Donors remain loyal to appeals

Toronto

Donations to the Anglican Journal Appeal suffered a small decrease during its 10th anniversary in 2003, and gifts last year to the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) are projected to exceed the previous year’s total. The Anglican Appeal, which enjoyed a one-time large bequest in 2002, will not exceed the previous year’s totals, but is expected to meet its target for 2003.

The Journal Appeal raised $490,976 last year, compared to $497,653 in 2002, a decrease of 2.4 per cent, according to Larry Gee, Journal business manager. He attributed the slight dip to the fact that donation money has been spread thinly. “There’s just too much competition for donation dollars,” said Mr. Gee. He said, however, that the decrease “won’t substantially affect” Journal operations.

Mr. Gee also said that while the total number of individual donations decreased by 5.6 per cent (15,344 in 2003 compared to 16,203 in 2002), the average donation increased from the previous year’s $31 to $32 last year. The diocese of Toronto had the highest number of donors at 3,254, followed by Huron at 1,467, Niagara at 1,337, and Ottawa, 1,144.

After deducting administrative costs ($80,663.33), the Journal Appeal is split with the diocesan papers, so that the Journal share is $209,430.66 and $200,881.63 is shared among 26 of 30 dioceses that participated in the appeal.

Mr. Gee said that since 1994, the Journal Appeal has raised more than $3 million, of which more than $1 million has been returned to participating dioceses to help publish their own diocesan newspapers.

The PWRDF’s budget advisory task force, for its part, has set aside $1 million in bequest money to continue funding HIV/AIDS programs in Africa (see related story p. 6). “This will give us an opportunity to respond promptly to requests for assistance,” said PWRDF executive director Andrew Ignatieff. “We also hope that this will encourage people to donate more.”

As of Feb. 3, PWRDF donations totalled “in excess of $2.8 million,” according to Jill Martin, PWRDF financial and systems manager. She said that the books were not closed yet since PWRDF is awaiting reports of contributions from some dioceses.

Ms. Martin said, however, that while PWRDF has recovered from the severe cash problem it had in 2002 when donations plunged, it will still operate on a “really pared-down budget” this year.

PWRDF contributions in 2002 totalled $2,797,000, down $430,000 from 2001, when contributions amounted to $3,227,000.

Meanwhile, the Anglican Appeal is on track to exceed individuals’ donations in 2002 of $790,885. That year, the appeal raised $916,885, which included a one-time bequest of $126,000, said co-ordinator Stephanie Peddle. She said a final tally is not available since the gifts normally come in November and December, but the rough count already shows positive signs. “We were down in the year 2001. There was concern that the money being raised would be used for litigation costs involving the native residential schools agreement,” said Ms. Peddle. “(General Synod treasurer) Jim Cullen had reassured them this wasn’t going to happen and it appears the message has come through,” she said.

The Anglican Appeal supports dioceses of the North and some work involving theological education, leadership development and social justice overseas.