Archdiocese Local

‘Building relationships’ will drive new development director’s work

Jane Schmitt is the new director of development for the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas. Her job involves building relationships and furthering the missions of the institutions and ministries of the church in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

by Joe Bollig
joe.bollig@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The dollars are important, but they’re merely a means to an end.

The real job of Jane Schmitt, the new director of development for the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, is building relationships — and, through them, furthering the missions of the institutions and ministries of the church in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Schmitt was appointed director of development for CFNEK on Aug. 1. Previously, she was marketing coordinator there.

“The primary duties for Jane in her new role are to build relationships with our existing fund holders — which are our parishes, schools and ministries — and seek out new donors for the funds of the CFNEK,” said Bill Maloney, executive director of the CFNEK.

“Also, her role will be to build relationships with our parishes, schools and ministries that do not currently have funds with the CFNEK,” he added.

Schmitt is the first director of development for CFNEK.

Jane Schmitt is the first director of development for CFNEK. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

“The foundation board thought it was important that we add staff that could go out and work with our institutions as well as individual donors to help them gather additional resources,” said Maloney. “We have a vision to grow the assets of the foundation . . . over the next several years.”

Schmitt is a lifelong member of Sacred Heart-St. Casimir Parish in Leavenworth. She is on the parish council, co-chair of the hospitality committee and leads the prayer card ministry. She is also a lector, usher and greeter.

She and her husband Rob have two adult children. While their son and daughter attended Xavier Catholic School, she was on the board of trustees of Leavenworth Catholic Schools.

The Schmitts owned and operated two restaurants in Leavenworth for 22 years, one of them being Mama Mia’s Italian Restaurant.

Schmitt is a 1988 graduate of Immaculata High School, Leavenworth, and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor of science degree in leader studies from Kansas State University in Manhattan.

Jane Schmitt talks with CFNEK operations coordinator Beth Lopez. Schmitt has worked for the archdiocese since 2018. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

In 2018, she was hired by the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development to be a field director for the One Faith, One Family, One Future . . . in Christ archdiocesan capital campaign. When that ended, she came to CFNEK in January 2020.

“One of my goals is to joyfully serve the donors well in their philanthropy,” she said. “I’m eager to dive into this position. I’m hopeful once we have the marketing coordinator hired, I’ll be able to invest more time in this new role, and hopefully make a great impact in growing awareness and the funds at CFNEK.”

Maloney said Schmitt will be an asset to CFNEK thanks to her talents, skills, experience and knowledge.

“Prior to her joining the CFNEK, she worked with many of our parishes during the capital campaign,” he said. “She got to know many people . . . so she brings to us a strong knowledge of the archdiocese.

“Jane’s a people person. She’s great at building relationships,” he continued. “So, we look forward to Jane continuing to build relationships and, with her passion for the mission of the church in northeast Kansas, she’s the right person for the job.”

About the author

Joe Bollig

Joe has been with The Leaven since 1993. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in journalism. Before entering print journalism he worked in commercial radio. He has worked for the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press and Sun Publications in Overland Park. During his journalistic career he has covered beats including police, fire, business, features, general assignment and religion. While at The Leaven he has been a writer, photographer and videographer. He has won or shared several Catholic Press Association awards, as well as Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara awards for mission coverage. He graduated with a certification in catechesis from a two-year distance learning program offered by the Maryvale Institute for Catechesis, Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education at Old Oscott, Great Barr, in Birmingham, England.

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