Motinėlė Society (motinėlė is a Lithuanian-language diminutive of "mother") was the common name of two Lithuanian charitable societies, one based in United States and the other in Kaunas, Lithuania, that provided financial aid to gifted Catholic minded students. While the societies shared the name and functions, they were independent of each other. The Lithuanian American society was established in 1900 by a group of priests and was active until 1945. Lithuanian priests copied the example and established Motinėlė in Kaunas in 1903. This society was active until 1932. Both societies supported over 120 Lithuanian students, many of whom later became prominent figures in Lithuanian politics, science, culture, and Catholic church.