Matching Gift Challenge Raises $1.8 Million
January 19, 2011
Last fall, for the second year in a row, a group of generous donors offered to match all donations received during the six-week-long Matching Gifts Campaign. The numbers have been tabulated, and Episcopal Relief & Development is pleased to announce that the 2010 campaign raised a total of nearly $1.8 million to help heal a hurting world! This includes $1,295,385 in donations that were received during the campaign, and the $500,000 matching gift, which will benefit the Global Needs Fund.
“This is unprecedented,” said Episcopal Relief & Development’s Chief Operating Officer, Esther Cohen. “It’s the largest amount we’ve ever received from a non-emergency campaign. $1.8 million will go a long way to help people suffering from hunger, poverty, disease and disaster.”
Throughout the campaign, individuals could donate to the fund of their choice, knowing that the same amount would be donated from the matching funds to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Global Needs Fund. This year’s matching fund of $500,000 is double last year’s, and 2010 donations also exceeded those of 2009 by nearly 30 percent.
“The success of the campaign is amazing, especially considering the financial challenges of the past couple years,” said Judy Sawler, Episcopal Relief & Development’s Manager of Direct Response Marketing. “Our donors made generous, and I think sometimes sacrificial gifts during the campaign because they knew the impact of their gift would be doubled. I think that’s a testament to the commitment of our supporters, and to their view of us as an organization. People know that we are using their contributions to do the most good where it is most needed.”
While individual donations could be made to funds supporting specific types of relief and development work, matching funds were designated for Episcopal Relief & Development’s Global Needs Fund. This general fund sustains the organization’s work toward alleviating hunger, promoting health, creating economic opportunities and overcoming disaster. Direct program costs account for a large proportion of the Episcopal Relief & Development’s total spending, helping the organization to earn top ratings from Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.
“We are incredibly grateful for the commitment and generosity of our friends and supporters,” said Cohen.
To support Episcopal Relief & Development’s work, please visit www.episcopalrelief.org or call 1.800.334.7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus’ words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development rebuilds after disasters and empowers people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
