Florida Catholic | Questions & Answers

Sharing the Vision - Growing in Faith

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Published: 09.14.07

Here are the diocese’s answers to questions about Sharing the Vision — Growing in Faith.

Q: What is Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith?

A: Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith is an extraordinary financial initiative that seeks to raise at least $26 million to allow the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee to respond to the growing needs of its 58 parishes and missions.

Q: Why does the diocese need this campaign?

A: The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee has experienced tremendous growth over its 32-year history. Today we are faced with the challenge to minister to the growing number of Catholics that call our diocese home, while preparing to receive an additional 30,000 Catholics over the next 15 years.

Equally important, it is essential to ensure adequate resources necessary to provide the additional ministries and programs identified in the parish and diocesan Sharing the Vision pastoral plans. Ordinary income such as the parish assessment and the Catholic Sharing Appeal are not sufficient to meet our growing needs. Ordinary income only takes care of ordinary annual expenses. Our first-ever diocesan capital campaign will help us to meet these challenges by providing a stronger financial foundation for our diocese, allowing new and innovative programs for individuals, families and communities to grow in their faith.

Q: How were the specific areas of the case determined?

A: The itemized areas where funds from the campaign are to be focused upon reflect the priorities articulated in the surveys of parishioners done by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, parish pastoral plans and during diocesan-wide assembly days. During the two-year planning process, the diocese conducted an extensive needs assessment process to ensure that the parishes had a voice in the case development process. The results of the needs assessment and the results of consultations with diocesan staff members were given to the Priests’ Development Council to assist in the development of a compelling case for support. The Priests’ Development Council was then given the responsibility to formulate a case statement that would address the immediate financial needs of the diocese and parishes. The case statement was presented to Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, for his final approval.

Parishes with extraordinary building or renovation projects can conduct a combined campaign to enable the parish to raise significant funds for both the diocesan objectives and the local parish needs. Individual parishes will design a parish case that reflects the extraordinary objectives at the local level.

Q: Who will benefit from the Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith campaign?

A: Every parish in the diocese will benefit as a recipient of their share of the funds raised in that parish to address its specific local needs. The entire Catholic community of northwest Florida will benefit, as endowment funds will be used to provide resources for education and formation of new clergy, train new lay leaders, pass on our Catholic faith with new programs for all ages, strengthen our outreach to the poor and marginalized, provide resources for ethnic ministry, improve our ministry on college campuses and purchase needed property for future Catholic churches and schools.

Q: How is this different from the Catholic Sharing Appeal?

A: The capital campaign seeks to answer long-term and extraordinary needs while the appeal funds the annual operating expenses and programs of the diocese. A major objective of the Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith campaign is to establish new or augment existing endowments. An endowment fund is one where the principal monies invested are not withdrawn. Instead, the funds generated in interest can be used to fund the important programs and initiatives of the church. Endowments, therefore, can provide a continuous source of funding and enable the church to be good stewards with its financial resources.

Q: Will the funds raised in the campaign be protected?

A: The funds raised in the Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith campaign will be held in the Catholic Foundation Of Northwest Florida. By placing them in a separate nonprofit organization, we help protect the monies raised from the possibility of future litigation against the diocese. The foundation will be directed principally by lay leaders from across the diocese. They will be responsible for an annual accounting for foundation monies and programs funded.

Q: Will my parish share in the funds raised?

A: Yes. For standard campaigns, a parish will retain 20 percent of all funds raised up to the goal. Once a parish reaches its goal, the parish will share 50 percent of all funds raised over the goal. The indirect return of funds will come through initiatives designed to achieve goals and objective outlined in the pastoral planning process.

For combined campaigns, 100 percent of the standard goal will be directed to the pastoral plan and 100 percent of funds raised over the standard goal and up to the combined goal will be invested in the parish. A parish will share 50 percent of all funds raised over the combined goal.

Q: When will our parish see this money?

A: Parishes will begin receiving their share of the funds raised on a monthly basis immediately following the conclusion of their campaign.

Q: What is the effect of the capital campaign upon parish offertory and the Catholic Sharing Appeal?

A: Historically, the offertory has not been negatively affected by capital campaigns. In fact, offertory typically increases following the effort as a direct result of a successful capital campaign. The Catholic Sharing Appeal should also not be adversely affected. If a need is clearly articulated and people are asked to support this need, people will respond generously.

Q: How will stewardship be incorporated into the campaign’s objectives?

A: The capital campaign is based upon principles of stewardship. The campaign will ask parishioners to give their time, talent and treasure in the spirit of increased financial gifts in the short term and increased commitment to stewardship in the long term.

The campaign also presents a special opportunity for evangelization, with clergy and laity working together as one church. Parish volunteers will be speaking with fellow parishioners about the needs of the parish and the diocese. Parishioners will develop a better understanding of what our diocese currently does and its obligations to the faith community. This often leads to greater involvement and support.

Q: Why don’t we ask everyone for $1,000 and we’ll have our goal?

A: Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith subscribes to the values of Christian stewardship, which asks each family to consider gifts of equal sacrifice, not equal amounts.

Q: The campaign plan won’t work here … this parish is unique.

A: Every parish is unique, but there are also many similarities that enable each and every parish to succeed when they follow the plan. Experience has proven to us and other parishioners around the country that the plan works regardless of the demographic and socioeconomic situation of the parish. In addition, every parish is assigned a goal unique to their own capacity for support.

Q: Why is each donor asked to complete a commitment card?

A: A donor is asked to complete a commitment card so that the gift may be appropriately recorded and acknowledged, and so that the diocese can provide an accurate plan of intent. Important information documented on a commitment card includes the total amount of the commitment, the amount of the initial payment, the commitment balance and the payment plan selected by the donor. Donors are asked to sign pledge cards to indicate that they have agreed to the terms of the gift indicated on the card. A pledge card is not a legally binding document, and donors are not required to sign a pledge card.

Q: Why is an initial payment of 10 percent of the total pledge encouraged?

A: Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith asks for an initial payment to begin a pledge. It helps by increasing initial cash reserves that will be deposited in an interest-bearing account. Many donors prefer to begin their pledges immediately. Some may even give more than the suggested 10 percent. However, an initial payment of 10 percent is not required. A donor may elect to give less than 10 percent or nothing at all.

Q: To whom should the initial and subsequent payment checks be made out?

A: All payments should be made out to The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Florida.

Q: How should subsequent payments be made?

A: A donor may choose to pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually or according to a special schedule of their choosing. A complete redemption booklet will be provided by the diocese according to the donor’s chosen schedule.

Q: To what extent will gifts be tax-deductible?

A: Gifts to Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The application of such laws varies with individual financial circumstances. Parishioners with specific questions regarding tax deductibility should contact their attorney or accountant.

Q: How can a parishioner make a gift of stock to Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith?

A: A donor may give stock to the campaign if he/she has in their possession the actual stock certificates, or if a brokerage firm or financial institution holds the stock. Stock transfer instructions are available from your parish’s campaign director or from the campaign office at 850-435-3530. The campaign office can also work with individuals regarding gifts of real estate or other assets.

Q: What happens if a donor is unable to fulfill a commitment made to Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith?

A: While we hope that all commitments are made with the intention of being fulfilled, a donor who becomes unable to fulfill a commitment to Sharing The Vision — Growing In Faith, even temporarily, is encouraged to contact the Campaign Office to explore viable options.