Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wichita are working to educate nearly 10,000 students this year with a focus on faith and academic excellence. These schools, totaling 38 across the diocese, face financial challenges in maintaining facilities and providing competitive wages for staff while keeping education tuition-free for active parishioners.

A recent initiative has provided some relief. In 2024, fewer than 500 donors participated in a Kansas tax credit program that allows taxpayers to redirect all or part of their state taxes to Support for Catholic Schools, a certified Scholarship Granting Organization. The funds raised are distributed to diocesan schools to support students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch Programs.

Executive Director Mike Wescott and Director of Development Matt Vettel from Support for Catholic Schools recently visited St. Margaret Mary Catholic School to deliver a $3.4 million award that will be shared among all diocesan parish schools and high schools.

St. Margaret Mary is one of three diocesan schools where over 75% of students qualify for Free and Reduced Lunches. For such schools, the funding serves as an essential resource.

“Prior to funding from Support for Catholic Schools, we lived hand to mouth; month to month,” said Fr. Ned Blick, pastor at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. “We always felt like we had our finger in the dam trying to prevent it from breaking. Now that more donors have chosen to redirect their taxes to Support for Catholic Schools, the funds received from the foundation have allowed us to finally feel some financial security. I experience even more hope knowing that the foundation is growing and I pray that more people chose to redirect their taxes to the foundation.”

Principal Kylan Collins explained how this support has improved teacher salaries at St. Margaret Mary: “St. Margaret Mary Catholic School used to offer teachers one of the lowest salary packages in the Diocese. I believe we were the second or third lowest,” he said. “Now that Support for Catholic Schools has been able to distribute these generous donations, we have been able to raise teacher salaries to be more comparable with the rest of the diocesan schools. One teacher shared with me following a pay increase that she was able to move out of her parents’ basement, which she never thought would be possible while working at our school.”

Collins added that this financial stability helps mission-driven teachers focus on their work without undue pressure: “You have to be mission-driven if you choose to teach in a community like St. Margaret Mary, but now they don’t have to also feel undue financial pressures because of their passion to serve this community.”

Support for Catholic Schools aims for quality education across all 38 diocesan institutions.

Donors receive a 75% tax credit on contributions made through https://supportforcatholicschools.org/tax-credit-program/, by mail at 424 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202, or through gifts of appreciated assets arranged via email with Matt Vettel.

Kansas allocates $10 million annually in tax credits available on a first-come, first-served basis statewide; eight other foundations also compete for these credits.

Vettel believes there is potential growth ahead: “I know there were more than 500 Kansas taxpayers who would have much rather supported low-income Catholic school students than paid their taxes to the state,” he said. “The tax credits are capped at $10 million statewide. Our goal is to help more taxpayers choose to redirect those funds from the state to Catholic Diocese of Wichita schools.”

He encouraged prompt action: “Now is the time for donors to contribute,” Vettel said. “The first-come, first-served basis for tax credits means that waiting could mean missing out on this opportunity to make an impact and still having to pay Kansas taxes. Every contribution brings hope and a path to quality Catholic education for deserving children.”