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Catholic Loyalty Foundation: Turning Faith Into Sustainable Action
Faith and Finance United
Over the years, Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D. has observed how faith-based organizations face the same recurring challenge: raising enough money to meet today’s needs while building a foundation for tomorrow. Too often, parishes and ministries operate hand to mouth, relying on fundraisers, tithes, or one-time donations that rarely keep pace with growing demands.
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That challenge inspired the creation of the Catholic Loyalty Foundation (CLF) — a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering Catholic ministries, schools, and charities with sustainable, commerce-driven funding. Its mission is simple yet profound: to help Catholic organizations turn everyday transactions into ongoing support while advancing faith, family, and community.
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The CLF is built on the same principles that inspired Source, HELP Worldwide, and the International Clearinghouse (ICH) — shared value, transparency, and partnership. But in this case, the rewards are not only financial; they are spiritual. Every act of giving, every transaction, and every partnership becomes a modern expression of Catholic stewardship.
A New Model for Catholic Stewardship
When the CLF was founded in 2008, the goal was to help ministries move from month-to-month fundraising toward long-term financial stability. Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D. and his team wanted to free parishes from dependence on bake sales and pledge drives by equipping them with tools that integrate seamlessly with the modern economy — creating a continuous stream of mission support.
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The Catholic Loyalty Foundation provides dioceses, parishes, schools, apostolates, and Catholic charities with programs that unite commerce and compassion. Through loyalty-based, cause-related commerce, a portion of everyday purchases automatically benefits Catholic missions — with no extra effort for donors and no friction for merchants.
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It is, in essence, tithing through technology.
When a member shops at any participating merchant, a charitable share of that transaction is donated to the HELP Worldwide Foundation pool, which then directs funds to vetted and approved Catholic charities — a process known as a pass-through donation from the Help Worldwide Foundation. This forms the first layer of support for 501(c)(3) ministries — stewardship made simple and sustainable.
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A second component is referral income. Parishes and organizations naturally have parishioners and supporters. When they register members into WeSave, every time those members shop at a WeSave merchant, the organization receives 1% of the sales price as referral income for as long as the member remains active. This kind of transaction-based residual income can make a significant, ongoing financial difference to the referring organization.
How It Works
The CLF model operates with clarity and accountability:
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Cause-Related Commerce – The CLF partners with networks such as WeSave and the International Clearinghouse (ICH) to track and attribute donations automatically using advanced clearinghouse technology.
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Training and Setup – The Foundation works directly with parishes and dioceses to design their programs, onboard members, and provide communication materials and program resources.
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Data-Informed Stewardship – Organizations receive transparent reports showing participation, earnings, and engagement growth.
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Grantmaking Conduit – Donations collected through commerce-based programs are first deposited with the HELP Worldwide Foundation. Funds attributed to CLF activity are then granted to the Catholic Loyalty Foundation, which distributes them to approved Catholic organizations.
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Each element ensures that charitable intent becomes charitable action — precisely, consistently, and faithfully.
Why It Matters
Traditional fundraising alone can no longer meet the ongoing needs of modern parishes and ministries. By pairing giving with everyday commerce, the CLF helps build financial resilience, ensuring that faith communities can withstand economic fluctuations without losing sight of their mission.
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This model strengthens the bond between the faithful and their local parishes, transforming the act of giving into a habit of participation, where generosity becomes as natural as shopping or dining out.
Evangelizing Through Beauty: The Michelangelo Legacy
Among the Foundation’s most meaningful projects is the Michelangelo Legacy, which brings Vatican-authorized reproductions of Michelangelo’s Pietà and other sacred works into churches and institutions across the United States.
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These installations do more than beautify sanctuaries — they inspire faith. They remind parishioners and visitors alike of the enduring connection between art, beauty, and divine love. Each placement tells a story that touches hearts, strengthens communities, and renews devotion.
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For Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D. these works stand as physical testaments to the Foundation’s mission: that beauty evangelizes, and that commerce can serve the soul.
Building Capacity Through Partnership
The CLF doesn’t just distribute funds — it builds capacity. The Foundation provides:
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Readiness & Planning: Helping parishes and dioceses assess fit and set goals.
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Program Setup: Configuring giving systems, communication templates, and member tools.
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Accountability & Compliance: Operating under 501(c)(3) standards with clear reporting and oversight.
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Growth Playbooks: Providing engagement kits tied to the liturgical calendar and parish life.​
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It’s not about reinventing the parish; it’s about giving it a new engine for growth.
Governance and Trust
The Catholic Loyalty Foundation is committed to careful stewardship of the trust placed in it. As a California-registered 501(c)(3) public charity, it operates under board oversight and written policies, ensuring every donation is used to advance approved projects aligned with its mission and Catholic teaching.
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Transparency and integrity form the foundation of all operations. The CLF adheres to IRS standards for donor acknowledgment, enforces strict data privacy, and never commercializes faith.
The Bottom Line
The Catholic Loyalty Foundation (CLF) stands as a bridge between faith and modern life — uniting stewardship, technology, and commerce for the glory of God and the good of His people.
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By transforming everyday transactions into sustainable giving, the CLF helps parishes and ministries thrive in an ever-changing world.
Faith doesn’t just inspire generosity — it deserves the structure to sustain it.
And that is precisely what the Catholic Loyalty Foundation was built to do.