Message from our CEO

Dear friends,

Today, my team and I are grieving. We are heartbroken and outraged by the news that Scott Hartman, a twenty-year employee of The Catholic Foundation, abused a minor. Our first concern is for the victim and her family, and we pray for her healing and peace.

What Scott Hartman did is a grave violation of trust and stands in direct opposition to our mission and our Catholic faith. We have terminated his employment with the Foundation, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement.  

Right now, we are learning new details as they become available, and we have more questions than answers. I humbly ask for your prayers in the days ahead.

Yours in Christ,

Loren P. Brown

Help Storm Victims

Our friends at Catholic Social Services are doing what they do best: Helping our neighbors in need. Residents in Perry and Muskingum Counties were hit especially hard by the storms that passed through our diocese on August 11. Catholic Social Services is helping with relief efforts by:

  • providing food supplies for displaced families
  • distributing limited hotel vouchers to families whose homes were damaged by the storm
  • subsidizing auto and home insurance deductibles

Your gift, in any amount, will make an impact and go directly toward these essential relief efforts.  

CLICK TO SUPPORT STORM VICTIMS

Building Hope with the Marian Foundation

Rooted in the community of Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, the Marian Foundation has a legacy of compassion and service. Founded in 1954 by Reverend Raymond Bauschard, the Foundation primarily focused its giving in West Columbus and underserved areas of Central Ohio, concentrating on educational, religious, and charitable programs, especially smaller organizations that struggled for funding. Reverend William D. Huber later expanded the Foundation’s reach and impact.

In April 2025, the Foundation’s assets were entrusted to a new chapter: The Marian Foundation Endowment Fund in Honor of Reverend Raymond S. Bauschard and Reverend William D. Huber at The Catholic Foundation. This new fund continues the mission of providing financial support to organizations and programs that foster hope, strengthen families, and build vibrant communities. Special emphasis is placed on innovative projects that need seed funding, strongly favoring initiatives sponsored by Catholic or Christian organizations.

The Marian Foundation Endowment Fund remains closely connected to its roots, prioritizing support for organizations serving the west side of Columbus—bounded by the Scioto River, Trabue Road, and I-270—and upholding the founding vision of stewardship, compassion, and faith-driven service.  This Fund will be a permanent endowment fund with multiple permanent recipients.

The Marian Foundation Central Ohio Granting Fund will be a much smaller fund providing for one-time grants to recipients chosen by its advisory committee. The committee will accept small, one-time grant requests from nonprofit organizations in Central Ohio that serve people and families in need.

Give to The Marian Foundation Endowment Fund: https://catholic-foundation.org/giving/existing-funds/the-marian-foundation-endowment-fund-in-honor-of-rev-raymond-s-bauschard-rev-william-d-huber/

Give to The Marian Foundation Central Ohio Granting Fund: https://catholic-foundation.org/giving/existing-funds/the-marian-foundation-central-ohio-granting-fund/

Optimize Your Complex Assets

Our team has experience managing complex assets, including business interest, commercial and residential property, oil and gas interest, Crypto, retained life estate, sale of a business, and S Corp stocks. Utilizing complex assets for charitable giving could result in a tax deduction and amplify the impact on your favorite charity. Learn more about the different types of complex assets by visiting https://catholic-foundation.org/giving/#types-of-giving

Questions? Please contact Dan Kurth for more information on how you can use complex assets to maximize your charitable giving: dkurth@catholic-foundation.org or 614-443-8893.

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“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 
2 Corinthians 9: 6-7