Frequently
Asked Questions
Campaign Purpose and Connection
1. How does this campaign connect to the Jubilee year?
In December 2024, Pope Francis declared a Year of Jubilee, an event that occurs traditionally every 25 years. In Calgary, Bishop McGrattan announced that this Jubilee year will mark the beginning of a transformational and first-of-its-kind matching campaign. The Diocese will match $12M raised by parishes.
2. Does the Biblical tradition of debt forgiveness apply here?
While the Jubilee year is historically associated with debt relief, the Diocese simply cannot afford to forgive parish mortgage debts without making it equitable with other parishes. Additionally, the overall debt load of the parish’s current mortgages and urgent repairs far exceeds the current available funds. Instead, the Diocese is offering a $12M match to partner with parishes in raising what will contribute to improved long-term sustainability, so they can focus on the essential mission of Christ: evangelization.
3. What is the overall goal of the campaign?
The campaign has two main objectives:
- To help parishes with mortgage debt to reduce their loan balances.
- To help parishes without debt grow their Repairs and Maintenance Fund to prepare for future needs.
4. Where is the Diocese’s $12M match coming from?
The funds come from the Diocese’s reserves. This campaign represents a unique opportunity to redirect some of these reserves toward strengthening parish sustainability.
Parish Benefits and Incentives
5. How much of what we raise comes back to our parish?
For parishes without loans, every eligible dollar raised is matched up to the target goal and with the funds held in their Central Fund Savings account at the Diocese for tracking and matching purposes. Parishes access these funds as they normally would.
For parishes with loans, eligible funds raised are matched to the target goal and will go against their loan balance.
6. What if our parish is not in debt and usually raises funds “as things break”?
While this may have worked well with parishes and with parishioners of the older generations, this type of emergency fundraising is unsustainable with the changing demographics and is not aligned with fiscal and facility management best practices. Most parishioners now expect their parishes to plan and operate within their means and to save for anticipated repairs just like they do in their own homes. Requesting funds “as things break” can negatively impact parishioners as the litany of repairs gets longer, create donor fatigue, and raise questions about ineffective planning. Having a designated Repairs and Maintenance Fund shows foresight, reassures donors, and ensures future stability—especially as the parish donor base ages.
7. What incentive can we give parishioners when asking them to help pay off mortgage debt?
This is not “just” paying off a mortgage—it is the home of their faith community. By helping to retire this debt, parishioners ensure their church can focus more resources on emerging ministry needs and less on financial burdens.
8. What incentive is there for parishioners to contribute to a Repairs and Maintenance Fund?
This fund accrues interest, providing an increased annual return to the parish. More importantly, it allows proactive planning, prevents constant emergency requests, and ensures repairs can be handled quickly and responsibly. Your parish is the home of your parishioners’ faith community – donations for this fund help ensure the parish is well maintained and can deal with emergency repairs quickly making it a welcoming place to celebrate faith.
9. If our parish has no debt or major needs right now, why participate?
All parish buildings age. Even newer ones have encountered unexpected and costly repairs. This campaign is about preparing for the future, ensuring every parish benefits by ensuring long-term reserves. It’s also important to remember that this Diocesan matching initiative may not be available in the future. Inspire and encourage your congregation today to take advantage of this unique opportunity so that funds are available when they are most needed.
Many long-time parishioners, who have been blessed by the parish over the years, may also feel called to help secure its future. For some, this may be an ideal moment to offer meaningful financial support that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Match Mechanics
10. How does the matching work?
The Diocese calculates an equitable match for each parish with or without a loan. Parishes must first meet their annual operating budget (annual operating budget + TIA target + loan payments, where applicable) to be eligible for these matching funds. Only funds raised beyond that amount will be eligible for a match, up to each parish’s pre-determined target goal.
11. What is our parish’s match allocation?
- Parishes with loans: 15% of the outstanding loan balance as of December 31, 2024 is eligible.
- Parishes without loans: The matching formula is based on the ratio of the parish’s 2025 insured replacement cost value of their properties compared to the overall insured value of all diocesan properties. Details of this formula were communicated by the Diocese earlier this year.
12. What if we raise more than our match allocation?
Parishes are encouraged to fundraise beyond their matching amount. Any funds above the pre-determined matching amount are still eligible as a charitable contribution and belong to your parish – either to pay down loans or to further build your Repairs and Maintenance Fund. At this time, funds raised over your parish’s matching amount will not be matched, however they still belong to the parish.
13. What if a donor wants their gift matched but we haven’t met our operating budget?
The operating budget must be met first. For example, if a parish has a $10K deficit and receives a $50K gift, only $40K is eligible for the match. Donors can choose to help cover the deficit, or the parish can raise the shortfall elsewhere before the full gift is matched.
14. When will the matched funds be allocated to the parishes?
The matched funds will be allocated to parishes once they have finalized their year-end and completed their annual reports. At that point, the Diocese will review each parish to ensure that the matching criteria have been met — specifically, that the parish has achieved its annual operating budget, met its TIA target, and made any required annual loan payments.
If all conditions are satisfied, the Diocese will then match up to the parish’s pre-determined matching amount. These funds will either be applied directly to the parish’s loan account or deposited into the Central Fund savings account designated for repairs and maintenance.
Timeline and Participation
15. What is the campaign timeline?
The campaign runs from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027. This three-year window allows sufficient time for all parishes, regardless of when they begin and recognizes fundraising efforts already initiated or received since the beginning of the current calendar year. Importantly, parishes that have already started to raise funds towards this matching program from January 1, 2025 will have the qualifying (above operating budget) gifts matched.
16. What happens if our parish does not meet its target?
The Diocese understands some parishes may struggle. That is why ViTreo, our fundraising consultants, has been engaged to provide strategic support and fundraising guidance. Your targets are attainable and extra support will be provided as needed.
17. Is participation mandatory?
No. While the Diocese is encouraging every parish to participate, the campaign is designed for the benefit of parishes, not the Diocese itself.
18. Do we have to support other parishes with our funds?
No. Supporting other parishes is voluntary. However, some parishes and donors may choose to extend generosity to parishes in need. As an expression of faith, it is encouraged that parishes who have greater financial capacity to consider making a financial investment in those who struggle financially.
19. What happens after the campaign ends?
This initiative is meant as a first step toward long-term parish sustainability. The debt and repair burden across the Diocese is significant. This campaign lays the groundwork for ongoing financial stewardship and resilience.
Parishioner Concerns
20. How is this different from Together in Action (TIA) or other Diocesan initiatives?
This campaign is parish focused. Funds raised remain with each parish for debt retirement and sustainability. Unlike TIA, this is not about supporting broader diocesan initiatives. This is about your parish and your congregation.
21. Why are the funds restricted to debt repayment and repairs?
These two areas are the most urgent and universal across the Diocese. Ensuring every parish is structurally and financially sound comes before other projects. Once stability is secured, parishes will be better positioned to fundraise for other initiatives such as new programs, staff, new buildings, renovations, etc.
22. How will messaging avoid donor alienation?
ViTreo Group Inc. is preparing a case for support that ensures clear, transparent, and compelling communication with parishioners and donors. They are working closely with Diocesan staff to ensure all messaging is aligned with this communications approach.
Leadership, Support, and Accountability
23. Who will lead the fundraising in each parish?
The parish priest(s) will be closely involved, but day-to-day leadership needs to come from a volunteer committee. Ideally, representatives from the Finance and Parish Councils, supported by additional volunteers as needed, will lead the effort.
24. What if our parish lacks leadership or volunteers?
ViTreo will help parishes recruit and inspire volunteers. Strong pastoral and community support will be key to motivating involvement.
25. What support will ViTreo provide?
- Monthly drop-in Zoom meetings for Q&A, fundraising coaching, and peer sharing.
- Printed and digital Toolkits filled with fundraising resources.
- 1:1 support through phone, email, virtual, and/or in-person meetings are available to you and members of your fundraising team.
- Coaching, mentoring, and encouragement as needed!
26. Do we have to pay for ViTreo Group’s services?
No. These fees are covered by the Diocese. Individual parishes are only responsible for local costs such as printing or event expenses.
27. What are the reporting and accountability measures?
Dedicated General Ledger (GL) accounts established by the Diocese will track individual parish contributions. The amounts to be matched will be determined at the end of the year. You may also refer back to question #14.
Giving and Stewardship
28. How can parishioners give?
Parishioners can continue giving as they normally do at the parish – online, by cheque, e-transfer, EFT, cash and through donations of stocks. Donations can be committed on a pledge basis, whether monthly, semi-annually or each year, for the duration of the campaign. This will encourage donors to consider a larger overall gift, rather than donating a lump sum, and is still eligible for matching. All pledges made during the campaign must be received in full by December 31st, 2027 to be eligible for matching. The parish issues tax receipts and deposits funds into its bank accounts, recording all funds in the parish accounting system using the designated GL accounts for accurate tracking and reporting.
29. Is there a tax on what we raise through our parish?
No. There is no cathedraticum or “tax” applied to these campaign funds. Every dollar amount raised belongs to the parish.
30. Will gifts be tax receipted?
Yes. As with all parish donations, gifts are fully eligible for charitable tax purposes.
31. How will donors be recognized?
ViTreo will provide stewardship toolkits, including digital thank-you note templates and strategies for recognizing and engaging donors at all levels.
32. Who is ViTreo?
ViTreo is a national fundraising consultancy based in Calgary with 30 team members in the agency. They have been involved in many of Calgary’s signature fundraising projects including the National Music Centre, the new Central Library, the YW Affordable Homes project, the RESOLVE Campaign to end homelessness, and Calgary’s three newest YMCAs.
Two ViTreo consultants will provide direct support to the parishes: Ron Smith and Olga Krochak. They are working alongside ViTreo’s CEO Vincent Duckworth and Senior Counsel Michael Donlevy who will be providing regular strategic counsel to the Diocese.
33. If I have questions for ViTreo about Multiply the Hope, how do I reach them?
You can ask your question online here: https://forms.gle/SmQavcMxCG8K7yyi8
Or reach out to: Ron Smith 403-236-6767 ron@vitreogroup.ca
Multiply the Hope Campaign
Program Overview
- The Diocese will commit up to $12 million over three years (2025–2027) to support parish renewal and long-term sustainability.
- $6 million will be allocated to parishes with existing loans, matching funds raised beyond their regular loan obligations.
- $6 million will be allocated to parishes without loans, matching funds raised based on their 2025 insurance schedule replacement cost values.
- All matched funds will be directed to Parish Repairs & Maintenance Funds to support long-term asset care.
Eligibility & Funding Conditions
- Funds raised through this campaign will not be subject to cathedraticum.
- To qualify for matching, parishes must first meet all annual operating obligations, including:
- Annual operating budget
- TIA target
- Loan payments (where applicable)
- Only funds raised above these annual obligations will be eligible for diocesan matching, up to each parish’s pre-determined goal.
- All eligible funds will be held in a dedicated “in trust – Multiply the Hope” account to ensure transparency and accountability.
Matching Process & Oversight
- The Diocese will issue matching payments as a lump sum at the end of each calendar year, once parishes finalize year-end reporting.
- Reports will be reviewed to verify eligibility and compliance with matching requirements.
- Upon approval, matching funds will be applied up to the parish’s established goal.
- Funds will be directed either:
- To the parish’s loan account, or
- Deposited into the parish’s Central Fund Savings Account designated for repairs and maintenance.
The program will be reviewed annually to assess progress and make any necessary adjustments.
