$10 million gift from Jim and Patty Cownie launches Catholic high school’s new capital campaign

Dowling Catholic High School has announced the largest single gift in its history, a $10 million commitment from Jim and Patty Cownie to launch the school’s new capital campaign.

The transformative gift serves as the cornerstone of the “Honoring Our History, Faith in Our Future” campaign, which seeks to raise $76 million to strengthen the school’s facilities, enhance student life, and ensure Dowling’s ability to serve future generations.

The Cownies’ generosity reflects their lifelong connection to Dowling Catholic. Jim Cownie, a 1958 graduate, was student body president, an athlete, and a leader whose experience at Dowling helped shape his path.

All nine of the Cownies’ children attended the school, and their grandchildren are current students, continuing a three-generation family legacy deeply rooted in faith and community.

“This gift is an expression of gratitude for what Dowling has meant to our family and a vote of confidence in its future,” said Jim Cownie. “We hope it inspires others to join us in ensuring Dowling continues to thrive for the next generation of students.”

The capital campaign will fund a series of ambitious projects, including a new secure main entrance, improved kitchen and dining facilities, upgraded parking and traffic flow, expanded athletic and practice spaces, new locker rooms, and a larger auditorium to bring the school community together for Masses, assemblies, and events.

These upgrades are designed not only to meet current needs but to build a foundation for Dowling’s continued growth as a center of Catholic education in central Iowa.

The Cownies’ $10 million commitment places Dowling’s campaign alongside a broader wave of philanthropy reshaping education and community institutions across the nation. Recent headline-making gifts include $70 million from MacKenzie Scott to the United Negro College Fund, $100 million from the Lilly Endowment to bolster historically Black colleges and universities, and multi-billion-dollar donations such as Phil and Penny Knight’s $2 billion gift to Oregon Health & Science University for cancer research. While these record-setting gifts capture global attention, the Cownies’ pledge represents a historic moment on a local scale, demonstrating how transformational philanthropy can be for a high school community.

With this cornerstone gift, Dowling Catholic enters a new chapter in its history, poised to realize its vision for a campus that honors tradition while meeting the evolving needs of students, families, and the broader community.