Celebrate #GivingTuesday by ‘Giving with a Purpose’
Mission-minded pastor urges support of the Presbyterian Giving Catalog on Dec. 2
![Sign saying "Give with a purpose this Giving Tuesday"](/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_16_9_350w/public/2025-12/16-9%20GT%20PNS%20Header%20Image.jpg?h=3efc60a1&itok=_LHLrUzh "Sign saying "Give with a purpose this Giving Tuesday"")
LOUISVILLE – On the subject of #GivingTuesday — the global day of giving held annually on the Tuesday after the Thanksgiving holiday — the Rev. Rosemary C. Mitchell isn’t shy.
“This is a day that asks everyone, regardless of faith or creed, to take a moment to turn away from greed or our retirement portfolio and to consider a gift that benefits others,” said Mitchell, an honorably retired member of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley. “On #GivingTuesday, the entire charitable world joins together to invite everyone to ‘give back.’”
And Mitchell knows what she’s talking about.
A certified fundraising executive, Mitchell was senior director for the PC(USA)’s Mission Engagement and Support (now Stewardship and Funds Development) from 2016 until her retirement in June 2022. Prior to joining the PC(USA)’s national staff, she served as vice president for Seminary Relations at Princeton Theological Seminary and was also the founding executive director of the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley in Rochester.
As both a credentialed fundraiser and a Presbyterian pastor, Mitchell is a champion of the Presbyterian Giving Catalog — the singular focus of the PC(USA)’s 2025 #GivingTuesday effort — because she sees it as a “practical, tangible and fun way to get involved in mission.”
“The Giving Catalog offers Presbyterians not only an opportunity to ‘Give with a Purpose’ to the causes that align with the PC(USA)’s mission but it also serves as an invaluable educational tool,” she said. “You’re learning about mission while giving in a very practical way. It’s a very popular and easy way for people to make a gift.”
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Rev. Rosemary C. Mitchell
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Rev. Rosemary C. Mitchell
For over 10 years, churches, mid councils and individuals have been turning to the Presbyterian Giving Catalog as a tangible way to provide real and positive impact around the world. The Catalog’s impressive reach translates into an average of 4,237 donors annually over the last three years for an average number of gifts totaling 10,746.
“Gifts made through the Giving Catalog since Sept 2013 have contributed over $12 million to PC(USA) global mission,” said Teresa Mader, manager for the Presbyterian Giving Catalog and Direct Response, “and that number only continues to grow.”
New this year, the 2025 – 2026 edition of the Giving Catalog has been reorganized to focus on four global causes:
- Provide Clean Water
- End Hunger
- Sustain Communities
- Support Education
The 2025 – 2026 Giving Catalog, which is currently available in English in print and online, offers a total of 44 items under the above four cause areas to fit every prospective donor’s missional interests and budget. This year’s edition will also be available in Spanish and Korean later this fall.
Mitchell added that the philosophy behind #GivingTuesday is entirely consistent with Presbyterian practice.
“What’s great about #GivingTuesday isn’t necessarily the amount of the gift,” she said. “The idea is that everyone joins together, which is a hallmark of being Presbyterian. We all come together to give to a special project.”
And this year, the PC(USA) agrees that the colorful, accessible and versatile Giving Catalog is that special project.
“If you are on the fence about giving, opening the Giving Catalog is a nice way to start,” Mitchell said. “Find something in its pages that captures your heart and imagination and make a one-time gift to that. It’s a nice way to start out on the path of generosity.”
Join the PC(USA) in responding to a world in need! Give now.
Click here to view a video testimonial from the Rev. Rosemary C. Mitchell.
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