Thank You Donors!

Celebrating a Return to the Joys of Giving, Receiving, and Thanking

Photo: Matthew Golem

The end of the Canada Post strike this past December was a joyful moment for many Canadians—a relief for small businesses, to be sure, but also for shut-ins awaiting necessary items, for parents trying to assemble gifts under the Christmas tree, for those of us who like to send birthday cards and still pay bills by cheque. It was a joy for many Canadian charities that rely on mail to reach their supporters, especially during the holiday season. For me, it meant the return of some particular joys I get to experience as Executive Director of an organization that both receives donations and also provides grants—primarily by mail—joys of giving, receiving, and thanking.

Giving. The strike occurred just as AFC’s board met in November to make granting decisions. We had so many grant cheques to send! There were 17 envelopes with bursary funds totaling $39,000 for students pursuing theological education. There were another 42 envelopes, totaling $63,000, the first-ever disbursements from the ACW Council of the North Retired Clergy Fund, addressed to retired non-stipendiary clergy in the north. 2024 will be AFC’s 4th consecutive year granting over $1 million dollars across the country, with awards being provided to all 30 dioceses. Giving grants and bursary funds to Canadian Anglicans who are serving and caring for their communities—what could be more joyful?!

Receiving. These past few weeks it has also been a joy to receive many envelopes in return, carrying your year-end donations to our office. Once again, AFC donors have responded generously to the annual fundraising effort, expected to total more than $205,000—$178,000 in annual membership donations, plus over $27,000 in donations to AFC’s core granting funds, including the new Community Ministries Fund. You have responded generously to special funding requests as well, such as the Say Yes! to Kids campaign, and the establishment of the new Archbishop Linda Nicholls Theological Education Fund. It’s always a joy to read your affirming comments, entrusting AFC with your gifts, and celebrating the ways that we supported transformative ministry.

Thanking. The largest stack of envelopes, by far, were the ones expressing our thanks to you for your support of the Foundation. I couldn’t wait to get them out the door! I personally sign every thank you letter sent from our office, and it is a great joy to take that time to express my gratitude, often with handwritten notes of thanks for your faithful support. It’s a joy to stop the busy pace of emails and meetings and minutes and presentations and recognize the thousands of Canadian Anglicans who contribute to our work.

It’s the start of a new year. We have with four grant cycles to look forward to. We have another Say Yes! To Kids campaign in the works, and there will be many more envelopes coming and going, each one a reminder of our joyful and enduring collaboration in giving, receiving, and thanking for the good of all.

AFC’s annual report to donors will be published in May and will include the final results of the 2024 appeal as well as recognition of all 2024 members. To find out the status of your annual membership, contact Michelle Hauser, AFC’s Development & Communications Officer at [email protected]. To renew or become a member, visit www.anglicanfoundation.org/membership.