Empowering Young Women, Transforming Futures
Established in 2001 by the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, the Madonna Foundation continues a legacy of educating young women in the Catholic tradition of excellence.
Today, the Foundation provides scholarships to female students of all faiths across the Chicago area who demonstrate financial need and a strong desire to succeed academically. But the Madonna Foundation means more than tuition assistance. It represents access, belief and opportunity realized. Because for many of these students, a Catholic high school education would not be possible without this support.
Education that Forms the Whole Person
The Madonna Foundation goes beyond financial aid. Each academic year, scholars participate in programs designed to strengthen confidence, leadership and long-term success. Programming includes:
- College readiness preparation
- Financial literacy education
- Academic mentoring and support
- Leadership development
- Service learning opportunities
- Spiritual formation and reflection
This combination of scholarship and holistic support distinguishes the Madonna Foundation. Students are not only prepared for graduation. They’re prepared for life.
Rooted in Franciscan Values
The Franciscan Sisters established the Madonna Foundation to advance their commitment to educating young women with purpose and integrity. The Foundation instills the Franciscan values of:
Respect
Honoring the dignity of every person
Dedication
Pursuing excellence with perseverance
Stewardship
Using gifts responsibly and generously
Joy
Serving and leading from the heart
These values shape scholars into compassionate leaders who give back to their communities and carry the mission forward.
The Madonna Foundation Mission
The Madonna Foundation educates young women from the Chicago area who face barriers, transforming lives and launching bright futures through access to academic excellence at a single-gender Catholic high school.
Invest in the Next Generation
When you support the Madonna Foundation, you help break cycles of inequity and open doors that change the trajectory of a young woman’s life. Graduates go on to college at a 100% acceptance rate, many becoming the first in their families to pursue higher education.
Your generosity becomes confidence in a classroom. It becomes mentorship. It becomes possibility.
