Serving the four counties of Armstrong,
Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, the Diocese of Greensburg
introduced a $45 million capital and endowment campaign and engaged
parishioners in fundraising efforts to ensure a future of support for its
parishes, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities, evangelism, and other
ministries and initiatives.
The Today's Challenge ~
Tomorrow's Hope campaign has
received $43.6 million in gifts and pledges, 97 percent of the overall goal, as
of the April 23, 2010 report from the diocesan campaign office.
Planning sets platform to advance priorities
Greensburg Bishop, Lawrence E. Brandt, explained that the campaign "is an outgrowth of the diocesan strategic planning process, a consultative process involving parishioners, clergy and every advisory group in the diocese."
The strategic planning process established the central priorities for the diocese for the next 15-20 years. "These areas identify where we will invest in a focused way our human, financial and material resources," said Bishop Brandt.
The centerpiece of the process was the 2006 Diocesan Lenten Listening Sessions, a series of 85 meetings around the diocese that generated observations and thoughts from approximately 9,000 parishioners and clergy on issues "important to the future of their faith and the Catholic Church in their beloved diocese," said Bishop Brandt.
Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc., worked with the Diocese of Greensburg to conduct specific campaign planning, beginning with a feasibility study, including interviews with diocesan priests and laity from across the diocese. The study provided a case for support for a campaign to benefit the diocese and all of its parishes.
The case for support recommended that the majority of $27 million in funds designated for diocesan services (services that are returned to the parishes to support their work) be placed in endowment funds, with $23.5 million directed to new and existing endowment funds for various long-term priorities, and $3.5 million for use on capital projects in the near future.
Specific needs identified - funds allocated to build future
"Now that we have identified and started implementing initiatives that are important to our future as a church, we must fund that future," said Bishop Brandt. "We must give financial legs to what we have together identified as priorities."
Parish communities are the center of Catholic and sacramental life for individuals and families, he added. Strong and vibrant parish communities of faith are central to the mission of Christ and to our lives of discipleship. As part of Today's Challenge ~ Tomorrow's Hope capital and endowment campaign for the Diocese of Greensburg, each parish was given the opportunity to raise funds for its own specific, local needs. Proceeds are divided with 40 percent remaining in the parish and 60 percent going to diocesan needs. After the parish reaches its goal, 60 percent of any additional proceeds stay in the parish.
Campaign phases follow standard for success
Model Phase
Five parishes were chosen to launch the Today's Challenge ~ Tomorrow's Hope campaign for the Diocese of Greensburg and set a standard for success for the other 80 parishes in the diocese to model throughout the Today's Challenge~ Tomorrow's Hope effort. The five model parishes all surpassed their diocesan targets, generating more than $2.737 million in pledges and gifts toward a combined goal of $2.385 million. That hard work was led by campaign chair-people Dan Galbraith and Margaret DiVirgilio, and more than 40 volunteers. Galbraith praised the direction provided by Graham-Pelton consultants and the "total education of the volunteers who were persistent and wouldn't give up." Msgr. Raymond E. Riffle, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, said his parish's goal of $1.215 million seemed daunting at first, but the success allows the parish to begin its second hundred years debt free and hire a full-time youth minister.
With the help of Graham-Pelton, phases were established for
the rest of the parishes in the diocese to carry out campaign fundraising specific to their needs.
Group One parishes endure summer challenges
to surpass goal
Group One consists of 21 parishes; many are the diocese's smaller parishes located in primarily rural areas. Pastors, volunteers and generous parishioners in Group One completed their specific Today's Challenge ~ Tomorrow's Hope campaigns, despite challenges presented by vacations, nice weather and other summer distractions. As of August 13, 2009, Group One parishes have received pledges and gifts totaling more than $4.30 million from nearly 2,700 contributors, surpassing their collective goal of $4.26 million. "We continue to be tremendously humbled and exhilarated by the ongoing generosity of parishioners in this historic endeavor to strengthen their parishes and their diocese," said Matthew Stoessel, who is managing director of The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Greensburg and overseeing the campaign.
Group Two parishes leverage commitment weekend to surpass goal
Group Two parishes used the enthusiastic, generous responses of parishioners at successful commitment weekend events in December to surpass their collective goal by more than $1 million. According to the December 18 report from the diocesan campaign office, the 24 Group Two parishes have received gifts and pledges of more than $16.5 million on a goal of $15.4 million. Pastors continue to cite the role of prayer and the dedication and commitment of lay leadership for Group Two parish successes.
Group Three Parishes lead campaign into final phase
The most recent report Graham-Pelton received was that Group Three parishes are working on their specific goals and with barely two months of parish activity remaining, the Diocese of Greensburg is very close to its overall campaign goal of $45 million." The Model and Group One parishes had exactly 35 percent in participation, and Group Two parishes hit 33 percent participation," said Stoessel.
"At first glance, perhaps 33 or 35 percent participation does not seem like a winning number," Stoessel said. "To put that into perspective, however, 35 percent participation is the equivalent of more than half of the active parish donors in the diocese participating in the campaign, with a pledge of $2,500 - awesome statistics that speak highly of the generosity of the people in our four counties."
"The generosity of our parishioners in this campaign has been impressive and humbling," Stoessel said. "That is reflected in both the average gift, which is nearly $2,500, and the participation rate. The people of the Diocese of Greensburg have shown a deep, abiding faith in their parishes and diocese by their many sacrificial gifts to help support future ministries and programs in our diocese."
Graham-Pelton is dedicated to your success.
At Graham-Pelton, our commitment and proven methodology allow us to inspire our clients
to build a groundwork of understanding that engages the people they serve and helps them
deliver on their mission. We bring a thorough knowledge of tried, tested, and true fundraising
principles and combine them with the strengths of your organization to help you identify
your opportunities and achieve your potential.
We are proud to have played a part in this campaign, and our experience has taught us that every organization is different. To that point, we offer a flexible approach in order to provide the solution that's right for your organization. We can provide full-time fundraising management or part-time expert direction to guide your staff and volunteers. Whatever your needs, we focus on your long-term success and structure each project or campaign to maximize results.
Contact Graham-Pelton professionals today to learn how we can help you reach your goal.
Material Reprinted, with permission, from the Catholic Accent of the Diocese of Greensburg.
