Experts on religious fundraising conducted a seminar for nuns and UGCC Patriarchal Curia staff in Lviv

During April 22-24, an open seminar on “Fundraising as a capacity to contaminate others with the passions we live for” took place in the Acting Hall of the Lviv Institute of Banking.  The seminar was conducted by Rev. Wojciech Żmudziński SJ, deputy provincial of Wielkopolska-Mazowsze Province of the Society of Jesus for Education, director of Centrum Arrupe [Center for Education Leaders and Educators], chief editor of  the quarterly publication on education, Być dla innych [Existing for Others] and Rev. Artur Kolodziejczyk SJ from the European Center of Communication and Culture (ECCC) in Warsaw.  These trainers are highly qualified in the area of religious fundraising.  It was decided that this would be an open seminar, accessible to all interested.

Initiated by UGCC Patriarchal Curia Department of Development, this training was offered as part of the project, Certificate Program on Economic Disciplines for Sisters-economists of UGCC Congregations.

Participants in the seminar included UGCC nuns and staff of UGCC Department of Development of the Patriarchal Curia in Lviv.  The training covered such topics as: creating a positive image of an organization (community); public relations during crisis situations; a formalized approach towards fundraising; the leader’s role in fundraising and similar issues. At the end, all participants received a certificate of attendance.

In his comments to UGCC Department of Information, Rev.Wojciech  noted  that fundraising is an old tradition of the Catholic Church and that which is named so in contemporary times, in the past was known as “collections for the Church,” namely charity. “Most importantly, one must understand that fundraising is not a question of gathering funds, but rather an issue of gaining friends.  We are not seeking money, rather we are seeking friends who can cooperate with us,” noted the Jesuit priest.

He believes that those who aim to benefit from practicing fundraising, should primarily think about cooperation, rather than only about getting money for the realization of a project.  “The main mission of fundraising is cooperation and friendship.  Therefore, we should change our belief that it is the people who have money who should donate some of their money because we are doing something good and charitable,” he noted.

UGCC Department of Information