CAP FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about the Catholic Alumni Partnership

What is the Catholic Alumni Partnership (CAP)?

The Catholic Alumni Partnership (CAP) is a new, privately funded effort in support of Catholic elementary schools.  A pioneering undertaking, CAP aims to implement strong, sustainable annual fundraising programs for each of the Catholic elementary schools participating in CAP, with alumni support as its foundation.

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Why do Catholic elementary schools need the Catholic Alumni Partnership?

Catholic schools are a proven product.  Today, despite their strong history of academic excellence, Catholic schools are faced with tremendous challenges including school closures resulting from their inability to keep up with rising costs.

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Who runs CAP?

CAP is currently a collaboration between three hundred and fifty two Catholic elementary schools from eight archdioceses and dioceses across New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.  They include: the Archdiocese of Boston, the Diocese of Bridgeport, the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Buffalo, the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

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How is CAP being funded?

The benefactors currently wish to remain anonymous but are deeply committed to ensuring the ongoing success of the Catholic elementary school system and wanted to help it establish a stronger base through more effective alumni outreach.

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How many schools are participating in the partnership?

There are eight archdioceses and dioceses participating with 352 schools in the program.  They are:

# of Schools Participating
Archdiocese of Boston 49
Diocese of Bridgeport 32
Diocese of Brooklyn 44
Diocese of Buffalo 53
Archdiocese of Hartford 52
Archdiocese of New York 51
Diocese of Norwich 17
Diocese of Rockville Centre 53

*The Archdiocese of Boston, the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn have a pilot group of schools participating at this time.

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Alumni generally have given to high schools and universities but not elementary schools. Why would they start giving to them now?

Few elementary schools have had the resources until now to reach out to their alumni.  Research shows that 82% percent of elementary school alumni would give to their schools if contacted.  This data is supported by a study by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, which showed that almost 90% of parents surveyed who, themselves, attended Catholic schools rated their experience good to excellent, and that experience was an important factor influencing their decision to enroll their child in a Catholic elementary school.

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