The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland supports Catholic sisters throughout Northeast Ohio to sustain and strengthen their ministries. We also share stories of the sisters, their work and impact to inspire the next generation.

More specifically, we work to address the challenge posed by the fact that more than half of Sisters in greater Cleveland are expected to retire by 2023. Thus, our work focuses on the future – promoting collaboration among ministries through educational, networking and technical assistance opportunities. Efforts also include educating and engaging lay people – particularly young adults – to partner with Catholic sisters, to further their work in helping the most vulnerable.

The elements of this work includes:

• Collaboration for Ministry Initiative: Begun in 2006, this initiative helps Catholic sisters collaborate with each other to strengthen and sustain their ministerial work for future generations. It provides educational and networking opportunities along with technical assistance and funding for collaborative initiatives. This initiative is critically important, as more than half of sisters in greater Cleveland expect to retire by 2023.
• Generative Spirit is built on the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative. It focuses on engaging lay people, particularly young adults, to collaborate with the Sisters, through collaborative partnerships to further the work helping the most vulnerable in our communities for years to come.
• Blocks and Bridges provides education and capacity building for sister-led, sister-founded ministries. The program pairs a Catholic sister and lay co-worker or collaborator to help build and transform their ministries. The mutually beneficial relationship ultimately allows for a stronger posture when transition occurs at the ministry.
• Saint Ann Legacy Grant Program awards up to $10,000 grants to support the work of sisters in Northeast Ohio, whether at direct ministries or programs at other organizations.