Development
Fund Raising Policies and Guidelines
With the few exception provided for under Canon Law, all fund raising activities within the diocese by diocesan entities and for “… any pious or ecclesiastical institute or purpose…” require the prior written permission of the Bishop. The Bishop’s Office has delegated responsibility for reviewing requests and proposals, and making recommendations to him, to the Diocesan Stewardship and Development Office.
Diocesan entities receiving HOPE Appeal Funds
As a general rule, diocesan programs and ministries receiving funding from the HOPE Appeal do not conduct fund raising projects independent of the HOPE Campaign. Any exceptions to this practice must be submitted to the Development Office for review and have the prior written consent of the Bishop. Exceptions are individual Catholic Schools and county specific Catholic Charities, when such fund raising projects are included in annual work plans. However, if fundraising projects extend beyond the normal service area, overlap other diocesan institutions or are proposed during the HOPE Appeal black out period, prior approval is required.
HOPE Appeal “Black-out” period:
Fund raising during the six weeks preceding and the six weeks following HOPE Appeal Sunday has been restricted to the HOPE Appeal. HOPE Sunday is generally the third Sunday in May. Exceptions to this policy may be requested through the Stewardship and Development Office.
Capital Campaigns
All Capital Campaigns require prior written approval from the Bishop’s Office. Specific guidelines exist for Parishes and certain other Diocesan entities. Consultation with the Stewardship and Development Office is recommended early in the planning process for Capital Campaigns
Approved March 14, 2004
ESSENTIAL NORMS - FUNDRAISING=
May 2, 2007
Wherefore, and in accord with the prescripts of canon 1262, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decrees that the following norms shall govern fund-raising appeals to the faithful for Church support:
Motivation
Fund-raising appeals are to be truthful and forthright, theologically sound, and should strive to motivate the faithful to a greater love of God and neighbor.
Fund-raising efforts are to be for defined needs.
The relationship of trust between donor and fund-raiser requires that
funds collected be used for their intended purposes;
funds collected are not absorbed by excessive fund-raising costs.
Donors are to be informed regarding the use of donated funds and assured that any restrictions on the use of the funds by the donor will be honored.
Competent Ecclesiastical Authority
Institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life require approval of the respective competent major superiors and the diocesan bishop to solicit funds; diocesan entities require approval of the diocesan bishop to solicit funds; other Catholic entities and organizations require the approval of the diocesan bishop to solicit funds.
Approval for fund-raising by the competent authority is to be given in writing with reference to the purpose for which the funds are being raised, the time frame, and the methods to be used in raising them.
Oversight of fund-raising programs is to be maintained by competent authority through periodic review and, where necessary, appropriate sanction.
Competent major superiors of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life are to submit to the diocesan bishop of the place where the fund-raising originates periodic reports on the fund-raising programs and the apostolic activities they support.
Accountability
Fund-raisers are to provide regular reports to competent authority on the extent to which promises expressed or implied in the solicitation of funds have been fulfilled.
Fund-raising reports are to be prepared in scope and design to meet the particular concerns of those to whom the reports are due:
the governing body and membership of the fund-raising organization;
the competent authorities who approved and monitor the fund-raising effort;
the donors to the organization;
the beneficiaries of the funds raised.
Annual fund-raising reports are to provide both financial information and a review of the apostolic work for which the funds were raised. They are to set forth, at the least, the amount of money collected, the cost of conducting the fund-raising effort, and the amount and use of the funds disbursed.
Procedures
Funds beyond operating expenses are not to be accumulated or invested by a fund-raising office, but are to be turned over to the appropriate office for allocation and investment.
Special care is to be taken to see that ethical business relationships are maintained by fund-raisers with suppliers of goods and services.
Contracts between a religious fund-raiser and commercial suppliers and consultants are to insure that control over materials, designs, money and general operations remain in the hands of the religious fund-raiser.
Agreements are not to be made which directly or indirectly base payment either to the commercial firm or to the religious fund-raiser on a percentage basis.
Oversight
Competent authority is to ensure that fund-raising organizations:
make available fund-raising reports to benefactors on a regular basis or upon reasonable request:
provide their governing bodies with an annual financial statement prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, where size warrants, by a certified public accountant.
In response to formal complaints, competent authority is to promptly investigate charges, remedy abuses and, when necessary, terminate the fund-raising program.