University Continues Its Educational Legacy in Wisconsin
Milwaukee – (March 25, 2026) – Cardinal Stritch University today is announcing the launch of a $13 million Lasting Legacies grant initiative available to Catholic Wisconsin colleges, universities and seminaries through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Cardinal Stritch University is also announcing the release of a request for these proposals to all of the Catholic colleges, universities and seminaries in the state. This initiative honors the intent of previous donors to Cardinal Stritch University and ensures the institution’s legacy of educational excellence continues to serve students across the state.
The Lasting Legacies funds, entrusted to Cardinal Stritch University by generous donors over its 87-year history, will be distributed through a competitive RFP process designed to identify Wisconsin institutions best positioned to carry forward the university’s mission and values. The RFP process is open to Catholic colleges, universities and seminaries in Wisconsin and will prioritize proposals that align with Cardinal Stritch’s mission and values and donor intent. Those eligible Catholic Wisconsin institutions are encouraged to submit comprehensive proposals by Wednesday, April 15, 2026 detailing how they would utilize the Lasting Legacies grants to advance educational opportunities while honoring the legacy and donor intent associated with Cardinal Stritch University.
A committee comprised of Cardinal Stritch University board members and distinguished community leaders will evaluate proposals and select the Cardinal Stritch Lasting Legacies grant recipients. The role of the Cardinal Stritch Lasting Legacies Endowment Committee is to determine how best to disburse the $13 million in a way that meets the donors’ intents and demonstrates sound stewardship of the funds. The committee will review and score the returned applications of eligible Catholic Wisconsin institutions. The Cardinal Stritch Lasting Legacies Endowment Committee will evaluate applications based on eight criteria, including:
- Proposing Institution Overview
- Request/Institution Mission Alignment
- Donor Intent Alignment
- Institutional Financial Health
- Institutional Capacity
- Outcomes Description
- Explanation of Fund Use
- Impact on Proposing Institution
Pending the legal process for endowment distribution, the projected grant distribution will take place by June 15, 2026, so that students will start to realize the benefits during the upcoming 2026-2027 academic school year. Cardinal Stritch University will announce the awarded grantees at that time.
“While our university’s chapter has come to a close, this Lasting Legacies Grant Initiative ensures that our mission endures,” said Dr. Dan Scholz, Cardinal Stritch University’s 10th president. “This is a continuation of Cardinal Stritch University’s legacy in a new form, and through it, we honor both the generosity of those who supported Cardinal Stritch and the thousands of students, faculty, and staff who made our university a beacon of opportunity and service.”
The Lasting Legacies grants are available across eight funding categories, each with a defined funding amount that reflects the intent of the original donor. Each institution can apply in multiple categories—and for multiple subcategories within a single category—up to the total funds available. These categories include:
- Liberal Arts
- Education
- Financial Need
- Visual Arts
- Nursing
- Business
- Enhanced Student Experience
- Athletics
“Throughout its 87-year history, Cardinal Stritch University dedicated itself to transforming lives through education grounded in Franciscan values,” said Scholz. “Our donors believed in the transformative power of accessible, Franciscan values-based Catholic education. By investing in Catholic Wisconsin institutions that carry that same belief, we are making certain their vision — and the principles Cardinal Stritch University stood for — live on and benefit students for years to come.”
About Cardinal Stritch University
Founded in 1937 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Cardinal Stritch University served the Milwaukee community and beyond for more than eight decades as a Catholic institution of higher learning. Named after Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, the university was dedicated to providing accessible, values-based education rooted in the Franciscan tradition of service, compassion, and respect for human dignity. Throughout its history, Cardinal Stritch University offered undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing, business, education, liberal arts, and fine arts, preparing thousands of students for meaningful careers and lives of purpose. The university’s commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and community engagement made it a respected institution in Wisconsin’s higher education landscape.
