Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
December 5, 2001
Building for the new millennium
Catholic Foundation offers tools to sculpt brighter future
Last year at this time most homeowners and renters across northern Colorado were staring at their public service statements in disbelief. The price of natural gas had gone up dramatically. So had their utility bills. For anyone on a budget, times were tight. In many cases, people dipped into their savings to pay-up.
Parishes faced the same crunch. But parishes rely on the generosity of parishioners to meet their needs. Ironically, parishioners were already tapped out from paying their own utility costs. Now what? Enter the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Denver. The foundation made emergency heating grants to a number of parishes that lacked the resources to pay their public service bills.
In similar fashion, this school year some parish elementary schools found themselves temporarily short on funds to pay increased teacher salaries. These increased salaries were part of a system-wide effort aimed at compensating Catholic schoolteachers more justly. Once again, it was the Catholic Foundation to the rescue.
These are just a few small but dramatic examples of the work of the foundation, administrators said. Its charter is actually much larger. The Catholic Foundation is tasked with supporting Archbishop Charles Chaput's larger developmental issues for the Church in northern Colorado, such as ministries in Catholic education, religious education and evangelization, theological formation, clergy and lay retirement, community services and social concerns, and local parishes and institutions.
These six ministry areas have been designated as funding focal points for the next two-to-five years. According to Archbishop Chaput, they are critical to the continuing spiritual growth of the Catholic faithful. That's not only his personal conviction, administrators said, it's shared by hundreds of people and organizations consulted over the past 12 months. The archbishop calls it a significant challenge, and one that requires the support of Catholics throughout the archdiocese.
"Much is being asked of the current generation of Catholics in northern Colorado," said Nancy Walla, executive director of the Catholic Foundation. "It has to do with how we understand God's love for each one of us," Walla explained. "He calls us to love one another and to give of our treasure in support of the body of Christ, which is the Church. That means you and me."
Walla joined the archdiocesan Development Office this summer to head up the Catholic Foundation following a career as a top corporate attorney. Today, she also serves as the archbishop's Secretary for Stewardship and Planning.
"The Catholic Foundation was formed to create endowments that will fund the long-term needs of the Church in northern Colorado," Walla said. "And I think our past record of achievement speaks for itself, but the best way to positively influence the future is to invest in the new, as well as the on-going programs of the Church.
"Yes it's a continuing effort," she added. "But at the same time our goal is to minimize the need for numerous fundraising campaigns" by organizing archdiocesan development goals under one comprehensive umbrella.
The tragic events of Sept. 11 have heightened people's awareness of the importance of taking an active part in shaping a better future for the next generation, she said.
"With an emphasis on the six key ministries identified by the archbishop and Catholics throughout the archdiocese," Walla said, "we believe we have ample opportunity to meet the giving criteria of any donor.
"Donors to the Catholic Foundation can choose which initiative they want to support," she added. "Their donations are placed in an endowment and will continue to provide on-going financial support.
"By offering donors a means to provide long-term financial support to parishes, schools, and various religious and charitable entities, the foundation is helping to build and secure the Church's future here in our archdiocese," she said.
For information, call 303- 715-3250.
Catholic Foundation funds Church's long-term needs
The Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of Denver was established in 1998 as a non-profit organization to support the mission and ministries of the Church in northern Colorado. The foundation specializes in endowment and grant fund management for the Catholic community. The following are ways to give to the Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of Denver:
•Outright gifts: The foundation welcomes gifts of cash, appreciated real property, closely held stock or publicly traded securities.
•Bequests: Gifts may be in cash or other property for a specified amount, a percentage of the estate, or a remainder of the estate after all other bequests and obligations are settled.
•Charitable Gift Annuity: One of the more popular methods of giving, this program provides the donor with income for life, based on the value of the gift given and can provide substantial tax savings.
•Charitable Trusts: A charitable remainder trust, charitable annuity trust and/or a unitrust provide the donor with income based on the value of the property given. Further, these methods offer worthwhile income and estate benefits.
•Insurance: Gifts can be made by naming the foundation as the owner or beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Proceeds of the policy are tax-exempt. In addition, some present values and future premiums will also qualify for charitable donations.
•Donor Advised Funds: A donor may establish a fund which will provide for a variety of favorite charities or, if desired, a specific entity or entities may be recommended. Deposits to the fund are tax deductible.
The staff of the Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of Denver is available to answer any questions people may have about the many ways to provide support the Church's ministries and programs. For information, call 303-715-3250.
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