Matching Gift Challenge to Raise $1 Million for Global Needs
October 19, 2010
For the next six weeks, from October 19 through November 30, any donation made to Episcopal Relief & Development will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000. This means a total of up to $1 million for relief and development programs in the places that need them most.
The Matching Gift Challenge is a chance for donors to give with the knowledge that their contribution will have double the impact. “If you give $50, you’ll generate $100 in assistance to help people in need,” said Judy Sawler, the organization’s Manager of Direct Response Marketing, who is heading up the appeal. “Donate $500 and people all over the world will benefit from $1,000 in food, medicine, clean water, opportunities to start businesses and much more.”
Any size gift to any of Episcopal Relief & Development’s funds – online, by mail or by phone – will be matched in full until November 30, or as long as matching funds are available. The matched gift amount will be donated to the Global Needs fund, which sustains the organization’s work toward alleviating hunger, promoting health, creating economic opportunities and overcoming disaster.
“Donors this year have made generous contributions to our disaster relief funds,” said Rob Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief & Development, “but we also need to fulfill our ongoing commitments to people struggling against poverty, malnutrition and disease around the world. We hope that this year’s appeal, twice the size of last year’s, will help us to do that.”
Last year’s Matching Gift Challenge was hugely successful, raising over $1.18 million, with $250,000 of that amount being matched through the generous contributions of two gracious donors. “We are immensely grateful to everyone for their steadfast support,” Radtke remarked, “and especially for the extraordinary generosity of the donors who are providing the matching funds. This is truly a tremendous opportunity to make a difference where it is most needed.”
To have your gift matched, simply make a donation between now and November 30. Making a gift to the Global Needs fund will ensure that your contribution will be used in the area of greatest need, though donations to any fund – including through the Gifts for Life catalog – will be matched. Click here to donate today!
To support Episcopal Relief & Development’s work, please visit www.episcopalrelief.org or call 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.
