A reader asked about how a church capital campaign can reach outside the church to get money from the community. This is a good question, and I will try to give a clear answer.
The quick answer is that a church capital campaign is not the best tool for obtaining financial support from the community. The reason being that the campaign is strongly based on a Kingdom need and God's provision to meet that need through His people; an approach that will find little traction with most folks outside your church and faith.
Getting support from the community takes a somewhat different approach, and is much more like a grant writing effort than a capital campaign. The similarity to a campaign is you will be creating a case for support. This case for support, however, will focus on the ministry of the church and its measurable impact in the community. It will also be much more extensive, objectively detailing what you do and giving a qualitative analysis of how you have impacted the lives of those you have ministered to, and the impact the community
Essentially, you need to tell the story of what you do and how those programs and ministries are improving or serving the community as a whole. You need to make the case and explain what effect the donation you are seeking will make in the community.
It will also be helpful to research your community, find which businesses give to local charity and religious organizations. Also, you can research if there are any local donors or foundations that support programs in the community. These two sources would be the best place to begin looking for financial support for your church, outside it's four walls.
I was reading a past blot, Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 about Church Grants - Part I. At the end you say that "In Q1 of 2008 we also will be announcing where you can get a directory of over 1,000 foundations who openly accept proposals from Christian churches and agencies." I am prayerfully, seeking to write grants for our church building fund. I have been successfully writing grants that have supported a local non profit (for which I am the retired President and Founder) since 1994, but writing grants for a church is new territory for me. We are a committed, conservative, non-denominational church who fits the criteria you set forth in your blog, "Should Your Church Build in These Times of Economic Uncertainty?" We have been meeting in a school gym for the past six years, each year relying totally on the Lord to allow us to renew our rental agreement. We have completed Phase I (ground clearing and site preparation), have our permits and blueprints all in hand, but the economy has hit our congregation hard! We are continuing to see steady growth, but we serve a gathering of lower-end middle income families and seniors who are struggling to get by themselves. We DO believe as you do that God's work carried on in God's way will never lack God's resources! I am just asking if you will share with me the source of the grants I mentioned earlier so that I can do my part to serve our Lord with the talents He has given me? My husband and I tithe and give to other areas of the Lord's work (missions, hospitality in our home, etc), but I would like to use this skill to His glory and to help our home church in its need. Thank you for any assistance you can give. In service to our Lord, Karol/ email: toyresq@yahoo.com
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