FSC Foundation

The FSC Foundation provides financial support for programs that help the educationally disadvantaged.

About FSC Foundation

The De La Salle Christian Brothers are delighted that the FSC Foundation was able to resume making annual grants in 2016. Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) remains the Foundation’s primary benefactor.

The Foundation is grateful to CBIS for its generous support.

The FSC Foundation (A title taken from the three first letters of Fratres Scholarum Christianarum - Brothers of the Christian Schools) was established by seven provinces of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in the United States together with Manhattan College (N.Y.). Resources of the Foundation are provided by CBIS – the company has committed, since its founding, a significant portion of its profits to be used to support and advance educational services for the poor, especially victims of systemic injustice.

About Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS)
CBIS is a global investment management firm that has been a trusted partner for Catholic institutions and their consultants worldwide for over four decades. The firm manages more than $11 billion (as of March 31, 2024) across a broad range of Catholic organizations, including dioceses, schools, hospitals, and religious institutes. Specializing in Catholic Responsible Investing, a distinct investment approach that combines research-driven stock screening with active ownership, CBIS helps Catholic organizations align their investments with Catholic beliefs. Using Catholic Responsible Investing as an overlay, CBIS actively blends complementary institutional managers to sub-advise its diverse investment strategies. CBIS is a Registered Investment Advisor owned by the De La Salle Christian Brothers in the United States and the Center of the Institute in Rome. Headquartered in Chicago, CBIS also has an office in the Generalate of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Rome.

The FSC Foundation invites proposals to initiate and/or support educational projects which will serve the poor, the handicapped, and others victimized by society. It hopes that ultimately such projects will become self-reliant and their participants will be enabled to help themselves.

This is the principal goal of the foundation. It represents yet another effort to continue and expand the three-hundred-year-old Lasallian tradition of serving the poor through education, extending the caring vision of St. John Baptist De La Salle into the future.

Funding Approval Criteria
Through a clear, concise and objective presentation the application should show how the project:

  • Reflects the philosophy and objectives of the FSC Foundation.
  • Can achieve the specific goals and objectives envisioned in the service(s) to be offered.
  • Evidences the need for financial support while it documents requests from other funding sources.
  • Explains that there is an administrative or organizational structure, adequate for the success of the project.
  • Involves the project’s participants in planning and implementing it.
  • Includes the possibility of replication by other individuals or groups.
  • Attempts to network with other fitting agencies, groups, businesses, etc., in the delivery of services.
  • Will expand the Grant funds being requested and describe briefly its methods of financial record keeping and reporting.
  • Envisions the time frame for initiation and duration of services, and the process of evaluating its success in achieving stated goals.

Philosophy and Objectives
The FSC Foundation has been established to promote and support educational services directed to the poor and disadvantaged.

The FSC Foundation seeks to discover and support "new and adapted forms of education for those poor who are most neglected."

The FSC Foundation hopes to encourage and energize through financial assistance organizations which wish to accept the challenge to assist the poor and marginalized in our societies by providing effective educational services for them.

Project Parameter Guidelines
The FSC Foundation will support educational activities, projects and services that attempt to respond creatively to the needs of these poor and/or handicapped in the following ways:

  • Structured educational training centers, such as schools, community service centers, vocational training centers, etc.
  • Alternative educational services such as training for independent living, counseling and personal support services, family training and employment skills training, etc.
  • Making small grants not to exceed $4,000.
  • Making grants to help projects get started.

The FSC Foundation will accept proposals from organizations that are in accordance with its philosophy and objectives, and that are in compliance with its guidelines. The FSC Foundation will NOT consider:

  • Making grants for salaries, administrative expenses, tuition scholarships or endowments
  • A proposal for a project that received FSC Foundation funding within the past three years
  • Multiple proposals from the same organization within the same year. Applicants are asked to limit themselves to one proposal per year.
  • Proposals for capital campaigns

Board of Directors
Brother Johnathon Emanuelson, FSC
Chairman of the Board
Minneapolis, MN

Brother Thomas Hetland, FSC
Chicago, IL

Sister Margaret Dempsey, RSM
Brooklyn, NY

Brother John Montgomery, FSC
San Francisco, CA

Sister Barbara Nelson, IBVM
Wheaton, IL

Sister Karen Nykiel, OSB
Lisle, IL

Brother Raymond Papenfuss, CSC
Notre Dame, IN

2025 Welcome Letter


Dear Applicant,
Through the continuing generosity of Christian Brothers Investment Services, the FSC Foundation is again able to invite applications for its Foundation Grants Program. Although the Foundation's funding is limited, the impact of the many grants made since its beginning has been very significant.

The FSC Foundation makes grants only to Roman Catholic organizations, and primarily to those who are clients of Christian Brothers Investment Services.

In addition to the guidelines stated in the "About Us" section of our website applicants will adhere to the following:

  • Proposals must have an educational orientation.
  • Proposals must be submitted by August 31, 2025. NO PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
  • The FSC Grant Application Form is an on-line form and must be used to apply for funding. Please limit your application to the space provided on the form. There is no way to submit additional supplementary material and it will not be reviewed.
  • It is necessary for a Foreign Catholic applicant to secure a United States Catholic organization to act as its fiscal agent and follow the procedure outlined in the application form. The fiscal agent must be listed in the Official Catholic Directory of the United States.

We suggest that, when writing your application, you first download the fillable-form Word document on the website, enter your text into the Word document, and then copy and paste entries to the online application. This is a safeguard in case there is an error in the on-line submitting process. You will then have all your information in a saved Word document as a backup and will not need to retype everything.

Board decisions will be made in November, 2025. Decisions referring to each applicant will be sent prior to January 31, 2026. Affirmative decisions will be accompanied by grant funds.

Grants will be limited to $4,000 or less. Applicants are urged to specify the exact amount requested and to indicate the specific use of the funding.


Sincerely,
Br. Johnathon W. Emanuelson, FSC
Brother Johnathon Emanuelson, FSC
Chairman, Board of Directors

Grants by the FSC Foundation in 2024


In 2024 the FSC Foundation distributed $148,970 in small assistance units to 53 recipients. Twenty-four were for programs in the United States, while 28 were for programs conducted overseas. They are as follows:

  • Educational Supplies, San Pablo Apostle Church- Irvine, California, United States
  • Reshaping future of 30 vulnerable primary school dropout youths at Arivu sub-county- Arua City, West Nile, Uganda
  • Financial aid for the education of 42 orphan children- Dindigul, Tamilnadu, India
  • Purchase of a 19 seater school bus- Buea, South Region, Cameroon
  • Classroom for special needs students, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • Purchase of 20 sewing machines for vulnerable and disabled girls, Musoma, Tanzania
  • Educational books for orphans- Tanzania
  • Computers and student testing platform- Racine, WI, United States
  • Drinking water filter-Homa Bay, Kenya
  • Empowering vulnerable young boys and girls to acquire computer literacy- Nakuru, Kenya
  • School funding project- Prestea, Western region, Ghana
  • Rain water harvesting for drinking purpose- Sivaganga, Tamilnadu, India
  • Heart Safe- Glencoe, MO, United States
  • Empowering future STEM scholars- San Diego, CA, United States
  • Solar lighting for the orphanage boarding school- Oshakati, Oshana region, Namibia
  • Expand the availability of Chromebooks to students- Albany, NY, United States
  • Industrial machine for fashion design department- Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana
  • Furnishing of classroom block to allow teaching with projection- Lukulu, Western Province, Zambia
  • English for immigrants- Dyersville, IA, United States
  • Purchase of classroom furniture, assorted textbooks and exercise books for needy learners of St. Monica Education Center, Tongaren Parish, Kenya- Tongaren, Kenya
  • Solar energy for Savelberg Boarding Primary School- Namanga Kajiado County, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Retreat Mission Fund- Plano, IL, United States
  • Parish renovation project- Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
  • Post- permanency support program: educational/tutoring support for youth who exit foster care- Syosset, NY, United States
  • 2024-2025 Senior Retreat- Chicago, IL, United States
  • San Miguel School’s Science workbook initiative- Providence, RI, United States
  • Rose Dodson community STEM program- Nazareth, KY, United States
  • Setting up of resourceful library at JIAS Academy for poor and marginalized students for vocational training in the Diocese of Chinglepet- Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
  • Purchase and installation of ten computers for Agape Pre and Primary School- Mbeya, Tanzania
  • Purchase of 70 desks to facilitate the learning of pupils at St. Benedict Nursery School -Masaka, Kaliiro, Uganda
  • Child care initiatives- New York, NY, Armenia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Ukraine
  • Enhancing access to quality education for vulnerable students in Bokwaongo Village, South West Region of Cameroon- Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon
  • Engineering and wood science- Waukegan, Illinois, United States
  • Purchase of two plastic water tanks to eradicate the water needs of 873 needy pupils of St. Joseph Kayayumbe Primary School Lwanda Kooki Rakai District in Uganda (East Africa)- Masaka, Rakai, Uganda
  • Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Learning in Lasallian Schools: A Strategic Initiative- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Request for fund to renovate a leaking timber dormitory for girls- Amalo, Kenya
  • Assistive devices for learners with disabilities- Kampala, Uganda
  • Solar lighting for education for St. Gonzaga Community School- Khayega, Kakamega, Kenya
  • Online English and Digital Literacy Education for Adult Speakers of Other Languages- Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
  • Sunflower project /children's playground 2024- Brazil
  • Updated computers, software and licensing for teachers- Tulsa, OK, United States
  • Art Therapy at Sojourner Truth House (STH)- Gary, IN, United States
  • Purchase of classroom furniture in form of desks and teachers’ tables for St. Paul Kyalugaba Primary School Mutukula Kyotera District in Uganda East Africa- Masaka, Kyotera, Uganda
  • Sacramental Preparation, Catechesis and OCIA- Jacksonville, FL, United States
  • Staff professional development and retreat support- Browning, MT, United States of America
  • Instructional science materials to support alignment with Next Generation Science Standards- Chicago, IL, United States
  • Enhancing Learning Environments: procurement of 100 durable plastic chairs and desks for classrooms- Naka, Benue State, Nigeria
  • Hope for the Future Student Success - homework tutoring, college and career guidance program- Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • Darst Center Gift Shop- Chicago, Illinois United States
  • Transforming Minds: Implementation of the Reading Plan for Students at Santa Maria de la Alborada School- Huaraz, Ancash, Peru
  • Providing updated GED study, practice, and workbooks to GED students- Woodhaven, NY, United States
  • Leadership Experience at Dunrovin (LEAD) Youth Program, Twin Cities- Marine on Saint Croix, MN, United States
  • Mercy Home’s Melody Makers: Empowering Minds Through Music- Brooklyn, New York, United States

The funds for the Foundation come from Christian Brothers Investment Services. Since 1988, the Foundation has distributed $4,403,415 in 1,718 grants selected from among 4,829 applications.

Download Fillable Form

Grant Application

(Application due date: August 31, 2025.)

The grant application period is now closed.




(Foreign organizations need a Catholic fiscal agent organization in the USA. See section 14. The FSC Foundation limits its grants this year – no more than five grants to organizations in any one foreign country, and no more than two foreign grants going through any one fiscal agent.)
If so, In what year(s)
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(Note: No two applications can have the same email address)



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(please enter only digits below - no $, no comma, no decimal point, no cents. For example, $4,000.00 would be entered as 4000) (NO FUNDS WILL BE GRANTED BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2025)




Our project has an educational component
Our project serves the poor AND/OR the disadvantaged
The funding we request will be used at a Catholic educational ministry
This project is the only one we are submitting for FSC FOUNDATION CONSIDERATION this year



















(After you submit you should receive an automatically generated confirmation sent to the email address you entered in box 3)

If you are a Foreign Catholic organization, please let your sponsor know that, if we are able to fund your application, we will first ask your United States sponsor organization to send us a brief letter explaining its relationship to your organization.

FSC Foundation
27 Grove St.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
E: fsc-foundation@cbmidwest.org

Please do not submit any supplementary material. Supplementary material will not be reviewed.

Thank you.

Contact Us

FSC Foundation (Brother Johnathon Emanuelson, FSC, Chair)
27 Grove St.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
fsc-foundation@cbmidwest.org