serve meals. I’m glad I’ve been able to help in small ways, but it’s the front-line staff who are there every day who deserve our most profound gratitude. Like doctors and nurses, grocery store workers, delivery drivers and so many others, they are helping get our city and state through this. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Catholic Charities’ tremendous staff!”
Tom Vitt, Board of Directors/Volunteer

“A tour of Higher Ground or the Dorothy Day Place will explain why we have given for many years to Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities cares for the neediest. Catholic Charities provides that care in ways that most respect the humanity of those they serve. The pandemic has multiplied the number of the neediest and Catholic Charities can’t provide care without multiplied gifts.”
Ann & Bill Wernz, donors

“I plan to keep volunteering in the kitchen beyond the pandemic because I have fallen in love with the staff and the people we serve so quickly.””
Johni Baxter, volunteer

“For the homeless, every day is another day of looking for food and shelter and trying to meet basic needs. And in some ways, this is just a continuance for them. But it’s pretty clear that when a crisis such as we have now hits, the poor are hit hard. And the homeless are the poorest of the poor.”
Bill & Christine Griffith, donors and volunteers

By the numbers

Nights of housing and emergency shelter

530,000

Meals served

1.2 million

Men, women and children served

23,000

Private donors

16,000

Volunteer hours

86,000

Social justice advocates

5,000

Financials

Direct services areas:

  • Individuals Experiencing or at risk of Homelessness
  • Permanent Supportive Housing
  • Older Adults and People with Disabilities
  • Children and Families.
  • Committed to enhancing trauma- informed practices in all areas of operation.

View the full 2020 Consolidated Balance Sheet

Get involved

Donate

Donate

A gift of $150 provides emergency shelter for 15 men and women.

Volunteer

Volunteer

Volunteer as a shelter aide or serve meals for our shelter guests.

Advocate

Advocate

Join 5,000 advocates to demand critical funds for emergency services

Board of Directors


Catholic Charities’ Board of Directors are dedicated to serving those most in need. For fiscal year ending June 30, 2020

Term January, 1 2020 – December 31, 2020

Kathleen Erickson DiGiorno, Chair
Senior Legal Director
Medtronic

Timothy E. Marx (non-voting)
President & CEO
Catholic Charities

Nick Alfano
EVP & Gen Mgr. Global Food & Bev
Ecolab

Keith W. Anderson
Chief Financial Officer
American Well

Heather Anfang
Vice President, Ebusiness
Land O’ Lakes

Barb Baumann
Vice President, Service and Operations
Securian

Desirae Butler
Director of Compliance & Risk Mgmt
Norwest Equity Partners

Dr. Duane Carter
Senior Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Greg Chamberlain
Regional Vice President
Xcel Energy

Steve Cramer
President and CEO
Minneapolis Downtown Council

Joe Donnelly
Global Laboratory Operations Leader
3M Medical Solutions

Lynette Dumalag
Senior Vice President
JLL

Frank Dutke
Retired CEO of United Properties
and Community Volunteer

Christine Esckilsen
Chief Human Capital Officer
Piper Jaffray & Co

Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda (non-voting)
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Pahoua Hoffman
Executive Director
Citizens League

Rev. Charles V. Lachowitzer
Moderator of the Curia
Archdiocese of St Paul & Minneapolis

James McClean
Government Relations Director
HealthPartners

Barb Melsen
Community Volunteer

Christine L. Meuers
Retired Executive Vice President

Wells Fargo & Company

Tom Murray
Chief Operating Officer
United Healthcare Global

Mike Nash
Retired 3M Associate Gen Counsel
and Community Volunteer

Van Ngwa
Owner/Founder
ColisaGroup

C. Steve Noble
Partner
McKinsey & Company

Amanda Norman
Community Volunteer

T. Mychael Rambo
Founder & CEO
Lion’s Share Productions

Jodi Richard
 Vice Chairman & Chief Risk Officer
U.S. Bank

David A. Seidel
Vice President and Chief Actuary
Securian

Jamez Staples
CEO
Renewable Energy Partners

Steven Stenbeck
Retired Partner
Ernst & Young

Dr. Julie Sullivan
President
University of St. Thomas

Jonathan Van Wyck
Partner and Managing Director
Boston Consulting Group

J. Thomas Vitt
Partner
Jones Day

Dan Weiler
Retired Exec VP
Wells Fargo

Steven Wells
Partner
Dorsey & Whitney

Michael Wilczynski
Ass’t VP Tax and Europe, Middle East & Africa General Tax Counsel
Cargill Incorporated

Mike Zumwinkle
Senior Program Officer
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation

Officers of the Corporation:

Timothy E. Marx
President & CEO

Laurie Ohmann
Secretary

Elizabeth Knight
Ass’t Secretary

Dick Johnson
Treasurer

Thomas Krolak
Assistant Treasurer

Documents

Form 990



Donate Now ENews