Ignite! Campaign comes to a successful close

June 13, 2023

The Ignite! Campaign, a diocesan-wide fundraising effort that spanned several years, has come home to shore, raising $37 million.

Campaign funds will widen access to Catholic education, support seminarians and retired priests, create an endowment for parish vibrancy programs and fund parish renovation projects.

Reflecting on the campaign’s successful completion, Bishop William Joensen is thankful to everyone who participated. “As we celebrate the completion of our campaign, my heart swells with gratitude for the many families and individuals in our Diocese who have given so selflessly. No matter the size, every contribution has played a crucial part in this bold campaign,” he said.

The campaign’s signature achievement was raising $19.3 million toward a Catholic Education Endowment. The endowment will be a diocesan mainstay and will complement the Catholic Tuition Organization tax-credit program and Educational Savings Accounts offered by the Students First Act to significantly boost the amount of tuition assistance available to families in need.

The endowment will also play a crucial role in powering the Diocese’s Strategic Plans for Schools, which aims to address discrepancies in teacher salaries, retain quality educators, reduce administrative burdens on pastors, and eliminate duplicate business operations across parish schools.

The campaign garnered $5.7 million toward priest retirement and seminarian education. An additional $3.4 million is dedicated to a parish renewal and vibrancy endowment, while the parish share component totaled $6.7 million.

Bishop Joensen is eager to see how the effort will be a catalyst for new possibilities throughout the Diocese.

“Amid trying circumstances these past few years, God has been steadfast in sustaining and even surprising us through the inexhaustible graces exchanged between Our Lord and our diocesan family. God is surely not outdone in generosity; now we are charged to put flesh on our faith and bring to fruition the initiatives God has ignited,” he said. “Together, may our collective creativity and collaboration in the Spirit of Jesus energize us for the journey that lies ahead.”

Campaign impact
Many of the 79 participating parishes have already started receiving their parish share funds, setting in motion dozens of parish share projects. From community enhancement projects at St. John Parish in Adel to replacing church windows at St. Mary Parish in Shenandoah, these projects, along with others, are improving worship experiences and extending the lifespan of parish facilities across the Diocese.

For Bob Johnson, campaign chair at St. John in Adel, receiving the parish share funds has been instrumental in installing handicap accessible buttons on main entrances and restrooms, Roku TVs in classrooms and a parking lot/sidewalk renovation project. 

“Receiving these funds is helping us facilitate a more welcoming space for us to gather and build community,” he said. “We are grateful for our parishioners’ response and are delighted to know that our efforts here at St. John’s will also impact many others throughout the Diocese.”

The campaign’s impact is also being felt among seminarians. Luke Mohan, of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines, is grateful that campaign funds will help offset his educational expenses, allowing him to direct his focus toward his discernment and formation process. 

“I, along with future seminarians, will benefit from the fund for seminarians, which enables us to study for the priesthood without having to try and work simultaneously,” he said.

Bob Lawler, a campaign cabinet member, shed light on his experience. 

“As a general rule, no one enjoys asking people for money. What made this easier was to clearly understand the goals and the importance they have on the future of our Diocese,” he said. “Working alongside so many dedicated, caring people and witnessing the outpouring of support on the journey to meet the stretch goal was humbling and gratifying.”

Campaign rewind
Preparations for the Ignite! Campaign began in 2020 with a planning study that indicated the potential to raise $35 million to $45 million. The campaign launched in 2021 with a silent phase led by Bishop Joensen that focused on securing funds for the Catholic Education Endowment.

With robust and early backing for the endowment, the campaign’s public phase featured a unique approach – regional case statements. This meant that funds raised at each parish were allocated to various campaign initiatives, with the distribution determined by the parish’s proximity to a Catholic school.

The parish phase unfolded throughout 2022 in three overlapping waves. Each wave was a complex undertaking driven by the concerted efforts of dozens of pastors, parish leaders, and over 1,000 volunteers who attended orientation and training sessions, made appeals and gave testimonials at their parishes.

Maureen Kenney, director of Stewardship, sees the campaign as a narrative of unity, commitment and shared faith. 
“From the silent phase to the public phase, the campaign has fostered a sense of community across the Diocese, which is especially important given we began the effort on the heels of a global pandemic that stifled the opportunity to gather for months,” she said. 

Kenney added that the regional case statements demonstrated the balance between addressing local needs and the diocesan vision. At the same time, the wave structure highlighted the resilience and adaptability of parish communities, with every pastor, leader, and volunteer playing a pivotal role.

“This campaign has been more than a fundraiser,” Kenney said. “It has affirmed our collective spirit and commitment to building a legacy or life, church and community in southwest Iowa.”