The Annual Catholic Appeal is an annual fundraising campaign that supports the parishes, schools, ministries, programs and agencies that serve the educational, physical and spiritual needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Through Catholic Relief Services, the Appeal also serves people around the world.

Click here to make your Annual Catholic Appeal gift online or call our office at 312.534.7959.

Through the generosity of parishioners, annual second collection appeals support the Church’s works of social justice, evangelization, catechesis, and national and local institutional development, domestically and around the world.

To donate to the Latin America collection, click here.

To donate to the Central and Eastern European collection, click here.

To donate to the Holy Land collection, click here.

To donate to Seminarian Education, click here.

To donate to Peter’s Pence, click here.

Support your parish at this critical time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges to the Archdiocese of Chicago and our parishes, including offertory funds lost due to the suspension of public liturgies..

Parishes rely on the generosity of their members to cover expenses related to ministry, maintenance, staffing, community outreach programs and other pressing needs.

Please consider using this online link to make a one-time or recurring gift to your parish and support the vital ministries and services it provides. Please select your parish name from the drop-down menu on the form.

Catholic schools are based on a strong foundation of faith formation and academic excellence, serving 45,000 students across 162 schools. The vision of our schools is to provide all people in the Archdiocese of Chicago with vibrant, high quality Catholic schools that are available, accessible and affordable. 

Using this form you can make a gift to any school operated by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Just select your school from the drop down menu. Apart from a nominal credit card transaction fee, 100% of donated funds will go to the school. You can make a one-time or recurring gift.

Make a gift online.

Please send your check to:

Archdiocese of Chicago
Office of Stewardship and Development
835 North Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Make checks payable to Archdiocese of Chicago. If you would like to direct your gift to a specific fund or initiative, please indicate it on the memo line.  

To make a gift over the phone, please call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 312.534.7959.

Thank you for considering a gift of stock to an Archdiocese initiative, parish, ministry, or school. To ensure we are able to appropriately process and allocate your generous donation, please follow these steps to initiate the process for a stock donation:

1. Please complete the electronic Letter of Intention form, which is available online here.
2. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed instructions on how to complete your gift of stock. Please follow those instructions.
3. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Whitehead in the Archdiocese Stewardship and Development Office at (312) 534-7461 or [email protected]

You can make a gift of securities or stock through an electronic transfer or a physical transfer of stock certificates. Please follow the instructions above for either type of gift.

If you are 70½ years old or older, an IRA charitable rollover is a simple way to benefit the Archdiocese of Chicago and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to a qualified charity, including the Archdiocese of Chicago, without having to pay income taxes on the money.

This law no longer has an expiration date, so you are free to make annual gifts to our organization this year and well into the future.

Why Consider This Gift?

• If you have not yet taken your required minimum distribution for the year, your IRA charitable rollover gift can satisfy all or part of that requirement.
• Your gift will be put to use today, allowing you to see the difference your donation is making.
• You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer does not generate a taxable income or a tax deduction. This means that you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm turning age 70½ in a few months. Can I make this gift now?
No. The legislation requires you to reach age 70½ by the date you make the gift.

My spouse and I would like to give more than $100,000. How can we do that?
If you have a spouse (as defined by the IRS) who is 70½ or older and has an IRA, he or she can also give up to $100,000 from his or her IRA.

I have several retirement accounts—some are pensions and some are IRAs. Does it matter which retirement account I use?
Yes. Direct rollovers to a qualified charity can be made only from an IRA. Under certain circumstances, however, you may be able to roll assets from a pension, profit sharing, 401(k) or 403(b) plan into an IRA and then make the transfer from the IRA directly to the Archdiocese of Chicago. To determine if a rollover to an IRA is available for your plan, speak with your plan administrator.

Do I need to give my entire IRA to be eligible for the tax benefits?
No. You can give any amount under this provision, if it is $100,000 or less this year. If your IRA is valued at more than $100,000, you can transfer a portion of it to fund a charitable gift.

I have two charities I want to support. Can I give $100,000 from my IRA to each?
No. Under the law, you can give a maximum of $100,000. For example, you can give each organization $50,000 this year or any other combination that totals $100,000 or less. Any amount of more than $100,000 in one year must be reported as taxable income.

Can my gift be used as my required minimum distribution under the law?
Yes, absolutely. If you have not yet taken your required minimum distribution, the IRA charitable rollover gift can satisfy all or part of that requirement. Contact your IRA custodian to complete the gift.

I've already named the Archdiocese of Chicago as the beneficiary of my IRA. What are the benefits if I make a gift now instead of after my lifetime?
By making a gift this year of up to $100,000 from your IRA, you can see your philanthropic dollars at work. You are jump-starting the legacy you would like to leave and giving yourself the joy of watching your philanthropy take shape. Moreover, you can fulfill any outstanding pledge you may have made by transferring that amount from your IRA if it is $100,000 or less for the year.

The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

Matching gifts can double or even triple your personal gift to the Archdiocese. Under a matching gift program, your contribution is matched with your company's or corporate foundation's funds. Many companies also match gifts made by spouses of employees and those retired from the company. Ask your employer about its specific requirements and ways to use its program.

For assistance, please contact Karen Whitehead at 312.534.7461 or [email protected].

Planned gifts such as bequests, gift annuities, charitable trusts and other planned gifts provide individuals with the opportunity to make a lasting impact after they are born to eternal life.

Making a planned gift is easier than you think. Whether you are just beginning to think about your legacy or working with a financial advisor to finalize your estate plans, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how a planned gift can help you realize current and long-term financial goals, provide for your family, and make a lasting impact at the Archdiocese of Chicago.

For more information regarding planned gifts, please contact [email protected].