CampuSource Reunites with Episcopal Church Foundation to Increase Resources
Episcopal News Service. July 31, 2006 [073106-2-A]
CampuSource has strengthen its portfolio of resources to campus ministries by returning to the fold of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF.)
"It just makes sense to bring CampuSource back under the Foundation’s umbrella, and assist campus ministries to develop the resources they need," Donald V. Romanik, ECF president, said. "The mission of the Foundation’s Giving Services is exactly that, to help Episcopal entities develop financial resources for ministry."
CampuSource began as a pilot program of ECF, becoming a separate entity at General Convention 2003. Since that time CampuSource has worked with more than 70 campus ministries, either individually or as part of a diocesan cluster.
Its board of directors voted, effective July 1, to no longer be an independent organization and entrusted its responsibilities for addressing fundraising needs of Episcopal campus ministries to the ECF.
"Over time we have come to realize that we can be even more effective as a part of ECF," Myra Blackmon, CampuSource board chair, said. "It is the best way to meet our mission to help campus ministries grow so they can serve God and the Church."
ECF has expanded its Giving Services to include a full array of fundraising resources for Episcopal organizations, including annual giving, planned giving, capital campaigns and endowment management services, the synergies between the two organizations are stronger than ever. Campus ministry clients will have access to all the expertise and resources provided by ECF, while enabling ECF to focus on strengthening the grassroots of the Episcopal Church for their mission and ministry.
CampuSource has also partnered with the Office of Young Adult and Higher Education Ministries to provide stewardship and fundraising training to college chaplains. The Rev. Douglas Fenton, staff officer for Young Adult & Higher Education Ministries said, "At a time when campus ministries are being revitalized in dioceses across the church, this fills a vital need."
"Joining with ECF will provide a lot more infrastructure, stability and staff support for all the chaplaincies that we are working with," said ECF's Anne Ditzler.
Ditzler served as executive director of CampuSource and will continue to serve as the primary consultant for these ministries only now as ECF staff.
"My hopes are that we can reach even more campus ministries now that we’ve got the resources of the foundation behind us," she said. "And for the foundation, I hope that this new focus will say to all of those ministries in the Episcopal Church that we can help you develop your mission and raise funds to do it."