Advanced Giving Opens Today (New Orleans, LA – November 13, 2023) – Today marks the opening of the advanced giving phase of #iGiveCatholic on GivingTuesday (www.igivecatholic.org), the U.S. Catholic Church’s Annual Giving Day. #iGiveCatholic is a national crowdfunding movement that brings the Catholic community together to Give Thanks, Give Back, and Give Catholic each year on GivingTuesday (www.givingtuesday.org), which will be November 28 this year. 

This ninth annual #iGiveCatholic giving day will benefit thousands of Catholic organizations across 50 U.S. dioceses as well as over thirty schools and national ministries participating independently. The advanced giving phase takes place from today, November 13, through November 27, 2023. This will be the first giving day under the leadership of #iGiveCatholic’s new National Director, Lisa Schillace. “It is a joy and honor to steward this exciting and innovative ministry that connects Catholics and Catholic organizations across the country in celebration of our shared identity,” said Schillace. “By inspiring and celebrating generosity, we are responding to our call as disciples to Christian stewardship in support of the vital ministries upholding Catholic values in our varied and diverse communities.”

In 2022, this national generosity campaign raised more than $18.5 million for Catholic organizations from gifts made by 42,285 donors distributed across all 50 states and 19 countries. Karen David, a volunteer at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cut-Off, LA, said “#iGiveCatholic provides the ability for Catholic organizations to communicate to the faithful what they do and who they serve. It unites people in a single purpose with a tangible outcome, and they can achieve it together.” 

This year, #iGiveCatholic welcomes first-time participants from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Archdiocese of Las Vegas, Archdiocese of Louisville, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Archdiocese of Seattle, Diocese of Charlotte, Diocese of Dallas, Diocese of Fargo as well as The Pontifical Mission Societies.

The 2023 goal is to grow by 15% in all areas, which would translate to $21.3M raised from 48,624 donors. Over 2,900 Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries are registered to participate, and each can customize a profile page to communicate about a campaign goal or project they are hoping to fund. These fundraising pages can include pictures and video as well as any match opportunities, fundraisers on their behalf, and volunteer or other engagement opportunities.