CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has reached a milestone in donations: receiving 25 gifts of $1 million or more – going to support parishes, schools, ministries and more. There has also been an increase in large-scale giving, with seven of those donations given within the past two years.
Donors are giving one-time gifts of cash or stock, pledging to capital campaigns or leaving estate gifts in their wills for the benefit of the diocese, the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, parishes, schools or agencies. Eleven of the 25 gifts are from the estates of parishioners.
The first $1 million gift was given in 1995 to benefit needy parishes in the diocese. The most recent $1 million gift was given this summer for the St. Joseph College Seminary capital campaign.
The 25 $1 million-plus gifts are going to support a wide range of efforts. Six are endowments. Five have been given to Catholic school capital campaigns. Five have been made to the diocese, and another three have been given to the diocese’s “Forward in Faith, Hope and Love” campaign. Two have been gifts to parishes, and the remaining four have gone to the St. Joseph College Seminary capital campaign.
“So many generous parishioners and so many gifts have changed the lives of both the donors and the recipients of the gifts,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director.
“We receive gifts in the hundreds, thousands and in the millions – and we’re grateful for them all,” he said. “There have been some individuals with significant financial resources who have had so much confidence in the Church’s leaders and commitment to their faith that they have given a million dollars or more.”
He added, “I invite more people with the financial means to be a part of our mission in this kind of significant way so they can impact the lives of people across western North Carolina.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Learn more
Interested in making a financial gift to the diocese, your parish or another entity in the Diocese of Charlotte? Give one-time gifts of cash or stock, pledge to a capital campaign or leave an estate gift in your will. For details, contact Jim Kelley at 704-370-3301 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..