Reflections on Fundraising & the Cornerstone Campaign

David Kent

While our current fundraising efforts for the Accessibility Atrium at St. Thomas’s will continue for the foreseeable future, it might be useful to recall an earlier experience the parish had with raising an ambitious amount of capital funding.

In the late 1980s, St. Thomas’s was looking ahead to the centennial of its Eden Smith building in 1993. In 1988, Vestry approved a five-year fundraising campaign as well as the appointment of a campaign director, Tony Mawer. Roger Hughes took on the campaign chairship, and Mary Lewis became steering committee chair. The campaign name was coined by Earl Barnsley: “Let’s Celebrate the Place.”

What some parishioners later described as quite aggressive fundraising strategies did successfully secure financial commitments from about 280 parishioners for over $900,000. Together with a number of small improvements, including roof repairs, these funds were destined for three major initiatives: the diocesan program “Faith in Action” ($116,000); the rebuilding and upgrading of the church’s Guilbault-Thérien organ ($360,000); and the removal of carpet and the installation of a new tile floor in the church. While the floor was being installed during the summer of 1990, our liturgical services moved to the chapel of Trinity College. The organ renewal was completed shortly after that time, and the inaugural concert by Gerre Hancock (St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City) on May 1, 1991, attracted 350 people.

In the parish newsletter for Michaelmas 1988, a brief report from the churchwardens refers to an early “furor over fund-raising tactics,” specifically some “‘fake’ headlines in a recent fund-raising appeal which suggested the imminent demise of some very sacred practices at St. Thomas’s Church.” I don’t recall this specific controversy, but I do remember a level of discomfort being expressed by a number of parishioners with the approach taken to the campaign, and I especially recall the lamented departure of at least one couple from the parish as a direct result.

I allude to this earlier campaign only to highlight the different style of the successful Cornerstone Campaign of the past year. In contrast to the earlier top-down approach, M&M International, led by consultants Martha Asselin and Sarah McCarthy, began by assessing parish capacity for giving by interviewing interested parishioners. M&M provided proven templates for all aspects of the process and guided the campaign leadership team with informed advice born of much experience in this field.

Having myself then witnessed over the past year the sacrificial labour of Michael Rowland, Crystal Sayler, Lorne Swan, Kevin Blagrave, Julia Armstrong, Heather Gibson, and Rob Kennedy, the collaboration and counsel of honorary co-chairs Alix Arnett and John Fraser; and the skillful management of the many volunteer ambassadors by Jim Webster and Phil Spencer (as well as the providential appearance of retired fundraiser Richard Thompson), I can only express — on every parishioner’s behalf — admiration and gratitude for all their efforts.

The committee, from left: Jim Webster, Crystal Sayler, Heather Gibson, Lorne Swan, Alix Arnett, Fr. Humphrey, Michael Rowland, Sarah McCarthy, Martha Asselin, Richard Thompson, and David Kent. (Not pictured: Kevin Blagrave, Phil Spencer, John Fraser, Julia Armstrong.)

At the centre of all the activity has been Fr. Nathan, a person with an abundance of special gifts, not least of which are his outstanding organizational abilities, his communication skills, and his detailed knowledge of all aspects of the project. He is also an astute strategist and an engaging spokesperson in discussions with diocesan authorities and donors. Above all, his unwavering, faithful commitment to the Accessibility Atrium project has inspired all the volunteers, who recognize it as crucial to the future health of the parish.

Remarkably, since his arrival in 2021 Fr. Nathan has managed to address all the key elements of accessibility that have dogged the parish for decades. First, the sound system, so long discussed and never realized, has finally been put in place; second, a new heating and spot-cooling system for the church has been integrated into the whole undertaking; third, and most important, an Atrium with internal ramp, elevator, and universal washroom to facilitate access and movement between church and parish hall will finally be installed. This latter issue was also much discussed and debated in the past. I know, too, that at one point nearly thirty years ago, parish inaction on accessibility led to the departure of people committed to it. And there are many related benefits and updates that will be part of this needed and essential renewal of our facilities. Thank you, Fr. Nathan, for overseeing this project with such skill and sensitivity.

We are two-thirds of the way towards the financial goal. Applications to government programs as well as corporate and family foundations are ongoing thanks to the dedicated work of Richard Thompson and Michael Rowland (107 submitted to date!). If financing can be arranged, construction could begin in a matter of months. If you haven’t yet pledged financial support to the campaign, please consider doing so. Information folders and pledge forms are available at the back of the church and can be discussed at any time with any of the people mentioned above.

David Kent

Cornerstone Campaign Co-chair