The St. Pius School Endowment Fund was established in 1986 and has grown steadily to its current value of approximately 4 million dollars. The growth has been accomplished through a combination of specific gifts and pledges from parishioners. While a few gifts have provided a significant portion of the Fund, approximately $2,044,257 of the Fund has been obtained through pledges by many parishioners.

The average commitment has been $3,014 per pledge. To date, over 693 families have participated in the growth of the Fund.

How the Fund is Operated

The Endowment Fund is managed by the Investment Committee of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This group is comprised of professionals from the world of finance. The fees for this service are deducted from the earnings of the Fund, not from the capital or fund balance. The Endowment Fund is under the oversight of the parish Finance Committee who monitors the investments. All gifts and donations received are invested directly into the Fund, and only the income earned from the investment may be used for activities and services of the school.

How the Fund is Used

The most visible benefit of the Fund is to provide an affordable tuition for all of the school families. Today the earnings from the fund are used to help cover the normal operating costs of the school and to provide tuition assistance to families who would not otherwise be able to afford a Catholic education. In addition, the Fund's earnings provide for the school's capital improvements and curricular enhancement.

To ensure that future Catholic educational needs can be met for the parishioners of St. Pius Church, donations and pledges to the Endowment Fund are strongly encouraged.  

The more money raised, the less the tuition needs to be raised. In the past year, with the investments that were made by the Fund, St. Pius School was able to keep the tuition increase at a minimum. The current Fund balance is substantial. However, as facilities age the cost of maintenance increases with each year. Also, a downturn in the market can adversely affect the fund. This, combined with the ongoing increase in the cost of living in this area, requires that the parents and parishioners of St. Pius School continue to invest in the Fund to provide for future costs.

Since only the interest from the investments is available to use, the Fund balance must remain substantial to provide a meaningful gain from these investments. The Endowment Fund will continue to provide a steady source of income for the school.

An investment in the Endowment Fund is an investment in the future of the children of St. Pius Parish.

How to Participate

Donors may make commitments to the Fund in the form of pledges or letters of intent. All pledges may be fulfilled over a three-year period. Pledges may include any of the following: Cash Donations, Securities, Stocks, Bonds, Bequests, Grants, and Matching Grants.

All parishioners are encouraged to make a contribution to Catholic education at St. Pius Parish even if no family members are currently in the school. This may be accomplished by contacting:

St. Pius School Endowment Fund
1100 Woodside Road
Redwood City, CA 94061
(650) 361-1411