The Annual Appeal is the fundraising campaign that supports the mission and yearly programs of the parish. The effort is placed in the larger context of Christian Stewardship, which acknowledges that all we have is a gift from God, and that we bear responsibility for giving for the spread of God’s kingdom.

Parish members are asked to make a pledge of annual financial support to sustain our mission and programs. Pledges may be fulfilled throughout the appeal’s fiscal year as the donor is able, be it one-time, quarterly, monthly, or weekly payments. Pledging allows the parish leadership to plan and budget effectively, and to manage with the confidence that programmatic needs will be met.

This is called the 2022 Annual Appeal because it seeks to support the 2022 budget. In the last quarter of each year, we appeal to parishioners for the upcoming year. Thus, in October 2021 we launch the 2022 Annual Appeal.

The Church’s fiscal year is the calendar year thus we seek to have all pledges and pledge payments received by December 31, 2021. The easiest way to fulfill your pledge is online. Other methods of giving include check, bank transfer, or a gift of securities. If you are age 70 ½ or over, direct donation from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is also an attractive option, as the distribution is not treated as taxable income.

The average annual pledge at Christ Church Greenwich is just over $4,935. This is a bit higher than the national average of $2,700. We currently have 376 households that pledge annual support. Every pledge makes a difference!

The annual budget for Christ Church Greenwich is just under $2,800,000. The largest source of income is parishioner giving. The Annual Appeal alone funds 56% of the operating budget. It is by far the largest source of programmatic support and we hope that all parishioners will participat.

The spiritual practice of giving to the Church is grounded in the biblical standard of the tithe, which emphasizes the concepts of proportional giving and giving back to God as first priority. In prayerfully considering your annual pledge, we invite parishioners to consider their household income and to place Christ Church Greenwich at the top of their giving priorities. You might also think about growing your giving to the Church over time and as a reflection of your spiritual maturation. Start with at least 1% of your income and step forward with each year until you reach a full tithe.

Episcopal parishes are constituent members of the local Diocese, under the authority of a Bishop, and do not receive any Diocesan financial support. Dioceses are in turn part of the national Church structure. Episcopal parishes are fully self-supporting. We contribute an annual assessment to the Connecticut Diocese, based on our income level, to fund our common life together, provide for diocesan resources for the parish, and outreach to missions and ministries of the Diocese.

The Annual Appeal seeks to fund the Church’s annual operating budget to enable our common life and outreach in the community. If you would like to discuss a special gift to support a specific program, please contact the Stewardship Office.

Yes, the Church receives some Matching Gifts and this is an area we would like to grow. Corporate Matching Gifts are an excellent way to provide further support for the mission of Christ Church, as many companies will match charitable contributions made by their employees. You can check if your employer offers matching gifts by clicking here. If you employer hesitates to match contributions to religious organizations, your annual pledge payment may be made to the Horseneck Foundation, our community outreach partner for historic preservation of the Christ Church buildings.

Susan Kelly, Director of Stewardship, will be happy to speak with you. She may be reached in the Parish Office at 203.869.6600, x18 and skelly@christchurchgreenwich.org. Thank you!