Christ's Mission Appeal

Christ’s Mission Appeal gives Catholics in the Diocese of Saginaw an opportunity to offer thanksgiving to God for His indescribable gifts. Your generosity to this appeal allows for the continuation and expansion of a wide variety of ministries to the faithful, while engaging in the work of evangelization.

Your financial support and your prayers for the mission of our great diocese and the 2023 Christ’s Mission Appeal are necessary so that together we can do “Kingdom Work.”  

Bishop Gruss' Video & Audio message below 

Audio file

 

 

Give Using Form Below

Other ways to give

Obtaining a matching gift – Double your gift to the Appeal

Matching gifts are corporate programs that enhance employees’ charitable donations. Organizations of all sizes may have matching gift programs.

As an employee, you will need to complete any forms from your employer. The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw cannot make a request for a matching gift.

Companies that offer matching gifts have their own specifications. Things to check when exploring your employer’s plan include:

  • Minimums and maximums: This is in reference to your actual donation. For instance:
    • If the minimum employer matched amount is $25, a $15 donation from you will not be matched.
    • If the maximum employer match is $500, but you give $1,000, the company will match up to the maximum. This results in $1,500 for Christ's Mission Appeal on your behalf.
  • Match ratio: The match ratio defines how much a company will donate in relation to the original donation. For instance:
    • If the ratio is 1:1, the company will give the exact same amount as your donation. If it's 2:1, the company will give twice as much as your contribution. 
  • Employee eligibility: The specifications of a matched gift may differ based on an employee's status. For instance:
    • A part-time employee may be eligible for a 1:1 match, while a full-time employee may be eligible for 2:1.
  • Nonprofit eligibility: Sometimes, companies set parameters clarifying to what types of nonprofits they will match. For instance:
    • Some companies focus on philanthropic donations toward educational organizations or youth programs or environmental efforts.
  • Deadlines: It is important to know your company’s deadline for requesting matching gifts.
    • Some companies have specific deadlines at the end of the calendar year or near Tax Day in April. Others may allow an employee a set number of weeks or months after a donation is made to request a matching gift from the employer.
Stock donation gifts

By donating stock that has appreciated for more than a year, you are actually giving 20 percent more than if you sold the stock and then made a cash donation. This is because you will be avoiding capital gains taxes. The maximum federal capital gains tax rate is 20 percent on long-term holdings.

Donated stock is shares in a corporation that have been donated to a charitable entity, such as the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. As the donor, you can then take a tax deduction in the amount of the fair value of the stock on the date of donation. 

If you are interested in making a gift of stock, you or your broker can contact the diocesan stewardship and development department at 989-797-6679 for more detailed instructions.

Qualified charitable distribution gifts

A qualified charitable distribution is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to a qualified non-profit such as the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. Qualified charitable distributions can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions for the year.
While many IRAs (traditional, rollover and inherited) are eligible for qualified charitable distribution gifts there are some requirements:

  • You must be 70½ or older to be eligible to make a qualified charitable distribution.
  • Qualified charitable distributions are limited to the amount that would otherwise be taxed as ordinary income. This excludes non-deductible contributions.
  • The maximum annual amount that can qualify for a qualified charitable distribution is $100,000. This applies to the sum of qualified charitable distributions made to one or more non-profits in a calendar year.
  • For a qualified minimum distribution to count towards your current year's required minimum distribution, the funds must come out of your IRA by established deadlines. Most required minimum distribution deadlines are December 31.

Giving Form

Ways To Give

Secure Online: (Form above) This will direct you to options for making secure monthly installments or a one-time gift using a credit/debit card or a bank account number.

By Mail:  Please complete the pledge card that is included in your Christ’s Mission Appeal mailing and return it in the envelope provided. Please return the pledge card to the Diocese of Saginaw. (Arriving in your mailbox during the first week of October.)

In Person: You also may return the pledge card to your parish office or the Chancery Office, or drop it in the collection basket at Mass.

A note about special collections and subsidies

A portion of every dollar raised supports twelve special campaigns for missions, social outreach and the support of the Vatican. Through the generous funds to Christ’s Mission Appeal, the diocese makes fixed contributions to these campaigns, rather than through second collections at parishes.