Annual Fund
Your support matters!
2026 Annual Fund Campaign Update!
“Come to this table you who have much faith and you who would like to have more. Come to this table you who come here often and you who find it hard to come at all. Come to this table you who try to follow Jesus and you who think you have failed. Here at this table, resting in grace, all beloved now and evermore” -from The Great Thanksgiving: Family Camp- The Bishop’s Ranch
This past summer at The Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center, we welcomed our largest group of youth campers, family campers, and camp staff since pre-pandemic programming and we launched two new camp programs: a shortened mini camp for our youngest campers, and a session exclusively for high school campers. Combined, our community was over 400 people! The theme for the summer was “Come to the Table”, pulled from the Family Camp sung Eucharistic Prayer we sing together every afternoon. Together with chaplains from around the region we explored stories of Jesus at the table with friends, people with whom he had great disagreement, and those on the margins. We wondered about the power of tables-eucharistic and everyday- about who is welcome and who is excluded and just what Jesus’ powerful ministry around tables has to teach us for the world we live in today.
Here at The Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center, we continue to strive to be a place of connection, belonging, and transformation; a place with tables where there is always room for one more. Alongside our growing camp and youth programs, we also welcomed groups from around the New England region and beyond, welcoming about 4,500 people to BCH this year. We’ve continued to deepen our partnership with our local area in support of families experiencing homelessness, and, this year, welcomed our membership network, Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers to BCH for our annual conference- in a blizzard, no less! We did all of this while continuing to make plans for the renovation of St. Marks & St. Johns and engaging in our capital campaign, which is ongoing.
Our mission and ministry is one that we do not and cannot do alone. We rely on the generous contributions of our wider BCH community in order to continue our mission of hospitality, connection, and transformation. As BCH enters a season of transition and renewal, we ask for your continued generosity to the BCH Annual Fund. Whether you are considering a first-time donation, or you are a long-standing supporter of the ministry of BCH, thank you. We truly couldn’t do it without you. And so as you plan your year-end giving, please consider becoming or continuing to be a sustaining partner in ministry with your financial contribution.
In Peace & Gratitude,
The Rev. Beth Grundy
Board President
The Barbara C Harris Camp & Conference Center
Annual Fund FAQ's
What is the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is a yearly campaign that assists in closing the gap in the Barbara C. Harris Center’s annual operating budget. The BCH Center intentionally keeps fees low to allow for widespread use of our facilities by all. The fees that we do charge do not adequately cover all our expenses. The Annual Fund assists the BCH Center in being self-supporting.
How are Annual Fund contributions used by the BCH Center?
Annual Fund contributions are spent as they come in and are directed wherever the need is greatest. Traditionally contributions are used to cover such things as building renovations, facilities and equipment upgrades, programming materials and scholarships. They also give the BCH Center the ability to take advantage of emerging opportunities and to respond to unanticipated needs and challenges. This is particularly true in 2020 as the BCH Center struggles with the economic effects of the Pandemic.
Does my gift really matter?
YES! The number of individuals contributing to the Annual Fund is just as important as the dollars we raise. The total number of individual contributions is a measure of support within our broader community. All gifts, regardless of amount, contribute to the BCH Center’s ability to provide hospitality to all who visit.
Can I make a reoccurring gift?
Reoccurring gifts are a great way to make an impact with the Barbara C. Harris Center! Simply select the “Setup automated giving” button when you enter your payment information and choose the frequency and amount you’d like to give.
What if I already have a Tithe.Ly account?
Perfect. You can use the Tithe.Ly website or mobile app search feature to find the Barbara C. Harris Episcopal Camp & Conference Center and add it to “My Churches” for easy giving.
