FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Foundation for Catholic Education Welcomes Vic D’Ascenzo and Sarah Bongiovanni to the Team
Philadelphia, PA — The Foundation for Catholic Education (FCE) is pleased to welcome Vic D’Ascenzo and Sarah Bongiovanni to its growing team. Both bring deep expertise, strong values, and a shared commitment to strengthening access to high-quality Catholic education across the region.
Vic D’Ascenzo joins the Foundation team after 38 years in development, primarily within Catholic higher and secondary education. A product of Catholic education, Vic attended St. Patrick School, Malvern Preparatory School, and Villanova University. His career also includes development roles at Fairfield University, Malvern Prep, Sacred Heart Academy, and Muhlenberg College. Vic looks forward to advancing the mission and ensuring Catholic schools in the Archdiocese remain strong and financially accessible.
Known for developing strong donor relationships and fidelity to mission, Vic’s work has consistently focused on helping increase their donor capacity to achieve the mission. At FCE, Vic will support EITC funding and development for school serving the Archdiocese, helping ensure that resources are aligned with mission and impact.
Sarah Bongiovanni joins the Foundation for Catholic Education after spending more than a decade at Vanguard Charitable where she specialized in philanthropic relationship management and tax-effective charitable giving. A proud graduate of Saint Joseph’s University and K–12 schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, she understands the lifelong value of Catholic education and is passionate about helping future generations benefit from its academic excellence, moral integrity, and sense of community.
Sarah brings a thoughtful, data-centered approach to her work, along with a strong track record of stakeholder engagement In her role, she will work closely with schools to advance FCE’s commitment to student-centered outcomes and meaningful support for school communities.
“Vic and Sarah each bring a combination of skill, integrity, and mission alignment that matters deeply in this work,” said Jerry Parsons, President of the Foundation for Catholic Education. “As FCE continues to grow in both scale and complexity, adding leaders who understand not just what we do but why we do it is essential. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the team.”
The Foundation for Catholic Education partners with schools, donors, and community leaders to ensure that families have access to excellent Catholic education, regardless of financial circumstance. Vic and Sarah’s additions reflect FCE’s continued investment in strong leadership, sound systems, and mission-driven growth.
What Does A Child Need To Thrive?
Every day in Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, children discover who they are becoming. They learn kindness, courage, curiosity, and a sense of purpose. They encounter teachers who know them, believe in them, and nurture their gifts.
Our Mission
We promote and support the growth, vitality, and sustainability of Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia so every child can access an education that forms both hearts and minds.