iGiveCatholic reaches new heights in Year Seven

Another year, another record.

The iGiveCatholic online giving campaign – begun in 2015 by the Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and now recognized as the U.S. Catholic Church’s official giving day – has reached new heights, both locally and nationally.

On Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, more than $15.7 million was contributed by 40,624 donors to 1,615 Catholic schools, churches and ministries across the country. Of that total, 5,276 local donors contributed $2.27 million to 169 ministries within the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

“It was the first time we’ve pushed over the $2 million mark locally,” said Cory Howat, executive director of the CCF, who has seen the campaign expand to more than 40 dioceses. “It really feels like it’s starting to mature and serve its purpose. You see organizations that want to do something by inviting the faithful to join, and they are doing a great job with it.”

Five of top 15 are local

Five of the top 15 entities on the national leaderboard are located in the archdiocese: The Catholic Community Foundation ($303,950), No. 1; Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans ($197,555), No. 6; Divine Mercy Parish, Kenner ($141,335) No. 12; St. Benilde School, Metairie ($128,214) No. 14; and the Tulane Catholic Center ($126,534), No. 15.

On the local leaderboard, rounding out the top 10 were St. Angela Merici Parish, Metairie ($80,969); Project Lazarus ($72,430); St. Francis Xavier Parish, Metairie ($66,576); Christopher Homes Inc. ($64,576); and Ozanam Inn ($62,875).

Howat said St. Angela, relatively new to the online campaign, prompted parishioners to buy into a plan to raise money for a new organ that will allow the music ministry to come out from behind a screen behind the altar into a more prominent place in the church. The parish did a video explaining exactly what the donations would be used for.

“We just preach transparency, so the video explains how the parish is going to spend the money,” Howat said. “It explained the need. It’s good to have the need explained so that it’s not something that’s forced upon someone. When you model that to Catholic donors, they really respond.”

Howat said a lot of money was raised by various entities for Hurricane Ida relief.

“It’s a direct manifestation that we care for our own,” Howat said.

Howat said the Tulane Catholic Center might be regarded as a “small” ministry, but the reality is it has alumni who are now scattered across the U.S.

“One of the neatest things it shows is the fact that Tulane has people from around the country and has touched people from around the country,” Howat said.