Overview
The "Building Tomorrow" Campaign is an effort to raise money to support and sustain the Newman Center, Catholic Community at UCSD. Below you will find an overview of the plan. A PDF of the
complete plan is also available. In addition, a Case Statement document is being written and will also be available here when it is complete.
Latest News
The Building Tomorrow Campaign kicked off on March 16, 2008. Please inform any friends that were not at Mass this Sunday about the campaign, and point them at this website for further information.
The image at right (last updated 4/28/2008) will be updated periodically showing the current progress towards our goals. Please consider doing you part to help meet our goals if you have not done so already.
The original version of the
pledge form was incorrect. It is requested that pledge forms be returned by May 31, 2008, and the donations pledged be completed by the end of the calendar year. The donations need not be completed by May 31, 2008.
Announcement from the YAGs: The Young Adult Community would like to introduce an initiative to strengthen the Catholic Community at UCSD by
encouraging interaction between the resident community members, YAGs and students. We're calling it the Workout Campaign! We propose to offer our labor services to the resident community members with chores such as painting, assembling shelves, moving furniture, spring clean up, walking the dog and possibly more services that can be thought of. In addition we could extend our time to hi-tech services such as setting up wireless routers, installing software, configuring PCs, cell phones etc... In return, any and ALL of the generous donations will go to the Building Tomorrow campaign. For more information, to express interest, or for suggestions, please email ucsdyag.outsource@gmail.com or talk to Sherman or Edwin.
Introduction
Goals
The "Building Tomorrow" plan seeks to build and sustain financial support and growth for the Newman Center, Catholic Community at UCSD. This includes local donors as well as potential donors in the greater San Diego diocese and various foundations which identify with the mission of the Newman Center. The plan also seeks to increase awareness of the Newman Center Catholic Community throughout the San Diego diocese, and to develop a commitment amongst volunteers to share their time, talent, and treasure in promoting and sustaining the Newman Center.
Achieving these financial goals will result in the ability to sustain and grow the ministry to the more than 7,000 Catholic students at the University of California, San Diego. The plan is not about seeking out a site and building a structure for Newman Center programs and religious services.
Fund Allocation
Those making donations to the Building Tomorrow fund will have the opportunity to make their donation as either a
Sustaining or an
Endowment gift. Sustaining gifts will help cover the annual operating expenses of the Newman Center, including (but not limited to) programs administering to the Catholic student body, the renting of space that is adjacent to the UCSD campus from the Episcopal Community, administration and ministry support staff costs, and the
Tijuana Housebuilding Project. Endowment gifts allow donors to support special projects and future growth, including (but not limited to) student outreach, social justice, student internships, student leadership and faith development, and building a reserve or endowment fund for future growth and sustainability.
The Building Tomorrow Campaign strategy is to increase the Catholic Community contributions
above current Mass offertory collections, while maintaining current offertory donation levels. Substituting campaign contributions for regular offertory donations reduces the net campaign effect.
Coordinating Bodies
The Building Tomorrow Campaign is a joint effort between the Financial Council, the Pastoral Council, the Stewardship Committee, and the 5 core committees served by the Student Ministers. These councils have collaborated to devise this plan to solicit additional funds for the Newman Center. The Stewardship Committee also leads the implementation of the ideas that come out of this plan.
Appealing to the Constituency
The community of the Newman Center can be broadly divided into the following groups: undergraduate and graduate students, the Young Adult Group (YAGs), faculty and staff, resident community, small church communities, and alumni. A number of techniques are being used to appeal to these communities, as well as the community outside of the Newman Center. These include:
- Small group community dinners hosted by a member of the community. During these dinners, this plan will be presented to further define the Newman Center's needs for additional support. Fr. John Paul Forte will facilitate discussion at these meetings.
- Face to face meetings with potential contributors both within and outside of the core community that may be interested in supporting the Newman Center on a sustaining basis. Those outside the core community will include local parishes that make donations to non-profit groups and may consider giving to the Newman Center.
- Presenting the plan to local area organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, that would want to support the mission of the Newman Center. These organizations will be presented with the opportunity for an on-site presentation to put forward this plan and discuss the needs of the Newman Center.
- The Finance Council will research into foundations and organizations that connect with the mission and vision of the Newman Center and would want to aid in continued operations and growth.
- Direct mail of Building Tomorrow Campaign packets to individual contributors outside of the local community that have supported the community in the past on a regular basis and would welcome the opportunity to support further non-profit causes.
If you are aware of any possible contacts or avenues to explore in the above areas, please contact a member of the staff, Finance Council, Pastoral Council, or Stewardship Committee.
Financial Objectives
Goals
The goal of the Newman Center for the past few years has been to completely eliminate our operational budget deficit without a diocesan subsidy, in keeping with good stewardship. This "Building Tomorrow" Campaign is our plan to do so and start building a reserve fund for further growth and sustaining operations in the future.
The chart below shows the target sum for each segment of the community in order to reach the sum of $100,000 for each Fiscal Year
above current donation levels.
The
full plan document provides further details on how these numbers were obtained. The plan also provides suggested donations for various programs and operational expenses for those that want to target a donation. A selected list of gift opportunities, both Sustaining and Endowment, will also be provided when contacting local area organizations and when sending direct mail to possible contributors.
Note that these numbers are just guidelines, and each contributing member should prayerfully consider the religious and community value the Newman Center, Catholic Community at UCSD contributes to their spiritual well being.
Methods of Contributing
Donations may be made using one of the following methods:
- Check payable to the Newman Center, Catholic Community at UCSD with "Building Tomorrow" in the memo field,
- Electronic payment via Parish Pay. See the instructions for more information.
- Completing and mailing in a pledge form by May 31, 2008.
- Using the Transfer of Stock method. Please call or email the Newman Center for instructions and the form.
Gratitude
A Campaign Progress Report will be mailed at the end of the calendar year to all contributors to this campaign. Receipts will also be mailed for all donations of $250 or more, as the official acknowledgment required by the IRS for documenting charitable contributions.
