In early 2026, we announced a donation match as part of the Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope campaign. This match was made possible through the generosity of our honorary campaign co-chairs Bill and Michelle Pohlad who offered to match donations under $50,000 up to a total of $1 million.
The response from Basilica parishioners and our wider community has been exciting to witness. Our parish community rose to the challenge. Today, we are thrilled to report that we have met the match!
A total of 274 gifts were made towards the match. Like the broader campaign, these gifts came from new parishioners, long-time parishioners, former parishioners, volunteers, and community members – Catholics and non-Catholics alike. All of these donors understand the importance the Basilica plays in their own lives and the lives of many others.
We are grateful to each and every one of these donors. While more funds still need to be raised, we wanted to share a few inspiring numbers and stories to celebrate the Pohlad Match and what we can do together.
- The Pohlad Match helped motivate donors at all gift levels. Five individuals and couples donated $50,000.
- The median gift was $250, and the most common gift amount was $100.
- One couple had planned to donate $25,000 to the campaign, but when they heard about the Pohlad Match, they doubled their gift to $50,000 to maximize their match and the impact of their donation.
- We heard from several donors who were proud to be making their largest donation to the Basilica, and often their largest donation to any organization ever. Of the donors participating in the match, 72% made their largest gift ever to the Basilica.
These wonderful numbers and the people and stories behind them are truly a cause for celebration! We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Bill and Michelle and everyone who has given a gift to the Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope campaign. This financial support has played a crucial role in the work of preserving and restoring our Basilica. We are so thankful to everyone who has helped us raise $36 million toward our $45 million goal.
Each of these gifts can be thought of like the bricks and stones that make up the Basilica. It takes each one to make a complete building. Similarly, every gift brings us one step closer to completing this historic restoration, and it will take each one of us to get there.
As you discern how you would like to participate in the campaign, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Mission Advancement team. We would be happy to answer questions and talk with you about how best to structure your gift – maybe it is a pledge paid over a few years or comes out of the required distributions of your retirement account.
Thank you again to everyone who generously supports the campaign and the parish. Together, we can not only restore The Basilica’s sacred spaces and architectural beauty but also inspire the faith and community that draws us closer to God.
Nathan Mueting | The Basilica of Saint Mary
Managing Director of Mission Advancement