NDHS Education Fund Foundation Sees a Transition in Leadership

Jordan Eastridge

Like many organizations with nearly 50 years of history, the NDHS Education Fund Foundation has experienced periods of growth, change and renewed purpose. As the Foundation enters a new chapter with a transition in leadership, it does so from a place of stability, momentum and gratitude for the leadership that helped guide the board in recent years.

Under the leadership of Chairperson JP Thompson (’07), Vice Chairperson Katie Fennewald, and Treasurer Robert Essner (‘73), the Foundation board has continued to strengthen its role in supporting the financial future of Notre Dame Regional High School.

Thompson and Fennewald were nominated to the chair and vice chair positions in 2017. Since that time, the board has guided important work including bylaw revisions, a transition to a professional investment manager, and adjustments to the Foundation’s investment allocation strategy.

“When I look back at what we have accomplished, our most significant milestone was the fundamental transformation of how our endowed assets are managed,” said Thompson. “Moving away from a traditional, income-only approach, we worked closely with the Diocese to approve and implement a dynamic ‘Growth with Income’ model. This strategic shift has allowed our assets to grow substantially over the years, ensuring long-term financial health without compromising the immediate funding needs of our school.”

In addition to their work on the Foundation Board, all three served on the school’s strategic planning committee.

“During the 2022 strategic plan, we took a deep dive into the Foundation and identified key areas. That evaluation has been a great source, as we met with community members, parents, students and teachers to better understand the needs of the school and the best ways for the Foundation to be a viable financial source for the school,” said Fennewald, who co-chaired the committee.

While Fennewald is transitioning out of the Vice Chairperson role, she will continue to serve on the board as a trustee, and Essner will remain as the board’s treasurer. Thompson has completed his term on the board.

“JP has been a steady and trusted presence during some of the most important moments in our recent history, including leadership change, navigating COVID-19, and a new leadership model,” said Notre Dame President Tim Garner. “His work in strengthening our investment strategy has positioned the Foundation and our school for long-term success. We are incredibly grateful for his years of leadership.”

The Future of the Board

Taking over for Thompson as Chairperson is Jeff Maurer (’91), while Megan Andrews (’04) will be jumping into the Vice Chairperson role.

Maurer, whose family has deep ties to Notre Dame, is an alumnus, along with his parents, many aunts and uncles, sisters, brother-in-law, numerous cousins, and now his daughter, Grayson (’26). Maurer’s father, Jim, even served as an inaugural NDHS Education Fund Foundation trustee beginning in 1980.

“I’ve been connected to Notre Dame for decades,” said Maurer, “so stepping into this role feels less like starting something new than taking up the next chapter of a long family story - both my personal family as well as the ND family. It’s a genuine honor to help lead this part of Notre Dame as we begin the next 100 years.”

Andrews, also a graduate of Notre Dame, says she is honored to serve in a leadership position on the Foundation board.

“I am humbled that I am able to give back a small portion of service to Notre Dame,” she said. “I believe that the education, leadership and spirituality I received at Notre Dame Regional High School has shaped me into the person I am today. I hope that I can work with the Foundation board to continue to help Notre Dame prosper and grow in the future.”

NDHS Education Fund Foundation Executive Director Nathan Martin says that the goal of the Foundation today is to continue to create long-term financial sustainability for the school.

That continued goal is supported by the work of the strategic plan, says Maurer. “When we gathered broad stakeholder input for the strategic plan a few years ago, one message came through clearly: people don’t want Notre Dame scrambling to raise money every time there’s a roof leak, a parking-lot issue, or a mechanical repair. They want the school to have a savings account of sorts, so we can manage routine maintenance and capital projects proactively rather than reacting to one emergency after another.”

Additionally, endowment growth helps provide financial support for families.

“A strong endowment does two things at once,” said Maurer. “It gives the school the stability to care for its campus and plan ahead, and it keeps a Notre Dame education within reach for families who might not otherwise afford it.”

Both Martin and Maurer reference the Foundation’s newly created planned giving program, The 1925 Legacy Society, as a key opportunity for endowment growth.

“Planned giving is central to endowment growth,” said Maurer. “Inviting our alumni and friends to remember Notre Dame in their estate plans in one of the most powerful ways to build a lasting base.”

Martin says that the transition of leadership on the Foundation board has been seamless, and that the new leadership will continue the work of past generations by pushing the mission of the Foundation board forward, and helping it to continue to grow.

“We are blessed to have so many great people in the right positions who want to see the school and our Foundation succeed,” he said.

Maurer said, “Our charge as a board is to be good stewards of what we’ve been given, and to hand it on stronger than we found it, in service to our students, our families, and our faith.”

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NDHS Education Fund Foundation Board of Trustees: Most Rev. Edward M. Rice, Tim Garner (School President), Jeff Maurer (Chairperson), Megan Andrews (Vice Chairperson), Robert Essner (Treasurer), Carolyn Bohnert, Brad Elfrink, Katie Fennewald, Alison Ferrell, Jeff Hux, Beth Johnson, Herb Wedemeier, Nathan Martin (Executive Director).

If you are interested in joining the NDHS Education Fund Foundation, contact Executive Director Nathan Martin at nathanmartin@notredamehighschool.org. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.notredamehighschool.org/foundation.

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