Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge implements interactive stewardship and e-tithing system

Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana to implement interactive stewardship and e-tithing system designed by PlannedLegacy Inc. and Fundraising Solutions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information contact:
George Williams
Communications Specialist
PlannedLegacy Inc.
(204) 943-3923 Ext. 302
E-Mail: gwilliams@plannedlegacy.com
Web: http://www.plannedlegacy.com

Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge implements interactive stewardship and e-tithing system

Winnipeg, MB – April 11, 2003 – PlannedLegacy Inc. of Winnipeg, Canada, in partnership with Fundraising Solutions of York Harbor, Maine, has been contracted to design and implement an interactive stewardship and e-tithing system for the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Initially, the new system will include an interactive touch-screen kiosk capable of accepting electronic donations via cash, check or credit card. The kiosk will feature a custom-designed multimedia presentation that will help educate parishioners and community members about the different facets of stewardship – such as prayer, ministry and finance. The presentation will also promote additional giving opportunities such as the Bishops Appeal and serve as a powerful community outreach program.

Parishioners and visitors will be able to join the stewardship system by entering information through an on-screen virtual keypad, after which they can make stewardship commitments in different areas. The stewardship of finance module will allow members to indicate their planned weekly, monthly or yearly commitments to the Diocese and will also give them the option of directing their financial contributions to different appeals listed and described on the kiosk.

The stewardship system, which will also be accessible via the Internet, will allow parishioners to access and update their stewardship profile as well as to make donations online. The Web component of the system will enable the Diocese to monitor system activity as well as track commitments and financial contributions in a number of different areas of their organization.

The Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge encompasses over 5400 square miles in 12 civil Parishes (counties) in south central Louisiana and serves a population of approximately 800,000 including 200,000 Catholics. The Diocese has 70 ecclesiastical parishes, two ethnic apostolates and two University chaplainries.

E-tithing is an emerging trend in religious philanthropy," said PlannedLegacy Vice President Mike Bazin. Combined with interactive stewardship it creates a whole new dimension in fundraising and communication."
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