"Bringing the Vision to Life" is an aggressive three-year fund raising effort that seeks to address two very pressing needs.  First, the campaign will provide the resources necessary to build two new elementary schools.  One is to be located in Glasgow, Delaware and the other in Berlin, Maryland. Both areas are experiencing an increase in population at a dramatic rate and are completely absent of Catholic schools. In addition to these new facilities, the diocese plans to expand St. Thomas More Academy.

Coupled with the need to provide additional education facilities, are the pressing needs of the 56 diocesan parishes.  Church buildings and religious education centers throughout the diocese are bursting at the seams in an effort to accommodate their growing faith communities, and many of the older buildings are in dire need of repair and improvement.

"Bringing the Vision to Life" will seek to raise a minimum of $50 million to satisfy specific needs throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A minimum of $30 million will be raised for capital and other needs of parishes including construction, renovation and maintenance of parishes, schools and religious education centers. In addition, the campaign will raise a minimum of $20 million in capital funds to build two new regional elementary schools and to expand the facilities at St. Thomas More Academy.

As a general rule, a base goal will be set for all parishes at one and one half times their annual offertory income.  RSI-Ketchum consultants will work with each parish as programs are initiated to set challenge goals if the parish needs to raise more than the base goal for its local needs or if it is evident that the capacity to raise funds is higher. A ceiling for challenge goals will be set at two times annual offertory income..

Forty percent of moneys raised up to the base goal will be shared with the diocese with sixty percent staying in the parish. Twenty percent of moneys raised up to the challenge goal will be shared with the diocese with eighty percent staying in the parish. One hundred percent of the moneys raised beyond the challenge goal remains in the parish.

Parish campaigns have been divided into four "waves." The first wave, with 13 parishes involved, began campaign preparations in December 2000 and concluded with solicitation in June of 2001. The second wave, consisting of 14 parishes, completed solicitation efforts in January 2002. Sixteen (16) Wave III parishes began campaigns in December 2001 with the major portion of solicitation efforts concluding June 2002. The fourth and final Wave has begun preparatory work with parishioner solicitation scheduled for November/December 2002.

Everyone will be asked to consider making a three-year pledge. However, pledges of $5,000 or more can be paid over five years.

Each parish will be assigned an experienced campaign consultant from RSI-Ketchum, Inc. Each consultant will work with the local parish leadership serving as a campaign "coach" responsible for the overall campaign plan and for specific resources and training materials tailored to the needs of each parish.  Consultants will work with parish leaders to develop local case statements for each parish.  These will be combined with elements of the larger diocesan "case" to be incorporated into individual parish brochures.

An objective of "Bringing the Vision to Life" is to encourage every Catholic to consider including the Church in his/her estate plan.  Parish case statements and communication materials will inform parishioners about the ways of giving, including planned gifts.  The pledge form will also allow donors to request information about planned giving or to notify the parish and/or diocese that a planned gift has already been made.

All questions about "Bringing the Vision to Life" should be directed to Philip A. Belt, Development Director, Diocese of Wilmington, (302) 573-3121.

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