Last Wednesday, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s Professional Advisor Group gathered for a morning of conversation, connection, and shared purpose.

This Foundation’s PAG brings together attorneys, financial planners, CPAs, insurance professionals, wealth advisors, trust officers, real estate professionals, and many more who help individuals and families consider charitable giving as part of their financial and estate planning.

New and returning members introduced themselves and shared more about their work, their ties to the Catholic community, and what led them to connect with the Foundation. Members represented experience in estate planning, retirement and investment management, insurance, real estate, and charitable giving.

Among the new members welcomed was Christine Zarycky, who first became familiar with the Foundation through its support of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Schools Refugee Support Fund at her parish school. An attorney for more than 30 years, Christine focuses on tax planning and preparation, estate planning, and real estate, serving clients from her Birmingham and Downriver offices.

The Catholic Foundation of Michigan is grateful for the members of its Professional Advisor Group who generously share their time and expertise. As the group continues to grow, so does its ability to connect generous people with the ministries and causes they care about most.

Strong grant proposals can open doors to new opportunities for Catholic ministries. To help organizations strengthen their applications and better tell their stories, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan recently welcomed more than 50 leaders from parishes, schools, and nonprofit organizations for its annual Grant Writing Workshop.

Made possible through the generosity of Catholic Foundation donors and the support of Alliance Catholic Credit Union, the workshop was offered at no cost to both first-time applicants and seasoned grant seekers. “The Foundation’s commitment goes beyond grant funding. We also want to provide ministries with the education, resources, and practical tools they need to strengthen their work and grow their impact,” shared John F. Biskner, the Foundation’s President & CEO.

The workshop was led by Dr. Sigrid Streit, Professor of English at the University of Detroit Mercy and an experienced grant writer and educator. She shared practical strategies for understanding a funder’s priorities, communicating community need, developing measurable outcomes, and creating realistic project budgets.

Beyond the practical guidance, the workshop created space for participants to exchange ideas and build connections with fellow nonprofit and ministry leaders from across Southeast Michigan. For many, the value of the morning was found not only in the information shared, but also in learning alongside others committed to serving their communities.

During one interactive activity, participants were invited to describe what inspires their ministry in a single word. Responses such as hope, compassion, healing, dignity, service, faith, and community served as a reminder of the shared mission that brought organizations together.

The Catholic Foundation is grateful to Alliance Catholic Credit Union for hosting the workshop, to Dr. Streit for sharing her expertise, and to everyone who joined us for a morning dedicated to strengthening ministries through effective grant writing.

As the Foundation continues to expand its grantmaking efforts, workshops like these help ensure ministries have the knowledge and confidence to pursue funding opportunities that strengthen their communities and advance the mission of the Church.

By investing in the people and organizations serving our communities, donors help strengthen Catholic ministries long before a grant is awarded—creating a lasting impact across Southeast Michigan.