A method for making an alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes having the formula and mixtures, thereof, wherein w, x and y represent mole fractions, y does not equal zero, either w or x but not both can be zero, and w +x + y = 1.00, the method comprising the steps of: (a) combining as a reaction mixture: (i) water, (ii) a polar protic or polar aprotic solvent for the water, (iii) a solid strong cationic exchange hydrolysis and condensation catalyst, and (iv) an R- trialkoxysilane, wherein R comprises a group bonded to the silicon atom and is independently selected from the group consisting of R 1, R 2 and R 3, wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl group having one to 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and (iv) R 5 X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, S a R 6, NR 6 2, OR 6, CO 2 H, SCOR 6, CO 2 R 6, OH, olefins, amino groups and vinyl groups, wherein a = 2 to 8, R 5 is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and R 4 and R 6 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms; (b) allowing the reaction mixture to react for 0.5 hours to 200 hours to form the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes; and (c) recovering the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes from the reaction mixture, wherein the mixture of alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes liberates 0.05% to 10% by weight alcohol when treated by total acid hydrolysis, and wherein the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane is free of residual acid catalyst; and wherein step (a) comprises the substep of washing the solid strong cationic exchange hydrolysis and condensation catalyst with water and a solvent for the water to remove free acid prior to addition of the solid strong cationic exchange hydrolysis and condensation catalyst to the reaction mixture. (a) combining as a reaction mixture: (i) water, (ii) a polar protic or polar aprotic solvent for the water, (iii) a solid strong cationic exchange hydrolysis and condensation catalyst, and (iv) an R- trialkoxysilane, wherein R comprises a group bonded to the silicon atom and is independently selected from the group consisting of R 1, R 2 and R 3, wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl group having one to 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and (iv) R 5 X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, S a R 6, NR 6 2, OR 6, CO 2 H, SCOR 6, CO 2 R 6, OH, olefins, amino groups and vinyl groups, wherein a = 2 to 8, R 5 is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and R 4 and R 6 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms; (i) water, (ii) a polar protic or polar aprotic solvent for the water, (iii) a solid strong cationic exchange hydrolysis and condensation catalyst, and (iv) an R- trialkoxysilane, (b) allowing the reaction mixture to react for 0.5 hours to 200 hours to form the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes; and (c) recovering the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes from the reaction mixture,