You may have recently received a message from our new Annual Fund Co-Chairs, Mindi and Jeff Allen. “Annual Fund?” you ask. Yes. At the Congar Institute, we are reorganizing our fundraising so that we have a somewhat more intentional approach. While the changes are mostly internal, you may notice that we are taking a slightly more integrated approach. You won’t see many changes apart from a more consistent effort and a reorganization that integrates the assistance of our Co-Chairs.
Our good friends, Mindi and Jeff Allen have graciously agreed to co-chair this year’s Annual Fund in what we are calling a pilot effort. Mindi and Jeff know our programs from the inside because they have both been participants in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry formation program in the Salt Lake City Diocese. Jeff was in an earlier cohort and Mindi is in the current cohort. You were introduced to them in the Fall appeal letter last month. Jeff and Mindi have been strong supporters of the Congar Institute, and this gives them the opportunity to share with you their own experience of our services and their conviction about why it is important to support it. They are good models who offer a monthly sustaining contribution to the Congar Institute, which helps us to stabilize our financial base.
As you know, one of the commitments the Congar Institute makes is that our services will always be available at whatever rate a partner is able to pay. While we have a few ministry partners who are able to pay at the full rate, most receive our services at a discounted rate. It is the only way they are able to benefit from them. Therefore, we count on you, our supporters, to help make it possible that excellent resources for formation of lay ministers and lay leaders are available in places where otherwise they are not accessible. Our services are fueled by a mix of income from often discounted fees, the generosity of our Resource Persons, and the support of those who believe in our mission. Therefore, in the long Dominican tradition of mendicancy (or begging for our needs), asking for financial support from others who support our mission has always been central to that mission. Mindi and Jeff have graciously agreed to assist us in doing that. We are honored to have them as our first-ever Annual Fund Co-Chairs.