Fitchburg private school surpasses fundraising goal by 25%, creates $10M endowment
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St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg
After losing its primary financial backer, St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg has surpassed its original fundraising goal to establish stability through an endowment fund now totaling $10.3 million.
The private Catholic school raised $2.3 million, passing its original goal of raising $2 million by June 30 it outlined in January. Additionally, an anonymous donor surpassed their originally planned three-to-one matching gift of $6 million, increasing it to $8 million.
The combined efforts of the community and the anonymous donor have enabled St. Bernard's to create a $10.3-million endowment fund, according to a Monday press release from St. Bernard's.
The Worcester Diocese told St. Bernard's in 2019 it could no longer provide financial support after two years of deficits, including $1.4 million in that fiscal year. However, thanks to donations from community members and an anonymous donor, the Fitchburg Catholic institution says it is entering a new era of stability and growth.
“The fund will guarantee long-term financial sustainability, supporting student programs, faculty, financial aid, and facilities,” John Zarrella, the chairman of St. Bernard's Board of Trustees and president of Fitchburg-based market research firm Research Results, said in the press release. “We cannot thank our anonymous donor and our community enough for securing the future of St. Bernard's High School.”
St. Bernard's is the 12th largest private high school in Central Massachusetts, with 234 students enrolled in 2024-2025, according to data provided to the WBJ Research Department.
Lucy Coran is an editorial intern for Worcester Business Journal and a rising sophomore at Smith College.
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