Campaign Update

A Solid Foundation

by John Donoghue, Co-chair, Cathedral for the Future campaign

More than five years ago, Dean Randy Hollerith approached Virginia Mars and me to co-chair a future capital campaign. He made it clear this effort was not just about funding the annual budget, or even about repairing the building. The campaign would be about shoring up the foundations of our Cathedral – missional, physical and financial – to allow us to reach new heights of ministry.

Randy wanted to build on the strength of the Cathedral in three areas: as a holy space, rooted in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ and fueled by compassion; as a space uniquely situated at the intersection of sacred and civic life; and as a refuge of beauty and wonder serving as the epicenter of healing in our relationships, in our souls and in our public life.

Inspired by Randy’s vision and our faith that we could achieve something together, Ginnie and I eagerly agreed to work on the campaign. We, along with Randy, Provost Jan Cope and a group of dedicated Cathedral staff and committed volunteers, allowed ourselves to prayerfully imagine how a campaign could transform the work of the Cathedral.
Out of this process, specific missional priorities and funding opportunities emerged that became the Cathedral for the Future comprehensive campaign, which would empower the Cathedral to reach beyond its physical walls to become a truly national cathedral.

Over the past five years, I have been inspired by the enthusiasm and generosity of so many members of the Cathedral family. This broad and deep support for the Cathedral allowed us to exceed the campaign’s $150 million goal and truly transformed the work of the institution.

Most of the gifts given to the campaign have already been put to use. In addition to enabling us to maintain our work during the COVID pandemic, campaign funds allowed us to increase our digital offerings, restore the Virginia Mae Center, complete the “Now and Forever” Windows, and expand our clergy team to better serve worshippers both in-person and online.

We also invested in the future by launching endowment funds for the Office of the Canon Vicar and the Office of the Canon Missioner. The campaign fully funded the earthquake repairs, including the upcoming work on the Central Tower, the restoration of our Great Organ after nearly a century of use, and the upgrade of our aging audio system to better serve audiences both in-person and online.

The success of this campaign has positioned the Cathedral to fulfill the mission set by our founders — to serve as a “great church for national purposes” — and to sustain this holy ground for a second century.

One of the great joys of being part of this campaign was working closely with Ginnie Mars. Every step of the way, Ginnie was inspiring. She was a great teacher and an exacting colleague, and brought humor, optimism and constructive impatience to the work we undertook together. She was an extraordinary leader, a thoughtful philanthropist, a humble partner and a whole lot of fun.

Although it is bittersweet to finish this campaign so successfully without her, I believe Ginnie would celebrate how truly comprehensive this effort has been. She firmly believed that every single gift given to the campaign was equally important. Ginnie was thrilled that the enthusiastic support we received from 51,000 donors (including more than 32,000 first-time donors) mirrors how this Cathedral was built, with each person giving what they could. This campaign would not have gotten off the ground without Ginnie’s personal commitment and deep faith.

More than a century since construction on this Cathedral began, we have turned our eyes to the future. Our predecessors built a majestic building, and now — thanks to your support — we have empowered our ministry for the 21st century.

Thank you for your faithful support and for helping build a Cathedral for the Future.