There is still time to donate to the Anglican Journal Appeal, says Larry Gee, business manager, who says that donations are down almost 10 per cent from this time last year.
“At the same time last year we had received 12,000 donations totalling $385,000,” says Mr. Gee. “This year we’ve received 10,800 donations totalling $356,000. While the average dollar donation is up, the response rate is down.”
The Journal’s goal is to raise $500,000. Mr. Gee notes that the drop in donations affects not only the Journal but also the diocesan newspapers, which participate in the appeal. (Most Canadian Anglicans receive the Journal mailed together with the newspaper of their diocese.) This year all dioceses except those in Newfoundland are participating in the appeal.
Each diocese receives half of the net proceeds of the contributions from readers in their diocese. The Journal Appeal has returned more than $1 million to the dioceses in the last 10 years and some dioceses have indicated that the diocesan newspapers could not survive without this funding, says the business manager.
One developing trend Mr. Gee has noticed is a jump in online donations. Last year, only 11 donors gave via CanadaHelps.org, a not-for-profit Web site. So far, 88 donors have used the site.
Donations may be sent to Anglican Journal Appeal, 80 Hayden St., Toronto ON, M4Y 3G2; readers may also donate online by going to anglicanjournal.com and clicking on the “Donate Now” button.