On the move: CTO director retires after raising millions for Catholic education

June 14, 2022

Jeanne Wells Thill’s passion and persistence has resulted in raising more than $42 million used to help families give their children a Catholic education in the Diocese of Des Moines.

After 14 years as the executive director of the Catholic Tuition Organization, Thill is retiring.

The CTO was established in 2006 with the passage of the Educational Opportunities Act in Iowa and Thill became its first leader. The legislation provides 75% Iowa tax credits to donors who contribute to the organization. The funds are then given to families that need financial assistance to educate their children in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines.

Thill raises $4.5 million annually for more than 2,000 students in the 16 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines.
“I would credit a lot of the success of the program to her,” said board chair Sergio Loch. “I don’t think we could have done so many years of meeting our goal if we didn’t have such a dynamic person as Jeanne.”

“We are so blessed to have someone with her background, experience and passion,” said board member Jim Hagenbucher. “She really has done a wonderful job over the 14 years that she developed the CTO program. We have a great donor network. She coordinated with the school administrators. She encouraged families to apply for school awards. She did all this with passion for the kids and their future.” 

Catholic education has become financially attainable for families of all backgrounds as a result of Thill’s vision and leadership, said board member Joe Narmi.

“In the bigger picture, through her determination, more children will graduate from Catholic schools and become leaders that contribute positively to their church, families, and communities,” he said. 

Mark Reed, a longtime fundraiser for Catholic and other nonprofit entities, will become the new executive director of the CTO on June 30.