by John Soukup, Catholic Social Services
LINCOLN – A national publication that focuses on the nonprofit industry recently gave Katie Patrick, executive director of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS), the 2022 Rising Star Award.
Nonprofit PRO said, “Jumping into leadership at a nonprofit is no easy task, but Katie Patrick has a determination to help the poor and marginalized in her state of Nebraska and around the world. As the founder of a nonprofit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and newly promoted to the role of executive director of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, Patrick is making waves in the nonprofit sector and, therefore, has been awarded Nonprofit PRO’s 2022 Rising Star Award.” 
Patrick said she was honored and humbled by the award.
“It’s a privilege to represent Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska and the tremendous staff, volunteers and donors that we have who help us bring hope in the good life to thousands of vulnerable families across our state every year.”
It was only 18 months ago that Patrick was appointed to lead the nonprofit headquartered in Lincoln, with outreach centers in Lincoln, Auburn, Hastings, and Imperial. Patrick, the first woman to lead the 100-year-old organization, oversees the nonprofit’s 75-person staff and $6 million budget, which reached that status for the first time in its history on her watch. Patrick is also leading a $3.5 million renovation and expansion of the nonprofit’s headquarters that began this fall.
She said the key to her strategy of running an organization that stretches across 24,000 square miles of Nebraska has simply been hiring the right people.
“At CSS, we have a team that is talented and passionate, who is deeply rooted in their faith and who persevere no matter what the obstacle. I work hard to make sure that everyone is in the right role. It’s all about supporting my staff, helping them discover their gifts, and giving them the tools, resources, and encouragement they need to serve the poor and glorify God.”
In 2014, Mrs. Patrick founded Totonga Bomoi, which educates artisans and entrepreneurs about cooperative formation and business development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Stateside, she has given back to a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout her career, with her resume showcasing roles as program, grants and case managers. At Catholic Social Services, she served as a refugee case manager earlier in her career before returning in 2019 as regional director of services and then executive director.
Patrick was also named the Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Lincoln Young Professionals Group this fall.
“Nonprofits, like any other business, exist to meet a human need,” she said. “Yet when unique and unpredictable needs arise, nonprofits can sometimes struggle to respond effectively and efficiently; we’re not always known for our agility. But this is where our Catholic faith comes into play. As Catholics, we are required to respond to and meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable with charity and justice. When guided by these principles, we can respond definitively because we always have the common good in mind and the example of Jesus Christ, who loved and served the poor in a way consistent with the Word of God.”
