Twenty years ago, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle were struggling because parishes and tuition couldn’t keep up with costs.

Enter the Fulcrum Foundation, created in March 2002.

What began as “we want to save the Catholic schools” became “we want to build the Catholic schools” so they can excel, George Hofbauer, Fulcrum’s founding executive director and an emeritus trustee, said in a 20th anniversary video.

In the past two decades, the Fulcrum Foundation has raised more than $200 million to benefit Catholic schools, students and educators, including more than $87 million in a just-completed capital campaign and more than $2.9 million at this year’s Celebration of Light gala.

That’s quite a change for the Catholic schools.

“Before Fulcrum, each school was pretty much on its own when it came to raising money.” Father Stephen Rowan, founding chair and emeritus trustee, said in the anniversary video.

The Fulcrum Foundation was the vision of the late Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett, said Vivian Shannon, Fulcrum’s current executive director. The goal was for any child to have the opportunity to attend a Catholic school, with financial help from Fulcrum.

Archbishop Brunett “cared deeply about not wanting to close schools,” Shannon said.

Tuition assistance is the ‘crown jewel’

Tuition assistance is the “crown jewel” of Fulcrum’s efforts over the past 20 years, Shannon said. It's part of a three-pronged effort that also includes grants to schools and educational leadership grants for teachers and administrators. More than $71 million has been distributed in the past two decades, including more than 28,000 tuition assistance grants and leadership grants to 298 educators.

A parent at Holy Family Bilingual School in Seattle told Fulcrum that that the organization “has fulfilled my goal of giving my children a Catholic education on a strong foundation, rich in tradition. Needing help … has been hard but the rewards of seeing my kids happy, healthy and achieving makes me know that staying true to my purpose as their parent has been worth it.”

Nicholas Ford, the archdiocese’s new superintendent of Catholic Schools, said the partnership with Fulcrum “has made Catholic schools accessible to more people. The investment they’ve made in our people has a tremendous amount of impact,” added Ford, who received Fulcrum support on his journey from teacher to principal to top administrator.

On Fulcrum’s website, a student named Elena who received a Fulcrum high school tuition grant said it “has helped to lighten my family’s finance burden a lot. Education is one of the most powerful things in the world and your gift has helped me on the journey,” she said.

‘Changing the course of students’ lives’

Fulcrum has also invested in technology upgrades for schools that allowed them to pivot to remote learning during the pandemic. New programs have been developed, including an early childhood education initiative with a $6.5 million endowment and Becraft Scholars, an equity-driven program established in 2020 that now has 36 students enrolled at four elementary schools.

“Those things are changing the course of students’ lives forever,” Shannon said.

Today, the archdiocese has 72 schools serving more than 20,000 students, and Fulcrum’s focus is on helping them flourish.

“We envision a world where Catholic schools thrive, grow and nurture disciples of faith,” Shannon said.

The credit for Fulcrum’s success, she said, goes to Archbishop Brunett’s vision and the dedication of Fulcrum’s board and staff, the community and donors.

“They are so committed to this work,” she said, and “believe so deeply in the mission of Catholic schools.”

2023 Celebration of Light

Fulcrum will kick off Catholic Schools Week with its 2023 Celebration of Light fundraising gala on January 27, 2023, at the Sheraton Grand Seattle. Learn more.