The McGivney Catholic Education Fund, Inc is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by members of Knights of Columbus Council 1529, in Columbia, Mo, for the purpose of supporting the formation of K-12 students in the Catholic faith within the communities of central Missouri.
Prior to founding the McGivney Catholic Education Fund, Council 1529 had awarded annual scholarships to students at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia. Realizing that the need was greater than a single council could support, the council looked for means of encouraging the support of others for the cause of Catholic education, but found none. Lacking an already existing option, the council directed that an independent corporation should be established to seek tax exempt status under IRS Code 501(c)3 for the purpose of raising money and awareness for the needs of Catholic education.
Today, the McGivney Catholic Education Fund operates independently of the Knights of Columbus, though the Knights of Columbus and members of the Ladies Auxiliary remain generous patrons of the cause of Catholic education. MCEF seeks to provide for the needs of today while planning for the needs of tomorrow.