
The Catholic Extension Society, also known as Catholic Extension, is a fundraising organization that has been supporting Catholic faith communities since 1905. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and supports 86 dioceses across 34 states and 5 territories in the United States. The organization's mission is to provide financial support, educational partnerships, and infrastructure to poor and remote Catholic communities, ensuring that all American Catholics can practice their faith within vibrant faith communities. While the Catholic Extension Society has received mixed reviews from employees, with an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor, it is recognized for its important work in funding Catholic social outreach ministries and enhancing Catholic family life. However, as a church, the Catholic Extension Society is not required to file Form 990, which makes it challenging for charity rating organizations like Charity Navigator to evaluate its financial accountability and impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Employee Rating | 3.6 out of 5 stars |
| BBB Rating | Not evaluated |
| Charity Navigator Rating | Not evaluated |
| American Institute of Philanthropy Rating | Not evaluated |
| Mission | To support Catholic communities in the U.S. that are isolated or financially under-resourced |
| Supported Dioceses | 86 |
| Supported States | 34 |
| Supported Territories | 5 |
| Years of Operation | Over 100 |
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What You'll Learn

Catholic Extension Society: a legitimate charity?
The Catholic Extension Society is a fundraising organization that has been supporting Catholic faith communities since 1905. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and focuses on supporting poor and remote Catholic communities with financial support, educational partnerships, and infrastructure. The Catholic Extension Society supports 86 dioceses across 34 states and 5 territories in the United States.
The society provides funding for Catholic social outreach ministries, including prison ministry, substance abuse programs, and social outreach centers such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters. They also support the construction, expansion, and renovation of critical facilities in evolving or growing Catholic communities in impoverished areas.
The Catholic Extension Society has a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor, indicating that most employees have reported a good working experience. However, some reviews mention a lack of transparency and trust in the organization's leadership.
In terms of financial accountability, the Catholic Extension Society has not been evaluated by Charity Navigator due to a lack of data and the organization's status as a church, which exempts it from filing the Form 990. Similarly, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has noted that the Catholic Extension Society has not provided the information necessary to determine if it adheres to the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
While the Catholic Extension Society appears to have legitimate charitable goals and activities, a comprehensive evaluation of its financial accountability and impact is not currently available.
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Catholic Extension's mission
Catholic Extension, also known as the Catholic Church Extension Society of the USA, is a charitable organisation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It has been supporting Catholic faith communities since 1905.
The organisation's mission is to help ensure that all American Catholics can practice their faith within vibrant faith communities. Catholic Extension identifies its mission areas as isolated and/or financially under-resourced dioceses in the United States. It currently supports 86 dioceses, including regions in 34 states and 5 territories.
Catholic Extension provides funding for Catholic social outreach ministries, including prison ministry, substance abuse programs, social outreach centres, and soup kitchens and homeless shelters. The organisation also supports the construction, expansion, and renovation of critical facilities in evolving or growing Catholic communities in poor areas.
In addition, Catholic Extension funds efforts to enhance Catholic family life by providing resources to ministries that support marriage and family. This includes faith formation and religious education programs for all ages, such as Catholic Bible studies, religion classes, and sacramental preparation. Catholic Extension also provides scholarships to support struggling dioceses in paying for seminarian tuition, room, and board.
Reviews of Catholic Extension as a workplace on Glassdoor are mixed. The organisation has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, with some employees expressing pride in the work of the organisation and their own professional growth, while others criticise the management for a lack of transparency and trust and a refusal to consider employees' ideas.
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Catholic Extension employee reviews
Catholic Extension is a legitimate charity that works in solidarity with people in America's poorest regions to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities. It is a faith-based non-profit organisation that supports 86 dioceses across 34 states and 5 territories in the US. Catholic Extension donors support scholarships, training, and salary support for individuals. They also fund Catholic social outreach ministries, including prison ministries and substance abuse programs, as well as social outreach centres like soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
Catholic Extension has received mixed reviews from its employees. On Glassdoor, the organisation has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, with 25 reviews. 58% of employees would recommend working at Catholic Extension to a friend, and employees rated their compensation and benefits as 4.0 out of 5. The pros of working at Catholic Extension are listed as career development, benefits, senior leadership, and work-life balance. The cons include culture and a lack of name recognition.
Some employees have praised the organisation for its accomplishments and their own professional growth during their time there. They describe the leadership and staff as highly intelligent and diligent in forwarding the organisation's mission. They also highlight the values of trust, creativity, excellence, and accountability that guide their interactions and relationships.
However, other reviews paint a different picture. Some employees feel that senior management shows a lack of regard for employees, with a hectic pace of hiring and firing without explanation or oversight. There is also a perception of a lack of transparency and trust, with senior management resistant to new ideas. The office culture is described as distorted and not embracing Catholic values, despite the organisation's work in supporting the Catholic Church.
It is worth noting that Catholic Extension's HR department has been accused of requesting that current employees leave positive reviews, which may have artificially inflated their rating.
In summary, while Catholic Extension is a legitimate charity doing important work, employee reviews highlight a mix of positive and negative experiences. While some employees feel proud of the organisation's accomplishments and their own growth, others have criticised management practices, culture, and a disconnect between the organisation's mission and its day-to-day operations.
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Catholic Extension's finances
Catholic Extension, also known as the Catholic Church Extension Society, is a national fundraising 501(c)(3) organisation that supports and strengthens poor mission dioceses across the United States. The society was first envisioned by Francis Kelley, a priest from Lapeer, Michigan, in 1904. During his travels, he encountered communities struggling to keep the Catholic faith alive. With the help of the Archbishop of Chicago, James Edward Quigley, Kelley was able to launch the Catholic Church Extension Society on 18 October 1905.
The society's headquarters were moved to Chicago in January 1907, and it received its first papal approval from Pope Pius X in June 1907. The Pope issued a brief in 1910, elevating the society to the status of a canonical institution under his guidance and protection. The terms of this brief stipulated that the Archbishop of Chicago would always serve as chancellor, and the president must be appointed by the Pope for a term of no more than five years.
Catholic Extension identifies isolated and financially under-resourced dioceses as its mission areas. It supports 86 dioceses across 34 states and 5 territories, providing funding and resources to dioceses and parishes. This support is based on need, passion, and commitment to the growth of the Catholic faith. The society assists with operational costs, salary subsidies, and various pastoral and social outreach efforts. They also fund the construction and renovation of churches and other critical facilities, especially in poor areas where parishes struggle to fund these projects independently.
The society's financial information is published in its annual reports, which are available on its website. Catholic Extension also publishes a quarterly bulletin called "Extension," featuring articles on the history of the Catholic Church in America. Additionally, they honour individuals or groups working in America's mission dioceses with the annual Lumen Christi award, which includes a $1,000 award and a $50,000 grant.
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Catholic Extension's impact
The Catholic Extension Society is a fundraising organization that has been supporting Catholic faith communities since 1905. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and supports 86 dioceses across 34 states and 5 territories in the United States. The organization's mission is to help isolated and financially under-resourced dioceses, particularly in rural areas, to ensure that all American Catholics can practice their faith within vibrant faith communities.
Catholic Extension has had a significant impact on the Catholic Church in the United States, particularly in supporting the formation and education of young Catholics. They provide funding for campus ministries and religious education programs for children, families, and young adults. This includes Catholic Bible studies, religion classes, and sacramental preparation. Catholic Extension also supports Catholic school initiatives to help recruit and serve new families in their communities.
In addition to their focus on youth and education, Catholic Extension provides funding for social outreach ministries that serve those in need. This includes support for Catholic prison ministries, substance abuse programs, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters. They also help fund the construction, expansion, and renovation of critical facilities in poor and under-resourced areas.
One of Catholic Extension's notable impacts is their support for priestly vocations. They provide scholarships for seminarians, easing the financial burden on under-resourced dioceses. Each year, they support 400 seminarians in their path to the priesthood. This has helped address priest shortages in rural and under-resourced communities, which account for one-third of all priestly ordinations in the country.
While the organization has generally received positive reviews from employees, with an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, there have been some concerns raised about the management style and office culture. Some reviewers have criticized a lack of transparency, trust, and openness to new ideas from senior management. Despite this, Catholic Extension continues to play a significant role in supporting and enhancing Catholic communities across the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Extension is a fundraising organization that helps ensure that all American Catholics can practice their faith within vibrant faith communities. They support 86 dioceses, including regions in 34 states and 5 territories.
Catholic Extension provides funding for Catholic social outreach ministries, including Catholic prison ministry, substance abuse programs, social outreach centers, and educational programs. They also help construct, expand, and renovate critical facilities in poor areas.
Catholic Extension is a legitimate charitable organization that has been in operation for over 100 years. However, it cannot be evaluated by Charity Navigator's Accountability & Finance methodology because, as a church, it is not required to file Form 990. It also has not responded to BBB requests for information, making it difficult to determine if it adheres to BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
Reviews from employees of Catholic Extension are mixed. Some people express pride in the organization's accomplishments and their own professional growth within the organization. Others criticize the management for a lack of transparency and trust and a refusal to consider employees' ideas.











































