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	Catholic Officials Finding Tough Times Boost Fundraising Increases: Economy Has Meant Fewer Donations but They Are for Larger Amounts. Associated Press, carried in Anchorage Daily News August 1, 2009 http://www.adn.com/life/religion/story/884943.html CINCINNATI — Frank Berning, a lifelong Roman Catholic, has increased his church giving as the economy drooped. "I always try to contribute what's possible, and our priest stressed that there are unemployed people in our parish," the 77-year-old Cincinnati man said. "There was a time I didn't have a penny to give. Now that I do, I try to help pick up the slack for those who can't give." Berning doesn't disclose donation amounts. Many factors, including diocese size and location, the ways appeals are presented and the strength of parishioner support can affect church fundraising. But Roman Catholic leaders believe the tough economy is helping their annual fund drives this year as hard times hit people closer to home. Fundraising or the size of gifts is up in Cincinnati and some other cities. Even those reporting flatter donations feel fortunate not to be losing ground like many charitable organizations are. Jim Caldarola, stewardship and development director for the Anchorage Archdiocese in Alaska, said participation is down a bit in one of the country's smallest dioceses, but the average gift has increased about 15 percent and they are confident of reaching their goal. Greg Magnoni, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Seattle said, "We asked that people consider giving $50 more for those out of work and unable to give. The number of people giving is up, and the average gift is way up this year." The Seattle Archdiocese expects to receive more than $13 million this year compared with about $12 million in 2008. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati raised $3.4 million — below the more than $4 million collected in 2001 but almost $1 million more than last year. The campaigns provide for a variety of charities and ministries that generally include areas such as social services, counseling and adoption services, pension and health care for priests and Catholic schools, said Michael Vanderburgh, director of the Cincinnati Archdiocese's stewardship department. Charitable giving in 2008 was down about 2 percent, according to a report in June by Giving USA Foundation. Social-service charities were particularly hard-hit, but religious organizations — including houses of worship — even then showed about a 5.5 percent growth over 2007. The report predicted tough times continuing this year for many charities. "I think many people realize that dioceses and churches, unlike some other organizations, usually don't have sources of support other than parishioners," said George Ruotolo, chairman and CEO of Cresskill, N.J.-based Ruotolo Associates Inc. and former chairman of Giving USA. The Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island raised $7.8 million in its 2009 appeal, about $17,000 more than last year in a state where the June unemployment rate of 12.4 percent was the country's second-highest. The Chicago Archdiocese — about halfway through its annual drive — was running about $1 million ahead of this time last year. National numbers are unavailable because some of the nearly 200 dioceses in the United States haven't finished their drives. "People are seeing family members and neighbors who are losing jobs and struggling," said Tom Mullen, president of Catholic Charities for the Cleveland Diocese, which is tracking about $300,000 ahead of July 2008. "It's beyond just the 'haves and have-nots.'" The president of Joliet, Ill.-based Bannon Associates Inc., a fundraising and planning consultant for several Catholic dioceses, says many dioceses and parishes are doing a better job of getting the message out. "They're communicating how important it is to band together when the going gets tough and that those more fortunate should give back in gratitude," William J. Bannon said. Pastors also have stepped up their fundraising efforts. Rather than just putting something in parish bulletins or having lay people make announcements, more pastors are training to do more appeals themselves. "In one archdiocese just starting that, gifts in pews went from $3,400 last year to $25,000 this year," Bannon said.
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