Issue 17

We want to get back to basics and explain why many people decide to become a donor:

– Someone I know asked me to give, and I wanted to help them.

– I felt emotionally moved by someone’s story.

– I want to feel I’m not powerless in the face of need and can help.

– I want to feel I’m changing someone’s life.

– It makes me feel connected to other people.

– I feel fortunate and want to give something back to others.

– I want to be seen as a leader/role model.

– I give for religious reasons – God wants me to share my blessings.

People inherently act from the heart, not the head. Yes, you have to show you’re a good steward of donor money and you need to explain where all that generosity is going, but your appeal must contain more than numbers and pie charts.

Giving is a personal act. Notice any common thread in the list? They all contain the pronoun "I." The people you serve are important, but make sure to explain to the donor why s/he should care.

The act of giving is immediate. Give your donors the opportunity to act here and now. Your relationship with them will be long-term, but their willingness to give is now — let them act on it.

*A portion of the Leadership Gifts Phase total raised is shared with parishes, therefore the overall total is less than the sum of the individual phases.

* Retired, but pastor when campaign was conducted.

Fr. Benjamin Roberts at Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe was thrilled that the parish community joined together to exceed their goal. He said, "I am both proud and humbled by the response of Our Lady of Lourdes to Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love – humbled by the trust that the parish places in me and so very proud of the high level of participation. This is truly an effort of the whole parish."

Congratulations to St. Joseph Catholic Church for surpassing the parish goal of $530,000! Thanks to the hard work of Fr. Philip Kollithanath and the team of Ambassadors in Asheboro, the parish received more than $95,000 during the last week of the campaign.

Fr. Michael Kottar at St. Mary Help of Christians in Shelby completed the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort last week, raising more than $450,000 (124% of goal) that will help expand and renovate the parish parking lot and install new stained glass windows.

Fr. Michael Buttner, pastor at Holy Family in Clemmons, will launch the campaign alongside his leadership team this week. Holy Family will use its share of funds to enhance facilities for its continued growth in faith formation, youth ministry, and parish ministry programs.

Over the holiday, St. Mary (Greensboro) raised more than $62,000 from seventeen parish families. During the next month Fr. Jack Timlin is excited to share details of this effort with more parish families.

Fr. Vince Smith and Ambassadors at Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point continue to be humbled by the support and generosity of each family they visit. Parish families at IHM see the benefits of the campaign in the greater High Point community. They recognize the need to support retired diocesan priests at Pennybyrn at Maryfield, witness the campus ministry growth in the Triad, and show gratitude for the assistance that disadvantaged families receive through Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

Charlotte, NC 28203

704-370-6299 ext. 2200

www.forwardfaithhopelove.org