What is the Inspiring Hope campaign?
Inspiring Hope is the first Archdiocesan-wide capital campaign conducted by the Archdiocese of Boston in nearly two decades, and the first-ever that Cardinal Seán has led. It is a $200 million fundraising initiative - one of the largest faith-based fundraising efforts in the U.S. - that will assist Boston’s Catholic Church by helping to address critical needs and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

What are the campaign priorities?
Given the scope and complexity of the Archdiocese of Boston, there are many priorities. Within that context, we have identified key endowment, programmatic and capital funding areas to focus on in this campaign. The major funding areas are: Catholic education, Catholic Charities, our parishes, vocations and clergy, and the interior renovation of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
​
What is the dollar goal of the campaign?
Our goal is $200 Million – not an insignificant number. As the 4th largest Archdiocese in the country, we hope Boston can come together and meet – and even surpass – this goal.

How are parishes involved/being helped?
As part of Inspiring Hope, parishes are encouraged to voluntarily opt-in to participate, and they receive the larger portion of whatever is raised through these parish campaigns. In addition to funds raised specifically for these participating parishes, we are establishing an endowment fund for evangelization programs and capital needs to which parishes will be able to apply for grants.

How will campaign funds be managed and grants distributed?
These funds will be managed and grants distributed through the Catholic Community Fund (CCF). The CCF oversees over $53.0M in endowments that are managed through the Common Investment Fund, and the related Catholic Health Foundation (corpus about $11.0M). This board will oversee the management and distribution of all Inspiring Hope funds and file a Form 990 for complete transparency.
It is worth noting that the Catholic Health Foundation has made 352 grants totaling nearly $3.9 Million since it began making grants in 2014.

What is the estimated campaign cost?
The costs are approximately 5% of the total goal, below the average of 7% for most other diocesan capital campaigns.

Can donors designate their gifts to particular case elements?
Donors will be able to designate their support to one of the five case elements – Catholic education, Catholic Charities, strengthening parishes, clergy health and retirement, Seminary bursars, Regina Cleri renovation or the Cathedral renovation – for use in the specific initiatives outlined for each element.

Will any of these funds be used for items other than the established case elements?
No, because virtually all monies raised through the campaign are donor-designated. The Archdiocese has both a legal and moral obligation (under both civil and canon law) to restrict these funds for the stated elements. The funds raised for the campaign will be overseen by the Catholic Community Fund’s board of directors, reviewed by an independent auditor and distributed exclusively as the donors have directed.

Will any of the money raised from the campaign go to lawsuits pending or in the future?
No. All funds raised through the Inspiring Hope campaign will be used entirely in accordance with the elements outlined in the case statement and in accordance with the wishes of the donor. Gifts to the Inspiring Hope campaign will not be used to satisfy any claims, liabilities or related costs or obligations of the Archdiocese of Boston or any of its related organizations arising from allegations of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults.

What happens to the Catholic Appeal during the campaign?
The annual Catholic Appeal is essential to the ongoing operations of Central Ministries, serving all parishes, school and other ministries within the Archdiocese, and it continues throughout the campaign time frame. Donors are asked to prayerfully consider making pledges to the Inspiring Hope campaign that are above and beyond their annual support levels to the Catholic Appeal in light of the broader scope and limited duration of the Inspiring Hope campaign.

Does the money going to Catholic Charities, the seminaries and Clergy Funds take the place of their annual appeals?
The funds proposed for this campaign are for initiatives that go beyond existing revenue expectations. The changing social and economic environment is increasing demands for many of our services. All of these fundraising initiatives must continue in order to meet the regular and ongoing needs of their constituents.

Are campaign donor names kept confidential?
Donors who wish to remain anonymous will have their intentions respected. Gift amounts are kept confidential.

Who do we contact if we have any additional questions regarding the Campaign?
​
You can call or email the Campaign Team at:
[email protected]
617-779-3750