FAQ


How do I find the ministry that I want to donate to?

How do I make a donation during #iGiveCatholic?


About Us


Celebrated annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, #iGiveCatholic is the U.S. Catholic Church’s Giving Day that kicks off the charitable season and brings the Catholic community together to give thanks and give back. As the first-ever giving day created to celebrate our unique Catholic heritage, #iGiveCatholic inspires faithful stewards to "Give Catholic" on #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving.

Declared “the most successful Catholic crowdfunding event to date” by the National Catholic Register, the goal of the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day is to rally our Catholic community in support of the organizations that shape our souls: Our parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries. Secure, tax-deductible donations to eligible Catholic organizations located in participating arch/dioceses can be made at iGiveCatholic.org during our Advanced Giving Day Phase beginning at 12:00 AM on November 15, continuing right into #GivingTuesday, November 30, and ending at 11:59 PM.

In 2020, the sixth year of the campaign raised more than $12.7 million for 2,600+ participating parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries representing the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), Ministries across the U.S., and 40 arch/dioceses across the country. At the close of the 24-hour giving period, the number of contributions both online and offline totaled more than 48,000 gifts from 50 states and 12 countries.

#iGiveCatholic is a bishop-led initiative in partnership with lay leaders in Catholic philanthropy. View our most recent 990 document here.

Directors: Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond (chairman), His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, and Most Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz

Officers: Cory J. Howat (president), Scott Whitaker (vice-president), and Regina Templet (secretary/treasurer)

Staff: Julie Kenny (national program director) and Carla Mischel (program associate)

Senior Advisors: Josephine Everly and Callie Combs Kamath


General

Q. How do I find the ministry that I want to donate to?

For more information on how to search for and find the school, parish, or ministry that you would like to donate to -  check out this support article


Q. What is #iGiveCatholic?

#iGiveCatholic is a giving day event that provides our Catholic parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries the opportunity to connect with their current donors, reconnect with past supporters, and establish relationships with new donors.

It is also an opportunity for Catholics to affirm our faith as disciples of Jesus Christ by sharing our gifts out of love for God and one another. The goal of #iGiveCatholic is to inspire the Catholic community to come together as faithful stewards and to "Give Catholic" on #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back.

You can see our most recent 990 here.


Q. Who can participate in the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day?

All 501(c)3 parishes, schools, and Catholic-serving ministries listed in the Official Catholic Directory and/or affiliated with a participating group or arch/diocese or Catholic foundation are eligible to participate in the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day. Please consult your arch/dioceses’ or Catholic foundation point person for more information, or #iGiveCatholic National Program Director, Julie Kenny at julie@igivecatholic.org.


Q. When is #iGiveCatholic?

This year, #iGiveCatholic takes place on Tuesday, November 30, from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM  with our Advanced Giving Day Phase beginning at 12:00 AM on Monday, November 15 and running right through the Giving Day.


Q. How does it work?

#iGiveCatholic uses a giving platform with specific built-in fundraising features for Giving Days, including leaderboards and searchable profiles of participating parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries from participating dioceses to accept online or offline donations. All online donations will be processed through iGiveCatholic.organd offline gifts of cash or check can be mailed or taken directly to the organization the donor chooses to support during the giving period. Anyone can donate to his or her favorite ministry during the giving period, and can track the progress of their favorite organization through the online leaderboards at igivecatholic.org.


Q. Why host a Catholic Giving Day on #GivingTuesday?

We have a day for giving thanks, or Thanksgiving. We have two days for purchasing gifts for loved ones – Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And now we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back out of gratitude for all we have received.

On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, individuals and organizations around the world will come together for one common purpose: To celebrate generosity, live generously and to give.

For Catholics, generosity and giving have a profound meaning. As we reflect with grateful hearts on how blessed we are, we naturally want to give back to God from our deep sense of gratitude. Compelled to action by our grateful compassion, we unite on this #iGiveCatholic giving day, sharing what we have to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, and preserve our Catholic heritage for future generations.


Q. How can I stay up to date on what's happening?

You can see our totals on November 30 here. News and updates will be posted regularly to #iGiveCatholic’s social media sites:


Q. Are there sponsorship and funding opportunities?

Yes! If your organization would like to join us as a global #iGiveCatholic Giving Day sponsor or funder, contact julie@igivecatholic.org for more information. Or, if you would like to sponsor a national group such as NCEA, or a local arch/diocesan or foundation effort, you can contact the point person listed at the bottom of the NCEA,  arch/diocesan or foundation landing page. We have several great opportunities for organizations to get involved! 


For Parishes/Schools/Not-for-profit Ministries

Q. What organizations are eligible for #iGiveCatholic?

All 501(c)3 parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries affiliated with a participating diocese are eligible to participate in the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day. In addition, Catholic Schools located in arch/dioceses not participating, are eligible to participate through our partnership with NCEA. Please consult your arch/diocesan or foundation contact person for more information, or Carla Mischel at carla@igivecatholic.org

If you are a member of a Catholic university, health care organization, or national ministry, you may participate under our National Ministries page. Contact Julie Kenny at julie@igivecatholic.org or Carla Mischel (see above) for more information.


Q. Does a parish/school/ministry/not-for-profit within a participating diocese have to pay a participation or set-up fee for the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day?

No, participation in the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day is a gift to the community from the sponsoring group, arch/diocese or Catholic foundation and parishes, schools and ministries pay no set-up fee.


Q. How do I register my organization to participate?

Eligible organizations in participating arch/dioceses should contact their arch/diocesan or foundation point person to ensure they receive the invitation email on August 16, the day registration opens. Once you receive the email, it will contain a link to the group or arch/diocesan or foundation landing page where you will click "Apply Now", search to find your organization (if your organization has participated before), or "Add My Ministry" if you are new. You will need to answer several registration questions, and then your application will be "pending" until approved by the group, arch/diocesan or foundation point person, typically within a few working days.

The organization MUST be approved to participate before registration closes at 11:59 PM on November 3, 2021.

No organizations will be permitted to register after November 3.

Once registered, the organization can begin customizing their #iGiveCatholic Giving Day profile page, and, if required, enter their bank account information for gift acceptance.

Questions?  How-to articles on registering and completing your profile are located on the Resources page under the Menu option of the website. We also recommend asking questions by clicking on the blue chat bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the web page and typing your question! You may also email your question to our tech support team at questions@igivecatholic.org.


Q. Do organizations receive training?

Yes! Two live training webinars will be held on August 24 and November 3 at 3:00 pm Eastern. We will record these sessions and make the links available on our website Trainings page. Additionally, you can find a series of pre-recorded training webinars on our website, along with other recordings, here.   We strongly suggest that you participate in or view these recorded webinars as they will help guide you and your organization to having a successful giving day. Additional training might be offered by participating arch/dioceses or foundations. Please consult your group or arch/diocesan or foundation contact person for more information.


Q. When will my organization receive its donations?

If you enter the banking information in your online registration profile, and your account is verified, your organization will receive all donations via ACH distribution into your account within five (5) business days of the gift. If your organization is being fiscally sponsored by your group or arch/diocese or foundation, meaning you do not have a viable bank account with which to receive funds via ACH or your arch/diocese or foundation has indicated that it will accept donations on behalf of participating organizations, you will be sent your donations from the arch/diocese or foundation within 60 days of the Giving Day.


Q. Does my organization need to send letters to online donors for their tax deduction?

No. Online donors immediately receive an email from #iGiveCatholic confirming their gift. Note that all donations must be 100% tax deductible (no additional benefits.) However, this tax deduction form is not a "thank you." By registering to participate in #iGiveCatholic, organizations agree to thank donors within seven working days, and may extend their gratitude through any medium they like, including thank you letters, phone calls, or social media “shout outs.”


Q. Will my organization receive donor information for acknowledgements?

Yes. You have access to donor information during the Giving Day and afterward for a period of time within your GiveGab “Admin Dashboard” and can download the information to a .CSV file from a link that will be emailed to your organization email address on file, for security purposes. To log in to your Admin Dashboard, go to iGiveCatholic.org and click “Menu” in the top right hand corner of the page. A drop down menu will appear. Click “Log In” to enter your email and password. For more detailed step-by-step directions, click to read the support article here.

Organizations should thank all donors within seven business days of the Giving Day.


Q. How can I stay up to date on what's happening?

News and updates will be posted regularly to #iGiveCatholic’s social media sites:


Q. I have questions - who can answer them?

#iGiveCatholic has partnered with the giving day platform, GiveGab. On the iGiveCatholic.org website, click on the blue chat bubble at the bottom right-hand corner of any page and enter your question for the GiveGab tech support team. You can also email your question to questions@igivecatholic.org.


For Donors

Giving/Donor FAQs

Q. Who can donate?

Anyone can donate! Because it is so much easier for people to give online to their favorite ministry from wherever they are in the world, most people will donate by this method. However, donors are welcome to bring a donation of cash or check to their parish, school, or nonprofit ministry and the gift can still be entered and included in the leaderboard totals viewed online. Ministry administrators are responsible for adding offline donations to their totals as they are received. Donations via check or cash can be manually entered by organizations in their Admin Dashboard either as an offline gift or as a matching fund. Donor-Advised Fund holders at participating diocesan foundations may recommend grants from their funds as their #iGiveCatholic donation. 


Q. What forms of donations are accepted?

MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express donations will be accepted through the #iGiveCatholic website, or through Mobile Wallet if donating from a mobile device. In addition, donors giving $100 or more will have the option to pay by bank account debit (ACH).


Q. I will not have access to the internet on #iGiveCatholic giving day. Is there another time I can give?

Yes. For the convenience of donors, gifts may be made in advance for #iGiveCatholic. Between November 15 at 12:00 AM through November 29 at 11:59 PM, a donor can go to iGiveCatholic.org to make a gift during the Advanced Giving Day phase. Advanced gifts will be charged at the time of donation and credited to the participating organization's total right away.


Q. Are gifts tax-deductible?

Yes. All donations are tax-deductible and irrevocable and will be for the designated use of your chosen charity.


Q. Do online donors receive a tax receipt from the school, parish, ministry, or not-for-profit?

Online donors immediately receive an email tax receipt from #iGiveCatholic confirming their gift amount and organization designation. Note that all donations must be 100% tax deductible (no additional benefits.) Donors will be thanked by the organizations they supported within one week. If you do not receive an email tax receipt, check your email “spam” folder. You can also go back into your account and resend a receipt, or ask the organization you supported to resend you a receipt.


Q. Is there a minimum gift?

The minimum online donation is $20. However, gifts of check or cash in any amount are gladly accepted offline by our participating organizations, and can be mailed to them directly, or dropped off!


Q. Is there a maximum gift?

No, there is no maximum donation.


Q. Can a donor give to multiple organizations?

Yes! Donors have the option of donating to up to ten separate organizations all in one transaction through the Gift Basket option.


Q. How can I find my favorite organization on the website?

You can search for your organization during the Advanced Giving Day phase or on the Giving Day using the Search feature. For more information on other ways to find an organization, click here. If you can't find them on the iGiveCatholic.org website, they may not be participating in #iGiveCatholic this year, and we suggest contacting them directly.


Q. May I pay a pledge with my gift?

No, the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day is designed to generate new, one-time gifts.


Q. May I designate how a school, parish, ministry or not-for-profit uses my gift?

#iGiveCatholic Giving Day donations are considered unrestricted gifts to the chosen school, parish, or ministry, unless the participating organization has specified a particular project for this year’s #iGiveCatholic campaign.


Q. Are there fees associated with donations to #iGiveCatholic?

The convenience of donating through a Giving Day platform (with special features and extra security measures) means there are fees. The fees cover tech support, marketing materials, training, and other behind the scenes components enabling your chosen ministry to focus their time and effort on their mission. All online donations will be paid to the organization net the platform, ACH, and/or credit card transaction fees. ACH fees total 3.3% plus $3.00. Credit card transaction fees total 5.8% plus $0.30.  Donors have the option to cover these fees at the time of donation, and they will receive a tax deduction on the full donation amount. Offline gifts of cash and checks given directly to the organization incur no online transaction fees. Read more about how the fees assist your organization HERE.


Q. Can I make my donation using my cell phone?

Yes. The platform is mobile friendly! You can use a smartphone that allows you to make a credit/debit card purchases through the Mobile Wallet feature of the Giving Day platform. Launch the web browser on your phone and visit iGiveCatholic.org to donate.


Q. May I use my #iGiveCatholic Giving Day donation to buy event tickets, museum memberships or other things that provide me a benefit?

No, donations may not be used to pay for anything that might be perceived as a material benefit to the donor including dinner tickets, membership fees, golf fees, admission tickets, raffle tickets, event sponsorships, or other benefits.


Q. What if I notice a transaction error?

Donors who notice a credit card transaction error must notify #iGiveCatholic by emailing questions@iGiveCatholic.org within 30 days of the Giving Day.


Q. I have questions - who can answer them?

#iGiveCatholic has partnered with the Giving Day platform, GiveGab. On the iGiveCatholic.org website, click on the blue chat bubble on the bottom right-hand corner of any page and enter your question. You can also send your question by email to questions@igivecatholic.org.


Preguntas Frecuentas - Spanish Translation


Preguntas Frecuentas

Arch/Diocese/Foundation Partner Contacts

Questions for the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day Team? Please contact the following individuals in your foundation or at your arch/diocese for more information:

NCEA
John Login
Project Manager
memberservices@ncea.org
Archdiocese for the Military Services
Salvador Perez
Director of Advancement Office
advancement@milarch.org

Archdiocese of Atlanta
Juliet Greco
Director of Major and Planned Giving
The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia
jgreco@cfnga.org
Archdiocese of Mobile
Shannon Roh
Director of Development and Stewardship
Office for Development
sroh@mobarch.org

Archdiocese of New Orleans
Callie Combs Kamath
Director of Marketing & Communications
Catholic Community Foundation
ckamath@ccfnola.org
Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Elizabeth Dominick
Office of Stewardship
edominick@archdiosf.org

Archdiocese of St. Louis
Brian Niebrugge
Executive Director
niebruggeb@archstl.org
Archdiocese of Washington
Darlene Cruz 
Development Operations Manager
cruzd@adw.org

Diocese of Alexandria
Deacon Richard Mitchell
Director of Stewardship and Public Relations, and Vice Chancellor
dcnrmitchell@diocesealex.org
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Heather Foor
Director of Stewardship and Development
hfoor@diocsesaj.org

Diocese of Austin
Margaret Kappel
Associate Director, Stewardship
margaret-kappel@austindiocese.org
Diocese of Baton Rouge
Tamika Edwards Raby
Coordinator of Stewardship Services
traby@diobr.org

Diocese of Beaumont
Colton Morris
Associate Director of Stewardship and Development
cmorris@dioceseofbmt.org
Diocese of Biloxi
Dave Wyrwich
Director for the Office of Development
dwyrwich@biloxidiocese.org

Diocese of Camden
Stacy Napolitano
Special Events Coordinator
Stacy.napolitano@camdendiocese.org
Diocese of Cleveland
Linda Corcoran
Manager Donor Relations & Communications
Catholic Community Foundation
lcorcoran@catholiccommunity.org

Diocese of Charleston
Anne Durney
Senior Development Assistant
adurney@charlestondiocese.org
Diocese of Erie
Kathy Grisier
Development Associate
Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania
kgrisier@cfnwpa.org

Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Sarah Shively
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Catholic Community Foundation of Northeast Indiana
sshively@ccfnei.org
Diocese of Fort Worth
Wendy Collins
Director of Stewardship and Parish Relations
Advancement Foundation for the Diocese of Fort Worth
wcollins@adv-fdn.org

Diocese of Grand Island
Gary Fisher
Operations
gfisher@gidiocese.org
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Amy Ponson
Executive Director
The Catholic Foundation of Southeast Louisiana
aponson@htdiocese.org

Diocese of Jackson
Julia Williams
Assistant Development Director
julia.williams@jacksondiocese.org
Diocese of Knoxville
Allison DiGennaro
Assistant Director Stewardship and Strategic Planning
adigennaro@dioknox.org

Diocese of Lafayette
Margaret Trahan
Stewardship and Development Director
MTrahan@diolaf.org
Diocese of Lexington
Bobbi Silver
Director of Development
cbsilver@cdlex.org

Diocese of Marquette
Terri Gadzinski
Executive Director of Stewardship and Development
tgadzinski@dioceseofmarquette.org
Diocese of Memphis
Kari Olesen
Administrative Assistant to the Office of the Bishops
kari.olesen@cc.cdom.org

Diocese of Philadelphia
Mary Jo Rohrer
Relationship Manager
The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia
mjrohrer@TheCFGP.org
Diocese of Reno
Carmen Godoy
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Diocese of Reno
CarmenG@catholicreno.org

Diocese of Richmond
Joy Bowes
Administrative Assistant to the Diocese of Richmond
jbowes@richmonddiocese.org
Diocese of St. Augustine
Kim Howard
Planned Giving Coordinator at the Foundation
khoward@dosafl.com

Diocese of Salina
Katie Platten
Director, Office of Stewardship and Development
Katie.Platten@salinadiocese.org
Diocese of San Angelo
Mercedez Rassi
Director of Stewardship & Development
mrassi@sanangelodiocese.org

Diocese of Scranton
Sandra Synder
Director of Foundation Relations and Special Events
Sandra-Snyder@dioceseofscranton.org
Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Doug Kissinger
Director of Development & Properties
dkissinger@dioscg.org

Diocese of Steubenville
Shannon Minch-Hughes
DPSC Planning Team Member and Victory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Society Coordinator
shughes@diosteub.org
Diocese of Tulsa
Katie Neal
Administrative Assistant
katieneal@dioceseoftulsa.org

Diocese of Wichita
Sandy Lessor
Planned Giving Coordinator
lessors@catholicdioceseofwichita.org
Diocese of Youngstown
Luke Politsky
Director of Development and Stewardship
lpolitsky@youngstowndiocese.org