QUESTIONS ABOUT GIVING

Included below are some of the questions we have been asked about annual giving at St. Augustine's. We hope you will find the questions and responses helpful. If you have a question that is not answered here, or if one question leads to others, please contact our rector, The Rev. Nadia Stefko.

Why pledge?

We allow God to work within us when we recognize that it is God who gives us all that we have, and that as we share of our time, talent, and treasure, we work, in turn, with God to build the body of Christ and to reach out to all.

Why pledge financially?

When you commit to giving money to St. Augustine’s, you help leadership prepare for the life of the church in the coming year. We hold budgeting to be a sacred task and trust. We strive to act responsibly and faithfully, using your generous pledged gifts to care justly and sustainably for our people and properties, to nurture and grow our community in Christ, and to contribute to the building up of God’s kingdom on earth.

Pledges are essential to St. Augustine’s financial well-being. Consistent with the trend in recent years, pledges in 2023 accounted for approximately 74% of revenue available on a recurring basis for funding the church’s annual operating budget. (The other primary recurring sources are the lease of space to Rose Hall Montessori school and an annual distribution from the church's endowment fund). Thus, pledges are vital to creating a sound budget for fair employee compensation; outreach to people in need; worship and music; children, youth and adult education; the good care of our buildings and property; and other operating expenses.

What is the goal of this year’s campaign?

We hope to grow the number of pledges and the amount of pledge revenue. For 2023, our budget included, in addition to pledges and other recurring sources of funding, a carryover of a significant surplus of revenues over expenses from 2022. That surplus was largely attributable to unique circumstances, such as the timing of hiring of new staff and the timing of the return to in-person worship. We do not expect to have a similar surplus at the end of 2023. Accordingly, to ensure that we are at least able to maintain the same operations and programs for 2024, as in 2023, our goal is to increase the amount of pledge revenue from $382,476 to $425,000.

What will it mean for us to achieve that goal?

  • Answering our Christian call to respond to the needs of the world: sheltering people experiencing homelessness through our active participation in and financial support of Family Promise, feeding people who are hungry by collections for food pantries and monthly service at A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen, offering financial support to area agencies and services with our Mission Grant Outreach program

  • Maintaining our commitment to the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

  • Providing for ministries that form our lives of faith: music that helps us to worship in the beauty of holiness, programs that equip us to share our sacred stories, opportunities to share in fellowship

  • Sustainable funding of a staff equipped to serve St. Augustine’s parish and community

  • Ensuring that our buildings and properties are kept in good repair, providing members and guests with safe and hospitable spaces to share in worship and fellowship and service and teaching

  • Moving away from reliance on the responsible disbursement of our endowment to fund our operating budget, toward the goal of making those funds available for special projects in the future

Who should pledge?

Members long-time and brand-new, friends, visitors—anyone who values and wants to support, in a tangible way, St. Augustine’s mission and ministries.

How much to pledge?

There is no one answer. We are all shaped by our life events and the generation into which we were born. Our motivations may differ from others who give. In prayer, consider these questions:

  • How has St. Augustine’s shaped my life and the lives of the people I love?

  • What would be, for me, a significant contribution?

  • What percentage of my household income do I currently give to St. Augustine’s? How does this echo God’s generous gifts to me?

  • What did I pledge to the church last year or the past several years? Am I able to increase that gift?

What if I can’t give very much?

It’s not about comparing yourself to others; small pledges matter just as much as larger ones. They create an opportunity for long-term financial growth and they diversify the church’s funding. They also reflect the many facets of our community. We are a gathering of large and small families, single adults, and couples, all with varying abilities to give. Even if you can’t incrementally grow your pledge every year, it still contributes to our overall goal. Just like an ecosystem with large and small organisms, we all have a part to play in the financial health of our church.

Is a tithe the same as a pledge?

“Tithe” simply means “tenth,” and it is a pledge to give ten percent of your income. But your pledge can be a different percentage, giving in a way that recognizes your circumstances. When giving proportionally:

  • You set aside your first fruits, dedicating a portion of your income to God. This is a sacred act.

  • Your financial gift rises and falls with your income–it is right-sized to your household.

Giving back to God is a life-time journey; setting a percentage allows you to increase your giving over time.

What’s the average annual gift to St. Augustine’s?

For 2023, we were blessed to receive 96 pledges, with an average pledge amount of $3,984. The median amount was $2,650.

Amount Pledged          Number of Gifts Received

$1 < $1,000                             16

$1,000 < $5,000                      53

$5,000 < $10,000                    20

$10,000+                                 7

Proportional giving percentages

Income            1%                   3%                   5%                   7%                   10%

$50,000           $500                $1,500             $2,500             $3,500              $5,000

$75,000           $750                $2,250             $3,750             $5,250              $7,500

$100,000         $1,000             $3,000             $5,000              $7,000             $10,000

$250,000         $2,500             $7,500             $12,500            $17,500           $25,000

How can I make my pledge?

  • Complete a Certificate of Giving (available from the church office) and return by mail or in person

  • Use our online certificate of giving: www.staschurch.org/onlinepledge

  • Log in to your Realm profile at www.onrealm.org; click the “Giving” tab on the left, then the “ + Pledge” button at the top of your Giving page. You can also set up payment options there, which include a direct debit from your bank account (preferred) or debit/credit cards. If you have questions about how to do this, please contact treasurers Gray Curchin or Mark Farrell.

Does St. A’s allow for stock or IRA donations?

Yes. And making a gift from your Required Minimum IRA Distribution could reduce your tax bill. Delivering highly appreciated long term stock holdings from a taxable investment account can also be beneficial tax-wise. We encourage you to discuss this with your financial advisor.

Who should I talk to if I have more questions?

Making a financial gift to the church is both a practical and a spiritual effort. If you have questions about either of these aspects and would like to talk more about your offering, please contact our rector, The Rev. Nadia Stefko, one of our wardens, Carolyn Eby and Dave Carley; or one of our treasurers, Gray Curchin and Mark Farrell.