How will a capital campaign affect your annual budget? What good will capital improvements be if you can’t keep the doors open and the lights on? Church leaders hesitate to run a capital campaign at the same time as the annual pledge drive. They wonder whether a capital campaign will hurt annual revenue. With the right process and good counsel, … Read More
That’s a Wrap: 6 Carols for Year-End Stewardship
Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere, Olden times and ancient rhymes of love and dreams to share Yes, Christmastime is here, and just a few days more to write the Christmas sermon! Here are five Christmas Carols to keep you mindful of generosity and stewardship during this hectic season. Use these familiar words to “repeat the sounding joy” of … Read More
5 Benefits of Capital Campaign Success
No doubt about it: managing an effective capital campaign takes planning and organization. So what are the benefits? People will work very intensely during the campaign. Undertaking a campaign will be a major congregational activity for a period of months. Church leaders will devote even more time than that to the campaign. Consider, however, the benefits of anticipated success. People … Read More
Where does the money come from?
Money. One of the major challenges that churches face is setting a sustainable funding strategy. When it comes to church finances, leaders often take a “seat of the pants” approach each fiscal year with small regard for tomorrow. Too, they may not understand the funding sources available to the church, or how those sources can hurt or hinder faith development … Read More
Feasibility Studies Save You Headaches and Avert Failure
“There was no feasibility study to make sure people were in favor of the project and willing to give.” Glenn and Barbara Holliman have an excellent little book about capital funding in churches. With Generous Hearts is well worth your time to read before considering a campaign. I was struck by their introduction. There, they spell out everything they did … Read More
Does Your Church Facility Represent Your Vision and Values?
There is nothing glamorous or exciting about building improvements like roof repair or window replacement. That was the reality that a recent client faced. Built in the late 1950s, their building had become worn and dated. Each proposed improvement seemed minor and cosmetic. All together, though, the updates added up to a substantial sum. As you know, a successful capital … Read More
Raising Major Funds in a Church is Different
A church is not a hospital or school. Of course, Jesus is the Great Healer. And many times the gospels call him Teacher. But metaphors aside, there are differences between raising money in a non-church setting and raising money in a congregation. While a church is a non-profit in the U.S., it is nothing like any other non-profit. It is … Read More
The Perfect Anatomy of a 21st Century Capital Campaign
Something is going right in your church. The nursery is full, the new adult class meets on the stage, and more families keep showing up. What a great problem to have! It might be time to build or renovate, and that means a Capital Campaign. A capital campaign is a full-body workout. Here’s the anatomy: The Heart – A Passion and … Read More
6 Signs Your Congregation is Financially Healthy
Stewardship is the way we use our God-given gifts – talent, time, and treasure – to carry on Christ’s work in the world. We are his disciples. As part of stewardship, it’s important to understand the financial health of your church. The decisions you make about money are part of stewardship and discipleship. Here are 6 signs that indicate a church … Read More
Case Study: Reflecting a Church’s Vision and Values
Church Campaign Services has recently been consulting with a church that is planning to update its facilities. The church was originally built in the late 1950s and earlier, and has become worn and dated. Most of the proposed changes seem minor and mostly cosmetic, yet together the updates add up to a substantial amount of money. So, they should just … Read More
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