Give to St. Catherine University

Support Future Women Leaders

St. Kate's Fulbright Scholar Addison Cross

The future is Katies



Women currently represent more than half of the educated U.S. workforce. They remain underrepresented in many fields and in executive roles, occupying only 25% of seats in the C-suite.

St. Kate's will change this with our largest ever Comprehensive Campaign
$125M
$0
$130M


Our Campaign Priorities

We are focused on providing our students––42 percent of whom are BIPOC women––with state-of-the-art facilities, an education grounded in social justice, and real opportunities for leading a future that centers all people.

priorities students

We are committed to preparing future women leaders. Donations will help to expand financial aid and increase accessibility, support the creation of the Office of Scholarly Engagement, and help build a pathway to success that reaches beyond St. Kate’s.

Priorities faculty

Our faculty comprises brilliant, experienced, and dedicated thought leaders who are determined to position St. Kate’s as an innovative and prestigious institution.

Donations will support a robust mentoring program for new faculty, foster community partnerships, and create a Center for Innovation and Inclusive Excellence.

priorities fund

Our ability to spontaneously access funds for supporting students in need supports greater retention. Donations made to the Katie Fund allow us to give directly to the areas with the greatest need, ease the burden of unforeseen expenses, and seize opportunities for improvement.

priorities chapel

Admired for its beauty and history, the St. Catherine University campus is the backdrop for a changing future.  Funds will support the restoration and update our cherished Our Lady of Victory Chapel, and ensure it remains strong for generations of Katies to come.

priorities science

Renovating the Historic Mendel Building to Diversify the Future of STEM. We are on a mission to change the face of STEM leadership—to better reflect the diversity of our country and our world. Funds will help us create modern and well-equipped science and technology spaces for the Future of STEM.

Campaign Profile Block
Donna
Donna
Insights on our impact
Trustee and Retired Vice President of Global Education and Training at Colgate Palmolive Company
<p>Donna McNamara ’68, PhD, once strolled around Dew Drop Pond, attended Mass in Our Lady of Victory Chapel, and peeked through microscopes in Mendel as a student at St. Catherine University. Today, she serves that same institution from the Board of Trustees.&nbsp;</p> <p>“St. Catherine University’s mission is important to me,” says McNamara, “on the most basic of levels, because it is an institution dedicated to educating women. On a personal basis, this fact is one of the main reasons that I attended in the first place. Once at St. Kate’s, doors opened to me in a world I had never been exposed to or imagined. These were worlds of learning, ambition, confidence, exploration, contribution, caring, and adventure. I am an ardent supporter of St. Kate’s because I am grateful for how the University helped shape me and my life; and, I want to provide that same opportunity to others who might not otherwise be able to achieve their potential.”&nbsp;</p> <p>After graduating from St. Kate’s, McNamara’s career led her to Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, where she earned a doctorate in education and human resources. McNamara’s work quickly collected accolades and elevated her to the rank of executive first at&nbsp; AT&amp;T, and then Colgate-Palmolive Company.&nbsp;</p> <p>McNamara had not considered her relationship with St. Kate’s for some time; but that changed when a development officer visited her in New York City. According to McNamara, “the real motivation to act was that when our conversation steered to St. Kate’s, I began thinking back – in a way I had not done for years – to my days on campus, how much my experiences there helped shape the trajectory of my whole life going forward, and how grateful I was for having had the opportunity to attend.”</p> <p>As a former executive at two multinational corporations, a former board member on the National Nuclear Training Accreditation Board, and a former president of the American Society for Training and Development, McNamara likes to know that, through supporting three of her favorite campaign initiatives, she is bolstering her alma mater’s comprehensive plan for the future. Through <em>LEAD &amp; INFLUENCE, the Campaign for the Next Level of Excellence</em>, McNamara is able to contribute to the University’s strategy to meet the needs of today’s students.</p> <p>Says McNamara, “My participation in the campaign has made me feel fulfilled and closer to the University and its students, because I am able to personally choose how the funds I contribute will be used. In my case, there are three areas I have chosen for direct contribution. One, an endowed scholarship to help first-generation students who could not otherwise afford to attend St. Kate’s. Two, the Katie Fund, to support the University in what are identified as the highest priority areas where funds are needed. And, finally, the Office of Scholarly Engagement, to personally contribute to the goal of keeping St. Kate’s at the leading edge of academic excellence – its hallmark since first being awarded Phi Beta Kappa status in 1937.”</p> <p>In all, McNamara believes that, “Education enables a person to achieve their career aspirations. A St. Kate’s education additionally builds the values of social justice, community contribution, and commitment to make a difference in shaping the future of the world. Every dollar counts when the purpose is so important.”</p>

Lead Gifts

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Anonymous
Better Way Foundation
Robert and Gail Buuck
Katie Buuck Fratzke '17
GHR Foundation
James J. Hill Foundation
Joan Kelly '46†
Mary Sands Landis '51†
Lilly Endowment Inc.
Manitou Fund
Agnes H. Moon †
Joanne Jirik Mullen '83 and
Brian Mullen
Teresa Rolling Radzinski '86
Lois '63 and John Rogers
ReBecca Koenig Roloff '76 and
Mark Roloff MAT'88
Jean Mcllquham Stalcup '72†
Judi Druke Teske '66
Brenda Grandstrand Woodson '80