FAQ
Why should a church have a capital campaign?
A capital campaign provides a way for a church to generate giving beyond that of their regular budget. These increased funds are normally used for facility expansion/improvements or debt reduction. A campaign provides an opportunity for the congregation to communicate their giving intentions to church leadership so that leaders may make better informed decisions and financial plans.
An effective capital campaign also creates ownership and buy-in for the project throughout the course of the campaign. The focus on Stewardship of Life (not just finances) has far reaching implications for positive spiritual growth well beyond the duration of the campaign itself.
When should a church have a capital campaign?
There is a time when a church should NOT conduct a capital campaign - until you are confident of its success. Leaders must know that the project is universally embraced by the congregation before a campaign is launched. CGS will help you accomplish this through our Pre-Campaign Assessment. We help you determine campaign readiness through interviews, focus groups and surveys.
How much can a church raise for a new project?
We are happy to provide you with a preliminary estimate of what your church might raise based on local demographics and our extensive database of previous campaigns. Simply click on the Campaign Capacity Analysis link on our home page and provide the requested information. You will receive your analysis within 3-5 days.
How long does it take to successfully conduct a campaign?
We view capital campaigns proceeding in three phases:
- Pre-Campaign Assessment - 3-6 months
- Campaign Implementation - 3-4 months
- Campaign Completion - 3 years
Why should we retain a consultant?
- Avoid the pitfalls. It is no secret that capital campaigns can create some of the saddest pages in many church histories. If not handled properly, they can cause mistrust of leadership, pastors to leave and even church splits. Our Pre-Campaign Assessment process helps avoid these negative outcomes.
- Raise more. Churches that use outside coaching generally raise 33%-50% more than those who implement a campaign themselves. The additional amount raised with the help of a consultant far surpasses the fee for their services.
- Keep your pastor whole. If a consultant is not managing the details of your campaign, who will do it? Generally it?s the pastoral staff. There are only so many hours in a day. If your pastor is given the full responsibility of running your campaign, which ministries will suffer?
- Return on investment. The fee charged by most consultants will typically be less than one year?s worth of interest on a mortgage loan, which is typically repaid with continuing annual interest costs for 10-20 years. Investing in a competent campaign consultant makes strong economic sense.
What benefits will a church receive by hiring CGS as our consultant?
The primary benefit of partnering with CGS can be simply stated as this - you will know your campaign will be successful before you launch it!
Can't we conduct our own campaign?
Absolutely! However, you need to understand that there is a level of risk involved. Your church may never fully recover from a failed campaign. We simply encourage you to carefully evaluate the risks of conducting a campaign yourself before making that decision.
