The Importance of Giving

Stewardship is the recognition that all we have is a gift from God and is central to the continued vitality of our faith community. In addition to the many opportunities to get involved in parish life, your financial support of the parish is a reflection of your pride in it and a strong sense of ownership and responsibility. In addition, we rely on your continued support to keep the parish running; over 90% of our parish operating budget comes from your donations.

ICSJ Parish offers a variety of convenient options to support the parish:

Make an Online Donation with GiveCentral or Venmo

One-time donations are easy to make using either GiveCentral, our secure, online giving service, or Venmo. Venmo users can send payments to either venmo@icsjparish.org or the username ICSJ-Chicago.

Schedule Regular Donations with our Electronic Giving Program

Electronic Giving, or e-Giving, allows you to easily plan and maintain a consistent giving level throughout the year, even when you’re unable to attend Mass. This consistency also greatly benefits the parish by helping it save money and plan its own budget (parishes who have 30% or more of membership contributing through e-giving tend to operate in the black!). See our e-giving FAQ below. To enroll, follow the instructions in the last FAQ item, How Do I Sign Up?

  • Why should I consider E-Giving?

    There are many reasons, but the most important one might be that E-Giving allows you to easily plan and maintain a consistent giving level throughout the year, even when you’re unable to attend Mass. This consistency also greatly benefits the parish by helping it save money and plan its own budget.

  • How does E-Giving work?

    Basically, your contribution amount is automatically and securely transferred from your credit card or bank account to the Parish bank account at regular intervals. You can essentially "set it and forget it." You choose the amount and the intervals and our service provider GiveCentral does the rest. You can set up recurring weekly, monthly, or annual contributions to suit your budget. You can even set the withdrawal date or change your contribution amount at any time.

  • If I use my credit card for payments, will I still receive program rewards?

    Yes. Your contribution is considered a normal charge on your card, so you'll rack up even more points towards your rewards. Pretty slick!

  • I'm uncomfortable with not putting something in the collection basket.

    You're not alone. Many people don't want to give the appearance that they're not giving and/or they want to set a good example for their children. There are a couple of options that will let you take advantage of all the benefits of online giving:

    • You can place a green "I Gave Using E-Giving" card in the collection basket; cards can be found in the back of the church.
    • Many parishioners set up a plan where they designate a portion of their weekly contribution to GiveCentral then use it in conjunction with their weekly offertory envelopes (which you may still choose to receive, by the way).
  • Will my personal information be safe?

    GiveCentral protects your account information with industry standard data encryption. This means your personal information is guaranteed to be safe and secure. Read more here under the Security tab.

  • Is there a fee?

    No. Not only is the service free but it also saves you any costs associated with writing a check each week. Applicable fees may still apply if you set up your account with your credit card.

  • How will I know if my contribution is being made?

    GiveCentral contributions are made at regular intervals of your choosing, and will reflect on your monthly bank or credit card statement just like any other transaction.

  • Will my contribution still be tax deductible?

    Yes. All contributions made with GiveCentral are tax deductible per 501(c)3 guidelines.

  • What if I decide I don't like E-Giving?

    You can cancel your account at any time, without any penalties, by simply calling the Parish Office.

  • How do I sign up?

    1. Visit the ICSJ GiveCentral page.
    2. Click on the Sunday Offering-ICSJ Parish icon.
    3. Complete the information under Make a Contribution; choose the frequency of your contributions (we recommend “Weekly”).
    4. Click the orange Add to my Gift Basket button.
    5. Confirm your contribution information then click the orange Continue button.
    6. Under Sign Up, click the orange Complete My Profile button.
    7. Complete the New User Registration form, including your payment information (remember, GiveCentral is safe and secure!).
    8. Click the Register and Confirm Gift button to complete the process.

    Remember, if you want to make changes to your scheduled contribution, just log in and edit your information.

Support Our Second & Special Collections

As Catholics, we are part of a universal Church that extends beyond our own parish boundaries. Second & Special collections combine our resources to support important causes that carry out the mission of the Church. Please mark you calendar with these dates and thank you for your generosity!

Donate Your Time and Talent

“Be the face of Jesus in today’s world” by donating your time and talent to the church, school and community.
Visit our Pathways to Discipleship page for ideas on how you can serve, grow, share, belong and pray.

Mail Your Donation

You can mail donations to:

Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph Parish
1107 N. Orleans Street, Chicago, IL 60610.

Consider our Other Financial Support Options

Take advantage of tax deductions for this tax year if your gift is made on or before December 31st.

Gifts of stocks and other securities, held more than one year, are excellent gifts. You may be able to deduct the stocks’ fair market value and avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation of the stock.

Consider gifts from an IRA as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).

Gift annuities are an option for parishioners wishing to donate to their parish over a long time frame.

Matching donations from your employer are an easy way to multiply your giving. Check to see if they offer this option.

To enroll in these various programs, or for more information, please submit our Information Request Form or contact Nancy Gies, our Parish Business Manager for more information.

Questions?

Please contact our Parish Business Manager, Nancy Gies, for more information.