Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma announces new executive director

The Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma board of directors announced the selection of Peter de Keratry as the foundation’s new executive director.

“The board and I are extremely excited to welcome Peter as our new executive director,” Foundation President Danny Stith said. “We are fortunate to have a proven leader take the reins.”

The Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma Inc. is a 501(c)3 that works to ensure a strong Catholic presence in ministry, service and education throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Through generous gifts in estate planning or in one-time gifts, donations to the foundation are the resources that create extraordinary opportunities for the future.

Along with serving as executive director of the foundation, de Keratry will continue as executive director of stewardship and development for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, where he has served since 2016.

“While I’m looking forward to the opportunities with the new executive director and board chairman Danny Stith at the helm, I am grateful for the commitment and time given to the foundation by Stephen Reel, who has served as executive director in an interim role,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said. 

“With Peter’s new position, we will be able to coordinate and strengthen the Church’s support and stewardship significantly. In his expanded role, he is particularly committed to assisting local parish communities.”

de Keratry has worked in parishes, dioceses, schools, associations and a diverse array of non-profit settings, including an international cultural center and museum built to honor Saint John Paul II. In addition to extensive work in sustainable fund development roles, he has overseen campaigns with goals ranging from $1 million to $350 million.

He served as campaign director for The Citadel Foundation with responsibility for a $100 million campaign at The Military College of South Carolina. In 1994, Peter became co-founder of Petrus Development and has advised numerous clients, including the Vatican Observatory Foundation, Benedictine College, the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and various Catholic ministry centers at large public and private universities. He also is the program director for the Institute for Catholic Philanthropy at the University of Mary in North Dakota.

From 2010 to 2014, he served as the director of resource development for the Archdiocese of Brisbane in Australia and in 2014, he became campaign manager and interim director of development for the Archdiocese of Chicago. 

In 2016, he joined the staff of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as the executive director of stewardship and development. He oversaw the archdiocese’s first major capital campaign and handles all aspects of a multifaceted fund development program.

He is past chairman of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ International Development Committee and has served on the board of the International Catholic Stewardship Council. 

de Keratry graduated with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Texas A&M University and completed a master’s degree in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary University of Minnesota. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Colleen and their four children. He is an active member of the Order of Malta and volunteers in his local parish, with the Serra Club of Oklahoma City and with Sister BJ’s Pantry, serving the homeless in Oklahoma City.