Matt Kramer, President & CEO, The Catholic Foundation | The Jeff Crilley Show

The Catholic Foundation was born in 1955 when a Dallas bishop did something almost unheard of — he gave up control of the money. Matt Kramer, who has led the Foundation as President and CEO since 2013, joins Jeff Crilley to explain how that decision shaped a lay-led community foundation that now manages nearly $370 million in assets. Kramer walks through the Foundation's record-setting 2024: $52.25 million in contributions and $32 million granted to 900 organizations across the U.S. He shares specific examples of where the money goes — from building a soccer field for kids playing on broken glass in one of Dallas's poorest neighborhoods to security grants for churches and schools. The episode includes a full scholarship speech from a Cristo Rey Dallas junior who won the Foundation's annual essay competition, delivering a personal reflection on Catholic education and hope to an audience of 1,100 people. Kramer also makes a point that surprises many: you don't have to be Catholic to work with the Foundation. It operates as a community foundation focused on relationships over transactions, helping donors with both current giving and legacy planning. catholicfoundation.com