|
Support with
money
There are, of course, many very wonderful things that can be done with
lots of money (and we deal with some of them elsewhere on this page or this
website); but none can equal the moral support of your becoming a member or
other supporter of the cause for which the chapter was formed. So please see
(and give priority to) the first item in the Support in
other ways section, in the
column to the right.
But getting back to money, here is a list of some of the methods that the
chapter uses to raise money (and it will be pleased to receive financial
support from you as well, irrespective of whether you are a member but always
in accordance with your means):
Sunday collection basket
Yes, we do pass the collection basket at Masses to help to cover the
day-to-day expenses (and we also put out a free-will-offering basket at
events that do cost the chapter money, for those inclined to help shoulder
the expenses).
Submission BY ZELLE
The chapter also accepts donations via Zelle. For instructions on
how one does that, click on NEWS in the banner at top any page of this
website to view a guide on making a submission via Zelle.
Fundraisers
Yes, we schedule some events for the express purpose of raising funds, for
the chapter's General Fund and, at least in some instances, for some specific
worthy cause. From time to time, during the back-to-school period or around a
major religious holiday, we raise funds for poor students of
a neighborhood school, to help pay for school clothes or a holiday meal that
their families could not otherwise afford.
Pledge Drive
In the Fall each year, we ask members to consider making a pledge of their
financial support for the upcoming year, to help the chapter Board in
adopting a budget. Just how and when the pledged amount is paid may vary,
from a single payment to two semi-annual payments to monthly payments to a
little extra on Sundays. The commitment to help support the chapter for the
upcoming year is what is important, not the payment method.
Spontaneous Donations
The chapter does accept, with no questions asked, your spontaneous generosity
in whatever amount you wish and with no commitment about how long it could be
before you do something like it again, if ever. Makes budgets a tad more
difficult, but we will deal with it.
Restricted Donations
Donations for some designated purpose
are accepted when the chapter has a fund for that particular purpose (and
otherwise, if approved by the chapter, and approval is usually routine).
Donations in this category range, for example, from a donation to the
chapter's AIDS Fund to donations to purchase flowers for use on the altar
during Mass to remember an anniversary of some kind. They are a wonderful way
to personalize a donation, just so long as the designated purpose is not too
kinky.
Estate Planning
We encourage members to include the chapter when they do their estate
planning, no matter the amount. We even conduct an estate planning seminar,
from time to time, in order to assist members in
facing up to a duty few really enjoy. Such efforts have borne fruit in the
past, especially in enabling the chapter to buy, and in short order pay for,
the building that houses the Dignity Center and to carry on generous AIDS
Fund efforts.
with money continues at the top of the next
column
|
with money (continued)
Membership Dues
In the interest of full disclosure: Dignity/USA remits to the chapter a small
portion of the membership dues paid by a chapter member. Needless to add,
Dignity/USA raises funds from sources other than membership dues as well; for
more info on its fundraising activities, click here.
*********************************
Support in other
ways
There are many ways that you can support the chapter besides donating
money. Below are listed just a few (and the first one listed is the most
important).
Becoming a member
The most effective way to demonstrate your support is to become a Dignity
member. It lends moral support; and it shows your support in a very concrete
way. When Dignity raises its voice in support of the GLBT cause, all will
listen more fully if it has really a lot of members. Help us amplify and
empower its voice by becoming a member yourself, even if you cannot afford to
pay dues. Click here
for more information on supporting Dignity, by becoming a Dignity member (or
otherwise); and please do not forget to also sign up there for Dignity's free
on-line News Service.
Spreading the word
This may be redundant; but...: If it helps to amplify and to empower
Dignity's voice for you yourself to become a member, think how much more it
would do so if you (and all the other members and supporters of Dignity) were
to persuade even a few friends to explore becoming Dignity supporters. Just
consider how much power you have to contribute to real reform of Church and Society!
Volunteering
The chapter (and all of Dignity) is a volunteer effort. That means that it
operates only by virtue of the members who volunteer their services; and more
volunteers are always welcome. It may be simply a matter of volunteering to
help with some existing chapter activity (and that is how most volunteering
gets started). Also significant, however, is a member who volunteers both a
good idea and also some time to work on implementing
the idea (usually with help from others also). That is precisely how many of
the best chapter projects got their start.
Networking
Since volunteering has already been mentioned, just what does networking add?
If everything needed were planned perfectly in advance, the volunteer work
might cover it; but, of course, not all needs are covered by planning. We are
a faith community; and salvation takes place in community. That means that we
all need to be attentive to the needs of each member of the community. In a
theological manner of speaking, we really do need to be Christ to one
another, on a continual basis; or, as President Kennedy famously phrased it
in his inaugural address, "On this Earth, God's work must truly be our
own."
|
|
Support with
money
While the chapter's financial resources are limited (and we do not serve
as a conduit for funds from governmental agencies or any other
organizations), we do have some resources and are sometimes able to assist
those found to be most in need, including:
AIDS Fund
We are blessed with an AIDS Fund. At this time, the
Fund primarily contributes to organizations that have staff and facilities to
use funds most effectively to assist individuals who are most in need.
However, it can sometimes assist an individual directly, primarily long-time
chapter members and for emergency necessities that agencies are unable to
provide in a timely manner.
AIDS Service Center
The chapter has a long-standing relationship with the local AIDS Service
Center, to assist it. Sometimes the aid is cash but often it is in-kind
assistance. Monthly, donations are gathered and delivered to the Service
Center to help it in aiding those with HIV/AIDS, primarily the poor in need
of basic supplies.
Neighborhood school
There is a neighborhood school close to Dignity Center. Sadly, there are many
students there whose families have only limited financial resources. At the
start of each school year and around major religious holidays, we contribute
funds to assist those who are most in need, whether it be for their school
clothes or foodstuffs for a holiday meal or whatever.
Special needs
Even though there cannot be a regular schedule, special needs do come up,
from time to time. The members (and other supporters) who can afford to do so
(and the chapter itself, if it itself can afford to do so) may be asked to
make a special donation, so a contribution can be made in the name of
Dignity. For example, this was done to assist the victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
|
Support in other
ways
As church
For most of us, Dignity serves as a church. Although it is a church-reform
movement more than a church as such (and it is not
subject to the jurisdiction of any church as such), it serves in the
meantime the functions usually performed by a church. When we go to Mass, it
is usually to go to Mass at Dignity Center; when we become ill and are in need of the Sacraments, we call Dignity; and the
list goes on and on.
Networking
Though we listed networking as something that you can do to contribute to
Dignity, it needs to be mentioned again at this point, because the networking
that we do is in a very real sense a gift given to ourselves. The social
networking we provide is the social network from which we benefit; in other
words, what goes around comes around.
Intangible spiritual benefits
Those who itemize their deductions on their income tax returns will know that
to deduct a donation to an eligible organization, it has to
be a real donation for the benefit of the charitable (or other tax-exempted)
purpose(s) of the organization; i.e. it cannot be
simply a disguised way of buying something. Using bureaucratic jargon, this
legal requirement is reflected in an IRS requirement that the receipts for
donations to tax-exempt organizations are to recite that the donor did not
receive anything in return for having made a donation; but in recognition
that the Spirit will (or, more importantly in legal jargon, may be believed
by the taxpayer to) provide a reward, the IRS recognizes (and thus it permits
the required receipt for a donation to recognize) an exception for the
donor's having been the ricipient of an
"intangible spiritual benefit" for having made the donation. We do
hope that, in this limited instance at least, you will concur with the IRS:
there is an intangible spiritual benefit to you when you contribute to the
chapter, irrespectiveof
whether the nature of your donation (and your tax situation) makes it of
interest to the IRS. For the Spirit doth reward!!
|
