Debbie Benz

Debbie Benz has been appointed director of the Office of Development and Stewardship for the Diocese of Peoria, effective Oct. 1.

A native of Champaign, Benz joined the diocesan staff in 2014 as financial operations coordinator. She has been associate director of development for 15 months.

“I am delighted to have Debbie take on this new role, and am happy with how she has provided support to pastors and their parishes as they seek to do campaigns and fundraising for their parish projects,” said Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC.

During her five years on the diocesan staff, Benz’s accomplishments have included managing the transition of all parishes and schools to a unified payroll provider; overseeing the creation of a new diocesan website, which she continues to manage; and introducing new elements to the Annual Diocesan Appeal.

This week, she was in Chicago to accept on behalf of the Diocese of Peoria the “Award of Excellence” recognition from the International Catholic Stewardship Council for the 2019 version of the Annual Diocesan Appeal video.

“If I do one thing well, I hope it is to help people more fully realize that everything we have is a gift from God — everything — and to not only know this in our head, but also in our soul,” said Benz, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Peoria. “When this happens, and we truly recognize God’s great love and mercy for us, the only true response is one of humility and thanksgiving, and we seek to give of ourselves completely.”

Benz sees the primary goals of the Office of Development and Stewardship as fundraising and serving as a resource to parishes, schools and diocesan departments.

EARLY EXPERIENCE

With an associate degree in accounting from Parkland College in Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Quincy University, Benz told The Catholic Post she never imagined her career path would lead to fundraising. But she was introduced to development work through early employment at the Christie Clinic Foundation and then Parkland College, both in Champaign.

Her Catholic professional work began as part-time high school youth minister and part-time secretary at St. Matthew Parish in Champaign. In collaboration with then-pastor Msgr. Mark Merdian, she was involved in a $6 million capital campaign to construct a new parish center at St. Matthew.

When Msgr. Merdian became president of Peoria Notre Dame High School, Benz moved to Peoria to serve as assistant to the president.

She is currently enrolled in courses at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and will soon earn a Certificate in Fund Raising Management. Once completed, she will have met all requirements to qualify as a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

Benz serves on several boards and committees, including the advancement subcommittee of the Diocesan Educational Council; the boards of the three endowments created during the diocese’s “Rooted in Faith” capital campaign; and the diocesan respect life committee.

She expressed gratitude to her parents — Dale and Nancy Benz, members of St. Matthew Parish in Champaign — for teaching her the faith and for the sacrifices they made to ensure that she and her three siblings received a Catholic education. She also credits the mentors who have guided along her journey.