About
The “Hidden Gem” of Wicker Park, Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart is Chicago’s oldest all-girls Catholic high school. Founded in 1890, The Jo (as the school is affectionately known by its students and alumnae) has built a sisterhood of thousands of women. At The Jo, unique young women share in the experience of personal faith and service to community.
With 94% of the student body being women of color and 60% identifying as Catholic, The Jo embodies the spirit of inclusivity and excellence in Catholic education. 91% of graduates enroll in college, further demonstrating The Jo’s role as a pathway to success. Once the necessary funding for the real estate acquisition is secured, The Jo is set to evolve into an innovative Leadership Academy, equipping students with transformative leadership training, mentorship programs, and expanded opportunities for internships and job placement.
The Jo’s legacy and bold future vision reflect The Catholic Initiative’s mission to support access to holistic Catholic education, in turn empowering communities, fostering leadership, and creating lasting impact. Most students at the Jo receive full scholarships, and we look forward to expanding enrollment and accessibility to this life-changing education.
Why Josephinum
A shining example of Catholic education’s commitment to accessibility and excellence, Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls school that empowers young women from diverse and under-resourced backgrounds. Many students come from families facing financial challenges, yet they thrive in an environment that nurtures both academic and spiritual growth. This project seeks to demonstrate how our model can expand educational opportunities and strengthen Catholic schooling for students.
The Plan
The Catholic Initiative is proud to support the future of The Jo, the oldest Catholic high school for young women in Chicago. Recognizing the school’s vital role in the community, The Catholic Initiative and the Josephinum Board of Directors are working to secure funding to acquire the school property from its current owners.
Beyond the acquisition, this partnership is focused on securing Josephinum’s future. With a strong leadership team and a vision for growth, The Jo is well-positioned for long-term success. The majority of students receive full scholarships, making a Josephinum education a transformative opportunity. To support this mission, The Catholic Initiative is launching a 3–5 year capital campaign aimed at establishing an endowment, funding scholarships, expanding educational programs, and restoring and modernizing the campus.
By working together to ensure financial stability and invest in the student experience, we are reinforcing Josephinum’s commitment to academic excellence, faith formation, and community service within the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. This collaborative effort will help secure The Jo’s legacy for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Catholic Initiative Endowment is a diversified fund composed of donations that are strategically invested by top-tier, blue-chip investment firms to generate sustainable income for specific projects. Each project has a dedicated restricted fund, held within the broader Pulte Family Charitable Foundation (PFCF) / The Catholic Initiative relationship, benefiting from institutional-level investment strategies and discounted management fees.
While the principal remains intact, earnings are used to support ongoing operating expenses, capital projects as needed, and key initiatives such as community hub programming and expanded scholarship programs. Funds are released on a bi-annual basis following a budget review process, ensuring disciplined financial oversight and alignment with project needs.
The Endowment Fund ensure professional stewardship, prudent investment, and long-term financial sustainability, providing cost-effective, high-quality financial oversight while maximizing growth and reinforcing each project’s Catholic mission.
The Catholic Initiative is actively working on three projects. There are two more projects in the queue with the intention of beginning them by early 2026. The Catholic Initiative will look to develop new projects in 2027.
The Catholic Initiative became aware that the oldest Catholic young women high school in the city Chicago was looking for a partner to help secure the real estate of the school, as the school would no longer be able to operate on that land as of Summer 2025. Josephinum Academy has a historic past and an even brighter future ahead. Josephinum is led by Richard McMenamin, an inspired and determined advocate of Josephinum. It became clear early on in the conversation that Josephinum is poised for dramatic growth. The leadership team and Board of Trustees are focused on delivering a unique and exceptional high school experience to every student. The Catholic Initiative wants to be part of that future, side-by-side with the leadership team and students. Negotiations with the current land owners (the Sisters of Christian Charity) took place over the course of 2+ years. An agreement in principal is in place for The Catholic Initiative to acquire the land in summer of 2025, and The Catholic Initiative will provide the majority of that funding. The teams from the Josephinum Academy and The Catholic Initiative are now working together to raise the remaining money required to complete the purchase of the school property. The Catholic Initiative is also committed to supporting the school’s long-term sustainability by helping to establish an endowment, restoring the iconic building, and partnering with the School to develop strategic community programming that will strengthen Josephinum’s role within its resurgent neighborhood. Through this collaboration, we aim to ensure that The Jo remains a thriving institution dedicated to academic excellence, faith formation, and community service for generations to come.
A shining example of Catholic education’s commitment to accessibility and excellence, Josephinum is an all-girls school that empowers young women from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Many students come from families facing financial challenges, yet they thrive in an environment that nurtures both academic and spiritual growth. This project seeks to demonstrate how our model can expand educational opportunities and strengthen Catholic schooling for students across Chicago.
“With The Catholic Initiative as our partner, our ability to ramp up The Jo’s aggressive enrollment growth strategy in the next five years becomes more achievable.”
–Richard McMenamin, Academy President
“With The Catholic Initiative as our partner, our ability to ramp up The Jo’s aggressive enrollment growth strategy in the next five years becomes more achievable.”
