Parish Share in the Ignite! Capital Campaign

December 19, 2024

Written by Jennifer Willems, Contributing Writer

Michele Brant knows that when it comes to raising money for a capital campaign it takes a village, and she’s proud of the way St. John Parish in Greenfield was able to support the Diocese of Des Moines’ Ignite! Capital Campaign.

She’s grateful for the campaign funding that will support this small Adair County faith community through the “Parish Share.”

The Ignite! Capital Campaign raised $37 million, with 17 percent designated for sharing with parishes. Parish Share is what is returned to the parish once their individual goals are met. For St. John, this translates into about 25 percent.

The Parish Share may be used for approved specific needs. The only exception is using the money for operating expenses. 

At St. John, where there are 155 registered families, parishioners pledged $58,345 to the Ignite! campaign. They have paid 75 percent of that, according to Brant, who is the parish’s finance chair. They have started to receive their share from the Diocese and will apply those dollars to replacing the old heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in the church.

The estimated cost of the project is $65,000. The parish share funds will cover about 15 percent of that.

Projects in parishes across the diocese are supported through the capital campaign, said Norm Bormann, diocesan director of Property Management, Safety and Security.

“Some of these projects wouldn’t happen or would be harder to accomplish if it wasn’t for the manner in which these capital campaigns are done, where some of the money goes back to parish,” he said.

The campaign saves the parishes from having to run their own capital campaigns, Bormann said.

“This was worthwhile and we’re happy with it,” Brant said, adding, “I’ve always been very proud of our parish and the way we’ve responded.”