The Preservation & Promise campaign is a capital and ministry campaign that will focus on what our parish commission and staff leaders, along with Fr. Greg, have prayerfully discerned to be the most critical investment needs for our building and parish ministries. This $25 million fundraising effort is unprecedented in our church history, and we are so grateful to those families and foundations who have already helped us raise over $20 million. Throughout our planning and fundraising, we have relied on the wisdom and support of parish staff, lay volunteer leadership, the University of San Francisco, and the Loyola House Jesuit community. We now ask that every family in our parish take the time to prayerfully determine how they can be involved in securing the future of our cherished building and the programs that make our community so meaningful to so many people in San Francisco and beyond. 
 

A series of professional studies have revealed significant restoration needs which threaten our building’s structural integrity if they are not promptly addressed. The scope of this work cannot be met by our operational budget and small existing maintenance fund. The total $25 million campaign goal represents over ten times what we normally receive in donations each year. This means we need to make special requests of families now, for priorities that cannot wait.

Every family who attends St. Ignatius Parish, as well as all those who feel affection for our building and community, will be asked to prayerfully consider a financial pledge to this campaign. We are also reaching beyond our community to enlist the support of generous donors in San Francisco, Catholic philanthropic foundations, and other sources. All of this support will be needed to reach our ambitious $25 million goal this year. 

Yes. Your generosity is essential to fund regular operations at the parish. We depend on normal contributions to “keep the lights on” here at St. Ignatius Parish, to staff our programs, and to continue our worship, gatherings, ministries, and outreach each week. Many families have just recently made an annual fund commitment for this fiscal year, and we are incredibly grateful.  Gifts to the Preservation & Promise campaign should be considered as special, sacrificial commitments toward an exceptional undertaking.

Given the size and complexity of this project and its importance to our parish’s future, we ask that the first gift you give be that of your time and attention. We want to provide a dedicated space for you to understand the full scope of our work, hear from parish families who have already decided to support the campaign, and ask any questions you may have before determining how your family would like to be involved. Included in this packet you will find several tours and events that you can sign up for. Before you commit to an amount, please come chat with us at a tour or event, make sure you have all your questions answered, and spend time in reflection on the impact you would like to make on the parish’s future. 
 

Our $25 million campaign goal is exponentially larger than our parish’s $2.1 million annual operations budget, and consequently, we are inviting every member of our community to consider responding in kind with a significantly larger gift than they might normally make to our parish. We based our requests on each family’s previous personal and financial commitments to St. Ignatius Parish; however, we recognize that every family’s financial situation is unique. We hope you will view this request not as an expectation – this is an extraordinary request, after all, and we place no judgement on the amount you or anyone will make – but as an invitation to a sacrificial, ongoing partnership with our parish that will have a tremendous impact on our church today and for generations to come.

As St. Ignatius Church is owned by the Loyola House Jesuit Community rather than the Archdiocese, the AD is not involved in the direction, fundraising, financial support, or other aspect of this project. No part of any campaign gift will be sent to the Archdiocese.

Stewardship is a form of worship in which we, as Catholics, receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, and share them lovingly. We return these gifts with loving increase to the Lord. Stewardship is the generous giving of one’s time, talent and treasure as lay minsters and faithful donors. Sacrificial giving means to give out of one’s substance rather than merely the surplus. The amount is different for everyone, but includes giving that brings about a positive spiritual change in you and that of your family. It is for this reason, also, that we hope you will have a thoughtful conversation with a campaign staff member or volunteer before considering the amount of investment you will make in this effort. 

Every gift to this campaign is meaningful and we look forward to acknowledging all our donors on our website, in donor lists, and in personal communication. We are developing plans for a comprehensive physical donor wall and will share more as details become available. 

Commitments of $25,000 and above are eligible for select physical recognition options within the church, including small plaques on our pews. If a physical recognition option is of interest to you, please contact our Campaign Associate Francine Brown at [email protected]