Help Open the Door to Catholic University
More than any type of philanthropic investment, scholarships directly benefit the University’s greatest resource: our students.
At Catholic University, we believe that every talented and qualified student who is invited to join our community should be able to pursue an education here, regardless of personal financial circumstances.
Despite the University’s generous financial aid packages, the ability to afford a CatholicU education is often still out of reach for many prospective students.
A gift to a scholarship helps open the door to a CatholicU education and formation as individuals who will be future leaders and give back to the Church, the nation, and the world.
Types of scholarships
Whether you are interested in establishing a scholarship to support a single student’s education or wish to endow a scholarship to support generations of students in perpetuity, your generosity makes a tangible and immediate difference.
Both impact (current use) and endowed scholarships offer you the opportunity to name the scholarship after yourself or in honor/memory of a loved one. Scholarships not only benefit the students who receive them, but also serve as a lasting and personally meaningful legacy for those whose generosity makes them possible.
An annual gift of $5,000 opens the doors to Catholic University and makes a true and lasting difference in the life of a deserving student. An overall commitment of $20,000 over four years provides that student with the necessary support for all four years of his/her college education.
By making a gift to this initiative, you are directly allowing students, despite financial ability, to attend the University. In turn, you are supporting the growth of our student body, both in size and diversity. This will have a transformational impact on the student experience now and on the greater Cardinal community for years to come.
The University’s Commitment
As part of the University’s effort to best steward your gift, we will provide you with an annual financial report that reflects the status of the University’s use of the gift. In addition, to show the impact of your generosity, we share letters of thanks from the recipient(s) in a separate report. We also ensure that scholarships are awarded with respect to and consideration of the donor’s intention.
“My siblings and I find it important to give back to the University that formed and gave not only our father and also our entire family the opportunities that helped us be where we are today. For us, CatholicU is a legacy we want to see flourish and for our children, nieces and nephews, and future grandchildren to receive what we did. The University experience is not what it is without the individuals who surround you, and so we give toward impact scholarships in the Busch School of Business to ensure that students who want to be a part of this community are here and feel part of a close-knit cohort.” -Raphael Della Ratta, M.A. 1994
Joseph Della Ratta, B.A. 1953, and his family have established a legacy at Catholic University.
Joseph “Joe” Della Ratta is one of the most decorated athletes in the University’s history and is the last student to have earned letters in four sports (basketball, track, boxing, and baseball). He studied business and went on to found Della Ratta, Inc., a family-owned and operated commercial management company, in 1970. Joe remained a steadfast volunteer and benefactor, notably serving on the Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1986. He also played a vital role by chairing the fundraising effort for the planning and construction of the Raymond A. DuFour Athletics Center.
Joe’s two sons attended the University: James pursued his undergraduate studies in the School of Arts and Sciences and Raphael earned an M.A. in English in 1994. Though neither attended, both of Joe’s daughters, Elizabeth and Jen, are also loyal supporters of the University. One of his granddaughters is currently pursuing her degree at the Busch School of Business.
In 2015, the University and the Busch School of Business celebrated its first chair, the Centesimus Annus Della Ratta Family Endowed Professorship. And in 2019, the Della Ratta family gave generously as part of the renovation to Maloney Hall. Della Ratta auditorium is named in their honor. The Della Ratta Family’s impact can be seen and felt across campus and in the stories of many alumni, especially recipients of the Della Ratta Family Impact Scholarship—an impact scholarship program for undergraduate students in the Busch School of Business.
