Campaign Goals

 

Endowment

Best practice indicates that a church of our size should have an unrestricted endowment 3 to 4 times the size of our annual budget. Our endowment at the launch of the campaign in 2021 was $3.7 million, comprised of $2 million in unrestricted funds – less than 1.5 times our annual budget – and $1.7 million in restricted funds. This campaign increases our unrestricted endowment fund by $3 million, for a total of $5 million, to secure our financial future and protect our parish against unforeseen challenges like the coronavirus pandemic.

 
Christ Episcopal Church Winnetka cross on top of church with clear blue sky.
 
Interior of Christ Episcopal Church Winnetka. Flag of The Episcopal Church in foreground, beautiful stained glass windows in background.
 
Stained glass window in Christ Episcopal Church Winnetka. St. Thomas extending a hand, holding three arrows. Red, blue, green, gold sections of stained glass.
 

Capital Improvements

Our 90-year old buildings serve us well, and have historically given us the flexibility to serve the constantly changing needs of our community. We have not invested substantially in them in over 20 years, but in order to realize our vision for the future, it is necessary to do so now.

As a result of the success of this campaign, in 2022, we are investing approximately $1.5 million in capital improvements including: 

  • A new, accessible entrance to the Parish House at 470 Maple Street, a new entrance to the Chapel, and a lift to provide accessibility to both the Chapel and the newly-named Powell Hall

  • ADA-compliant bathrooms for both Powell Hall and the Chapel

  • Significant improvements to 470 Maple — including replacing the 90-year old wiring — to provide greater flexibility and functionality of that space

  • A new roof for Church-on-the-Hill

  • A playground at Church-on-the-Hill

  • Substantial landscaping improvements to the Churchyard and 470 Maple

Architectural renderings of 470 Maple Street >>

 
Christ Church Winnetka. 470 Maple Street buildings including Parish House and Chapel. Traditional limestone exterior. Beautiful rose stained glass window in chapel.
 
Architectural drawings of accessible entrance at 470 Maple Street, Winnetka.

Architect’s rendering of new entrance

 

Outreach Fund

To ensure that we can continue to respond to our call to serve those in need, we will invest 10% of campaign funds, or $500,000, into serving all of God’s people in our community, across our diocese and around the world.  The first fruits collected from this campaign in 2021 — approximately $160,000 —- was designated for immediate use as grants to ministry partners acutely affected by the pandemic. The balance will be used to create an enduring fund that supports future discernment of new ways for us to love our neighbors, expand our capacity to serve God’s people, and seek justice for all.

 
Family Promise at Christ Church Winnetka. Woman heping child decorate a pumpkin.