 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Historic Denver's offices have moved. |
| So You Need to Raise Some Money |
| All
congregations are concerned about finances, but those that are stewards
of historic buildings find that money is on their minds more often
than most. America's older and historic churches, synagogues, meetinghouses,
temples, and mosques are blessings to their congregations and their
neighborhoods, but they also require regular repair and an occasional
major overhaul. Sometimes the sheer cost of such maintenance seems
overwhelming.
These challenges need not drive you to despair! This guide is designed to aid you in planning-to understand the needs of your older house of worship, to decide whether to begin a capital campaign in your congregation, and to extend your campaign to your community and other funders. You'll learn how to determine what you and your congregation can do yourselves, and what you'll need professional help for. And in the process, you may find your vision and your ministry enhanced as you think outside your own walls. Raising money can be intimidating, but it can also be an exciting catalyst for new community outreach as well.
How
to Use This Guide
In either case, be aware that raising money requires the involvement and commitment of both clergy and lay leaders. At minimum, the finance and facilities committees will be involved, but you should also consider creating a new capital campaign committee to oversee planning and fund-raising, and to supervise the work that needs to be done. There will be enough work for every member who can be brought into the process, and the broader the involvement, the more likely it is that the whole congregation will find their commitment deepened and strengthened. Fund-raising
or Capital Campaign? For anything but the smallest jobs, it's best to bring in a professional, such as an architect who specializes in historic religious properties, to give you a comprehensive conditions survey. A professional can give you a sense of the overall scope of the project and help you prioritize your work-perhaps the kitchen remodeling can wait until Phase Two; maybe the stained glass window restoration can be financed over time through planned giving. One of the important decisions that clergy and congregational leaders will need to make together is whether to raise funds for a particular project or to launch a comprehensive capital campaign. If your conditions survey indicates that only a few small items are needed, project fund-raising may be fine. But the conditions survey may show that multiple repairs are needed, such as rewiring, painting, repairing termite damage, replacing a few deteriorating joists, and making the whole building accessible for the disabled. Planning a capital campaign to raise money for all these important projects together may be a better choice than trying to address each one as it becomes a crisis Step
One: Where Do You Stand?
Some congregations doubt whether they really need the services of an architect. Here's a case study of one New York church's decision: When you are ready to hire a professional to conduct a conditions survey, call several possibilities and ask about their fees and their experience with historic religious properties. You may want to start with someone already familiar with your own property or with a member of Partners for Sacred Places' Professional Alliance. Once your congregation gets its conditions survey, you'll need to develop a work plan. Your architect, conservator, or engineer will help you decide how to plan the work, but this is also a good time to bring in as many members of the congregation as possible. Consider distributing copies of the proposed plan of action, or posting them in a conspicuous place for a few weeks, before holding a congregational meeting where members' questions and concerns can be addressed. The more planning and discussion that take place before you appeal for money, the more the congregation will take ownership of the project and support it wholeheartedly. Step
Two: Can You Do This On Your Own? If you decide you need help, you may be able to limit your expenses by hiring a consultant for specific tasks (for example, to create promotional materials), or you may need a professional to guide you every step of the way. Here is an article to help you decide. Step
Three: Planning the Capital Campaign
The Complete Guide is an extremely valuable source of information, but here are a few shorter articles on capital campaign planning that you may also find helpful:
Fellow
Travelers Repairing a building is a cooperative effort among clergy, lay people, and professionals-the architects, contractors, and fund-raisers they hire to help them. All parties should find agreement on what work needs to be done and what the strategy and goals of the campaign will be before anyone is asked to open a wallet or provide professional services. Congregations should also be aware that many others have also faced daunting preservation tasks. Here are several examples:
Articles about stained-glass window repair:
The National Organization on Disability website has many resources to help congregations enhance their vision for welcoming people with disabilities. In addition, the organization has published several resources for congregations that want to improve disability access:
|
