Supporting the Diocese of Wichita’s future: Planned Gifts Provide a way to expand impact of Fully Alive! Campaign
As the third and final wave of the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign unfolds across the Diocese of Wichita this spring, the work of strengthening our faith community will extend well beyond the campaign’s conclusion later this summer. While the generosity of our diocesan family has laid a strong foundation for each of the campaign’s five priorities, future estate gifts will play a significant role in sustaining and expanding these initiatives for generations to come.
“The Diocese of Wichita has always been blessed by the generosity of so many, including and especially those who came before us,” said Connor Meier, assistant director for development & planned giving. “Many of the beautiful facilities and ministries that we enjoy today exist because of a shared hope, commitment, and vision when they were first established. The result of that vision and belief has provided us with a variety of opportunities to continue supporting all these years later.”
Planned gifts made today allow for future impact beyond one’s lifetime, ultimately ensuring that all of our parishes, schools and ministries remain both strong and vibrant well into the future. One important element of the Fully Alive! Campaign’s structure is the creation and use of endowments, which ensures long-term viability as well as additional opportunities for growth.
Specifically, 38 teacher salary enhancement endowments benefitting each of our schools, and an endowment for Camp Kapaun that will be used for operations and scholarships at the facility, offer new opportunities to support through planned estate gifts.
“Over the years we have been fortunate to receive numerous estate gifts – large and small alike – which have benefitted every corner of our diocese. And from very early on in this campaign, we’ve had many families step forward to share their own plans or express an interest in making a legacy gift,” said Mike Wescott, director of development & planned giving. “Especially with the new parish-based teacher endowments, parishioners have such strong affinities for their own parishes and schools, and we believe they will be attractive opportunities for greater support at a local level.”
News of one such planned gift has already been shared with the diocese, when an anonymous donor made a generous estate gift that will further support teacher pay in the diocese for years to come. Beyond their personal campaign pledge, the donors’ deep connection to our Catholic schools inspired their family to make this additional commitment. “We continue to be amazed at the response we have seen throughout this campaign, and this particular gift benefiting our teachers is yet another example of people’s generous hearts,” Wescott said.
Planned gifts also provide a unique opportunity for donors to leave a legacy while maximizing financial benefits for themselves and their families at the same time. Whether through a simple bequest in a will/trust, or via another planned giving vehicle, every estate gift plays a vital role in securing the future of the Church in our diocese. By including the Diocese of Wichita, a parish, or a specific ministry in your own estate planning, you can help ensure that the priorities established through the Fully Alive! Campaign will continue to flourish for years to come.
“Similar to the vision of those leaders in our diocese who came before us, we really have that same sense of hope with the Fully Alive! Campaign priorities, many of which are simply a starting point for future growth and development. We hope that, in time, future generations of our diocese will look back on this effort with gratitude and appreciation for what was established as a result,” said Meier.
To learn more about planned gift opportunities please contact the Office of Development & Planned Giving at 316-269-3719 or [email protected]. For more information on the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, please visit www.OneFamilyFullyAlive.org.