By William Miller, CCS Executive Director
Championing Inspirational Causes at Home and Abroad
Our recent experience with numerous arch/dioceses and parishes is just as encouraging as the aforementioned industry trends. Analysis of our work with Catholic organizations tells us that fundraising projects continue to excel, despite an uncertain economic climate. Numerous arch/dioceses throughout the United States and Europe are currently conducting arch/diocesan-wide campaigns with CCS to fund important missions and ministries. These programs are securing major commitments, as well as recruiting thousands of volunteers. Some examples appear below:
- The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Heritage of Faith ~ Vision of Hope campaign recently concluded a successful archdiocesan-wide effort that secured more than $220 million in commitments on a $200 million goal.
- Similarly, the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Archbishop’s Annual Appeal recently exceeded its challenge goal of $9.5 million with $9,503,442 raised from 48,645 donors. With a month left in the year, the 2011 Appeal is poised to set a new all-time record for the Hartford Archdiocese.
- The Diocese of Cleveland successfully closed out the pilot phase of their campaign this past summer. Nine parishes were selected to be part of the pilot phase, and all have surpassed their prescribed goals. Overall, the campaign has now crossed over the $50 million mark on its way to $125 million. The effort is scheduled to run through December of 2012.
- The Diocese of Portsmouth in England recently exceeded its fundraising goal. As part of the pastoral plan and to nurture future growth, the Diocese embarked on the Living Our Faith campaign to address pressing needs. The campaign raised more than £13 million on a goal of £9 million to fund the care and support of priests, encourage vocations, educate seminarians, strengthen the ongoing formation of laity, provide funding for future capital projects, and most significantly to assist parishes at the local level with capital needs. The campaign successfully concluded in July 2010 despite turbulent economic times overseas.
- Another English diocesan-wide campaign in Northampton, which started shortly after the previously mentioned Portsmouth program, recently exceeded its £6 million goal, with more than £9 million raised to date. The first major local parish projects arising from the Together in Faith campaign have already started. For instance, St. Teresa’s parish in Beaconsfield is making great progress on the construction of its new parish centre.
- Two northeast arch/dioceses CCS is currently collaborating with have launched special major gift initiatives this year to fund priest retirement and seminarian education. Collectively, these campaigns have already secured 28 gifts of $100,000 or more. One of these arch/dioceses recently received the largest gift in its history, while the other has already achieved 75% of its fundraising goal.
- Catholic parishes also continue to experience incredible fundraising success. CCS is currently working with a number of parishes across the United States and Europe and many have surpassed their fundraising targets.
- For example, Of Living Stones, the capital campaign at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Wake Forest, NC, recently surpassed its $4.3 million goal for the construction of a new church. The campaign has raised more than $4.5 million from approximately 700 commitments and is still receiving gifts. The new church will seat 1,500 people, expanding to nearly 2,000 for the holidays, and will help to relieve some of the crowding at a parish that has experienced a 700% growth rate over the last decade. During the course of the campaign, CCS also helped to secure a $1 million challenge gift that will be applied to St. Catherine’s next campaign to expand their school campus.
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