#iGiveCatholic Giving Day Scheduled for Nov. 30

The Diocese of Baton Rouge is joining more than 30 dioceses from around the country participating in the annual #iGiveCatholic fundraising campaign.

#iGiveCatholic is scheduled Nov. 30, from midnight to 11:59 p.m., with a combined 11 diocesan church parishes and organizations participating.

“(The campaign) makes a good impact,” said Tamika Edwards-Raby, coordinator of stewardship services for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. “It helps the parishes and organizations to have a hands-on experience with raising money for their projects. Once they are able to raise the funds it gives them a boost because it makes them feel good they did their part in helping further their mission. 

“It’s not a handout but they are actually doing the work, and I think that says a lot.”

#iGiveCatholic provides opportunities to donate to one of the parishes or organizations participating. Traditionally each participant has a specific project for which they are raising  funds. 

One of the new participants this year is St. Paul Church in Baton Rouge, which will dedicate whatever money is raised to youth ministry to be used for catechism and youth initiatives.
“It is the first time we have seen something for youth,” said Edwards-Raby.

St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge is hoping to purchase original Stations of the Cross to be placed inside the church. LED lighting is the project for St. Jean Vianney Church is Baton Rouge.

“History has shown that it is more effective to have a project in place (for the campaign),” Edwards-Raby said. “Identifying a specific need is helpful because it gives you something to focus on. That way you are not all over the place trying to figure out the strategy for your campaign.”

 

Edwards-Raby also pointed out that participating for the first time is the International Institute of Culture and Gender Studies, which she said is a group of theologians, priests and lay people with its mission as working to define gender roles within the Catholic community and study gender issues as it relates to Catholicism.

Originally launched in the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2015, the #iGiveCatholic campaign had raised nearly $33 million nationally. 

The Diocese of Baton Rouge participated for the first time in 2016 and in three years had topped $100,000. In 2019, a record was established with $122,450 raised but because of the COVID-19 pandemic the total dropped to $99,653 a year ago.

Edwards-Raby said the goal is to top $100,000 this year. 

Nationally, in 2020, #iGiveCatholic raised nearly $13 million from 48,273 donors in all 50 states and 12 countries to support more than 2,600 parishes, schools and nonprofit ministries.

Edwards-Raby and Office of Stewardship Director Gwen Fairchild assists organizations and churches to set up their campaign page and  answer technical questions, such as those that might arise during the registration process. She also proposes ideas of what a parish, school or organization could do, such as posting videos on their pages or having them focus on a need in their parish.

She and Fairchild have also started visiting parishes to encourage them to participate. 

“We have not noticed much of a decline but are looking to build the registration more,” Edwards-Raby said. “Each year we strive to get more organizations to participate but find a lot of them feel intimidated  by the process.” 

The advanced giving day phase begins Nov. 15 and  runs through Nov. 29.

To explore the various organization IGC webpages visit: batonrouge.igivecatholic.org/, and scroll down to the section “Search for A Ministry to Support,” click on “View All.”