Making a tax deductible donation to the Saint Thomas Educational Foundation supports a quality Catholic education at Saint Thomas School. Any donation to the foundation goes directly to the school. You can give in many ways:
- Cash or check donations
- Online donations via Parish Soft
- Join the 1925 Giving Society
- Tuition Angel
- Leave a legacy with an individual or family scholarship
- Friendship Fund honoring the memory of Dan and Joan Mead
- Automatic Payroll Deductions (Double your gift through your employer’s matching gift program)
- Estate Planning
- Effortless Giving
Join our Excellence in Education Society
Equipping Every Student to Learn, Grow, and Thrive.
Created to support the academic and spiritual formation of every student by funding high-quality curriculum resources that enable exceptional teaching, targeted instruction, and meaningful learning experiences.
Our Purpose
At the heart of Saint Thomas is a commitment to forming the whole child – mind, body, and spirit. Each day, our teachers work to meet students where they are, challenge them to grow, and nurture their God-given potential. To do this well, they rely on strong, thoughtfully selected curriculum resources that support targeted instruction, academic excellence, and faith-integrated learning.
Our Vision
Through this society we envision a school where
- academic excellence and faith formation remain at the forefront of everything we do
- every teacher is fully equipped to deliver exceptional instruction
- every student has access to engaging, high-quality learning materials
- curriculum decisions are driven by student needs—not budget constraints
Support our Tuition Angel Fund
At the heart of our mission is the Tuition Angel Fund, a cornerstone program that offers full and partial scholarships to qualifying students admitted to Saint Thomas. Each year, approximately 20% of our student body is blessed by the support of this fund. The generosity of our school families, parishioners, and the greater Grand Rapids community is a powerful testament to God’s love and a reflection of our shared commitment to making
Christ-centered education accessible to all. If you feel called to share your gifts, whether financial or through your time and talents, we invite you to learn more about supporting the Tuition Angel Fund. Please contact the foundation and explore how you can make a meaningful difference.
Honor a Family or Individual with a Scholarship
Family Scholarships ensure that no student is turned away from Saint Thomas due to financial circumstances. These endowed scholarships reflect a shared commitment to making a Christ-centered, Catholic education accessible to all students. Donors may direct their gift to one or more of the Foundation’s established scholarships, generously supported by families, alumni, and friends of Saint Thomas.
For those wishing to create a lasting legacy, establishing a named scholarship is a meaningful and impactful option. With a suggested initial gift of $5,000, a scholarship becomes fully endowed at $25,000 through one-time gifts, ongoing contributions, or planned giving. Endowed funds are permanently invested, allowing the earnings to provide tuition assistance and student support for generations to come.
Existing scholarships
Mr. Ed Carr
Father Jim Chelich
Jeanine Serba
Rosemary C. Cook
Ralph J. Haas Family
Rosalie and Joseph Kohane
Robert and Ardelle VanBragt
Support the Friendship Fund in Memory of Dan and Joan Mead
The Friendship Fund honors the enduring legacy of Dan and Joan Mead, beloved members of the Saint Thomas community whose lives reflected generosity, creativity, and a deep commitment to Catholic education. Dan played a vital role in founding the Education Foundation and served faithfully for many years as treasurer, while Joan shared her gifts as a teacher, artist, and leader who brought joy and purpose to parish and school life.
Inspired by Joan’s lifelong belief in the power of kindness, the Friendship Fund support students, enriches school programs, and strengthens the faith life of our community. A gift to this fund continues the spirit of friendship and generosity exemplified by Dan and Joan, making a lasting impact for today’s students and generations to come. We invite you to honor their legacy by making a gift to the Friendship Fund. Please write Friendship Fund in the donation notes.
Make a Lasting Impact
Supporters of Catholic education have the unique opportunity to extend their generosity beyond their lifetime through thoughtful estate planning. Legacy gifts can include appreciated stocks, real estate, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, or tangible personal property like antiques, artwork, coins, and jewelry. In addition to offering potential tax benefits, a legacy gift ensures that Saint Thomas School can continue its mission of providing affordable, dynamic, Christ-centered education for generations to come. By including the Education Foundation in your estate plans, you create a lasting legacy of faith, learning, and opportunity. To learn more about planned giving options, please contact us — we’d be honored to help you explore a gift that reflects your values and commitment.
Everyday Giving, Extraordinary Impact
There are simple yet powerful ways you can support the Saint Thomas Educational Foundation –often without spending anything extra. Through matching gift programs, employer giving, and other everyday actions, you can help raise valuable funds that benefit school activities, student programming, and community events.
Click on the folders below to explore easy ways to make a meaningful difference. Every small effort adds up to big support for our students and school!
Ask your employer if they have a matching gift program! This will allow your contribution to any of the Educational Foundation fundraising efforts to have a greater reach. If you need help filling out any matching gift paper work in order for your request to be processed, please contact betsyedgerton@stthomasgr.org.
You can ensure a Saint Thomas Catholic education for generations through strategic estate planning. Appreciated stocks, real estate, life insurance policies, 401K funds, or tangible personal property.