Catholic School Tuition Assistance
The Catholic Education Foundation scholarship program enables students and their families to obtain the promise of a Catholic education. The program is open to K-12 students with demonstrated financial need currently enrolled or applying for the next school year in any CEF-supported Catholic schools within the Diocese of Joliet. The standard CEF scholarship is $1,000 per student.
Scholarship Applications
A family must apply each year through FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment to qualify for a scholarship. All awards are made based on financial need. Complete only one FACTS application per family. The application can be filled out by clicking HERE.
CEF Grant Application Timeline for the 2026-27 School Year:
Application posts online: November 1, 2025
Application due date: April 1, 2026
Award notifications will be emailed to families: April 15, 2026
Helpful Tips:
Questions on how to complete the application form can be answered by calling the FACTS Helpline directly at 1-866-315-9262.
For additional information about the Catholic Education Foundation’s tuition assistance program, contact Shirley Roberson at 815-221-6127 or by email at SRoberson@dioceseofjoliet.org
Kazma Family
Foundation Scholarship
The Kazma Family Foundation, in conjunction with the Catholic Education Foundation of the Diocese of Joliet, offers four-year scholarships to 8th grade students enrolling in one of the Catholic Education Foundation supported Catholic high schools. Established in 1997, the Kazma Family Foundation has been dedicated to helping make Catholic education possible by providing financial assistance to students and families in need. Guided by a deep belief in the value of Catholic education, the Kazma family’s life-changing generosity has opened doors for more than 1,000 students attending Catholic high schools within the Diocese of Joliet. The Class of 2030 marks the 24th group of high school students to be supported and mentored by the Kazma family.
Eligibility
Students from the Class of 2030 are eligible for this scholarship. Students must be active in their Catholic faith through their parish, have demonstrated financial need, and plan on attending one of the following schools:
Benet Academy, Lisle
Bishop McNamara Catholic School, Kankakee
IC Catholic Prep, Elmhurst
Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet
Montini Catholic High School, Lombard
Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox
St. Francis High School, Wheaton
Leaders for the Future
The Catholic Education Foundation recognizes the invaluable contribution of our strong principals and inspiring classroom teachers in the life of our Catholic schools. For this reason, the CEF wishes to support the training of leaders for the future. The CEF is committed to providing the financial support needed in the professional development of transformative leaders for our Catholic schools.
The Leader for the Future Program is a loan-to-grant initiative offered by the Catholic Education Foundation for principals and teachers pursing graduate level studies or certifications to further their educational career path within the Diocese of Joliet. The Foundation provides up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement for diocesan educators pursuing in-demand leadership roles in our schools.
Once the educator completes two years of employment with the Diocese of Joliet, the no-interest loan converts to a grant and is forgiven.
If you are interested in learning more about the Leaders for the Future Program, contact Shirley Roberson at SRoberson@DioceseofJoliet. or click below to find the Leaders for the Future Application and Loan Agreement.
Application and loan agreement
endowed and current use scholarships
What is a scholarship?
Scholarships are funds established by Individuals, families, businesses, or groups of donors to provide aid to students in the Diocese of Joliet. The Catholic Education Foundation manages over 30 scholarship funds created by donors. Scholarships may be named in someone’s honor or memory - a friend, a teacher or loved one. The Catholic Education Foundation offers two kinds of scholarship funds: endowed scholarships and current use (unendowed).
Endowed Scholarships
An endowment is a permanent fund, often named for the donor(s) or other individuals. Endowed scholarships exist in perpetuity and often grow in size. An endowed scholarship is created with a minimum gift of $25,000. Endowed scholarships may be used for general use scholarships or for special restricted purpose. Endowed scholarship award amounts are determined by the Catholic Education Foundation scholarship committee policy.
Donations can be added to the endowment at any time to grow the principal, thereby increasing the award amount.
Current Use (Unendowed) Scholarships
Current use scholarships require a minimum donation of $5,000 and can be spent in the same it is established. The scholarship allocation is dependent on the donor’s interest and level of donation. This type of donation may not earn interest. Additional gifts can be added to the fund. This scholarship is terminated when the fund balance has been fully spent and additional gifts are not received.
How are scholarships awarded?
Families apply online for scholarships through a third-party financial grant management company. Scholarship applications are reviewed, and the Catholic Education Foundation distributes awards to the students’ schools. Distributions from endowed scholarships are made according to the specified requirements of each fund. For example, an endowed scholarship might be restricted to an eighth-grade student enrolled at St. Joseph’s school in Downers Grove.
The McShane Family Scholarship Fund is a current use scholarship fund restricted to Hispanic students attending St. Mary School, Plano.