This document provides instructions and templates for parish staff to produce end-of-year tax letters for donors, customize the financial section of stewardship bulletins, and utilize an "other half" worksheet to help parishioners plan their charitable giving. It includes steps to generate tax letters in the parish database software, suggested content for bulletin articles on the parish mission and weekly collections, and a downloadable worksheet to guide parishioners in allocating their donations between the parish and other charities.

2. • COMPLETE PDS INSTRUCTIONS ON PRODUCING THE
END-OF-YEAR TAX LETTER.
• TEMPLATE EXAMPLES FOR THE FINANCIAL SECTION
OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP BULLETIN COLUMNS.
• OTHER-HALF WORKSHEET

3. IF YOU USE PDS AND WANT STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS, SCREEN
SHOTS ARE ATTACHED AS A PDF TO THE EMAIL. OTHERWISE,
FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
CONTRIBUTIONS>TAX REPORTS>END OF YEAR DONOR SUBSTANTIATIONS>LETTER
LAYOUT>MODIFY THE BODY OF THE LETTER*>SELECT FUNDS TO PRINT>SELECT
FAMILIES (MAKE SURE YOU CHECK ACTIVE & INACTIVE BOXES)
* WE SUGGEST THAT YOU EMPHASIZE YOUR PARISH’S MISSION/GOALS WHEN YOU
MODIFY THE LETTER.

4. Supporting not just the Parish, but our Community
We often hear from parishioners who want to know how their donations (not just money!!) are making a difference in the
lives of others.
Mission Update!
• Through our food bank, we were able to feed 1200 families this year
• Knights of Columbus were able to donate 12,000 hours to our parish and community
• We were able to provide 20 families with scholarships for religious education this past year
• The pastoral outreach center was able provide 650 meals to homebound elderly people living within our parish
boundaries
• Youth group spent a week on mission in South Dakota helping to clean up an entire community
You’re helping to make our parish ---- our community a better place!
Customize the above article to reflect the
mission of your parish
Besides articulating Mission of your Parish in Tax Letter, see bulletin article below.

5. WANT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR ONLINE GIVERS
TO ACCESS THEIR TAX INFO?
• MOST ONLINE GIVING PROVIDERS I.E. VANCO AND OSV, HAVE A HISTORY
GIVING/SUMMARY TAB SO THAT PARISHIONERS CAN IMMEDIATELY ACCESS
THEIR TAX INFO.
• IF YOUR PROVIDER DOES, WE SUGGEST LETTING YOUR PARISHIONERS KNOW
THROUGH EMAIL OR IN BULLETIN THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THE SITE AND GET
THEIR TAX INFO RIGHT AWAY.
A GREAT WAY TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE
TO YOUR PARISHIONERS!

7. WEEKLY COLLECTION INCLUDING WEEKLY ONLINE GIVING
• SUNDAY COLLECTION: $4,870.00
• WEEKLY ONLINE GIVING: $930.00
• TOTAL WEEKLY COLLECTION: $5,800.00
• BUDGETED WEEKLY GOAL: $5,300.00
• WEEKLY GOAL: OVER-BUDGET $500.00
• ACTUAL YEAR-TO-DATE GIVING: $175,000.00
• (JULY 1, 2015 – DEC. 31, 2015)
• BUDGETED YEAR-TO-DATE GOAL: $173,000.00
• (JULY 1, 2014 – DEC. 31, 2014
• OVER BUDGETED GOAL Y-T-D: $2,000.00
It is important to report your Parish Stewardship Collections in your Bulletin.
Please see below a suggested template for weekly collections that include the
online giving in parishes who report it weekly.

8. WEEKLY COLLECTION PLUS MONTHLY ONLINE GIVING
• SUNDAY COLLECTION: $4,870.00
• ONLINE GIVING FOR MONTH OF DECEMBER $4,120.00
• TOTAL WEEKLY COLLECTION $9,990.00
(INCLUDES MONTHLY ONLINE GIFTS FOR DECEMBER)
• BUDGETED WEEKLY GOAL: $5,300.00
• OVER WEEKLY GOAL: $4,690.00
• ACTUAL YEAR-TO-DATE GIVING: $175,000.00
• (JULY 1, 2015 – DEC. 31, 2015)
• BUDGETED YEAR-TO-DATE GOAL: $173,000.00
• (JULY 1, 2015 – DEC. 31, 2015)
• OVER BUDGETED GOAL Y-T-D: $2,000.00
Please see below a suggested template for weekly collections that include
the online giving in parishes who report it monthly.

9. Total online giving for the month of December: $8,120.00*
*This amount includes 76 gifts for Sacrificial Giving, Holy Days,
Building Fund and Peters Pence. Thanks to all who use online
giving. If you wish to learn more about signing up for online giving,
please visit our website or call the office.
We have just received our 4th Annual Appeal rebate check in
the amount of $1,720.89. This makes a total year-to-date
rebate of $8,120.79 that will be used to (i.e., remodel the
kitchen, pave the parking lot, fund a shelter, etc. etc.) Thank you
to all who have paid AND continue to pay their Annual Appeal
pledge.
Suggested bulletin text at the beginning of each month
for reporting online giving ‘gifts’ for the previous month
Suggested bulletin text at the beginning of each
month for parishes who are starting to receive Annual
Appeal rebates.

10. • USE THIS AS A
BULLETIN INSERT TO
HELP YOUR
PARISHIONER’S PLAN
THEIR GIVING.
• IT IS DOWNLOADABLE
FROM OUR WEBSITE
UNDER ‘PARISH
RESOURCES.’
Other Half Worksheet
A worksheet to help you plan and budget your giving to charity
All of us receive requests from many charities throughout the year - and sometimes our response is one
of weariness or anxiety. Why me? My resources are limited? How can I take care of them all?
But these various requests present the opportunity to plan our giving - to share the blessings God has
given us, and experience the joy of sharing.
We are asked to split our gift in half - One half to the parish,
and the other half to charities of our choice.
The total amount I plan on giving to the parish and other charities is: $________
Suggested ½ to the Parish equals: $________
Some Charities to Consider for the ‘Other Half’
Local Assistance for the needs in our Archdiocese
St. Vincent De Paul $_________
Catholic Community Services (December) $_________
Provides social services support to families throughout Washington
Catholic Schools $_________
Elementary school and high school fund drives
Annual Catholic Appeal (May) $_________
Funds a wide range of archdiocesan programs and services
Other (NW Catholic Communications Campaign – Jan; Priest Pension-Oct.; etc) $_________
Special National and International Church Collections
Catholic Relief Services and Rice Bowl Collection (March) $_________
Supports Catholic Relief Services overseas plus 25% goes to local
hunger projects
Catholic Home Missions (February) $_________
Funds a wide range of pastoral services plus maintenance of Missions
in the US and includes the training of seminarians and lay ministers
(A percentage of this collection will go toward Black and Indian Missions)
Peter’s Pence (June) $_________
Helps Catholics join the charitable works of the Holy Father in helping relieve the
suffering of the world’s most vulnerable victims of war, poverty and oppression
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (September) $_________
Addresses root causes of poverty in our country and funds self-help
organizations and transformative education
World Mission Sunday (October) $_________
Supports Catholic missionary efforts throughout the world
Other Charities (e.g. United Way, etc.)
_________________________________________________________________ $__________
______________________________________________________ $__________