How the Research Was Designed and Conducted
Earlier Research
Partners for Sacred Places ( Partners ) has sought to understand how congregations use their physical , financial , and human assets to serve their communities since its founding in 1989 . In 1996 , Partners sponsored the first scientific , national study ( Sacred Places at Risk ) documenting how congregations serve the public . 11 The study , conducted in partnership with Dr . Ram Cnaan and the University of Pennsylvania ’ s School of Social Policy and Practice , found that urban congregations had an economic impact on their community , providing resources — volunteers , significant staff and clergy time , space , cash , and in-kind services — to support programs each year . The study also found that the majority of those benefiting from outreach were not members of those congregations . A new methodology for documenting the public value of congregations was established .
In 2010 , Partners and Dr . Cnaan expanded their assessment of civic value , exploring other factors such as the value of green space and trees , building projects , visitors to the local community , support for local business and vendors , budget and taxes , and the congregation ’ s role as an incubator for new businesses or nonprofits , among other factors , by piloting a study with Philadelphia congregations . 12 This study allowed Partners and Dr . Cnaan to test a variety of approaches that would monetize each element of a congregation ’ s economic impact .
The study found that the majority of those benefiting from outreach were not members of those congregations .
Partners conducted a larger study to build on the pilot ’ s findings , selecting congregations at random , from a larger sample of historic sacred places in three cities : Fort Worth , Chicago , and Philadelphia . 13 Economic value was assessed only where there was precedent to do so , and where the tools and approaches to measure monetary value were well-tested and widely-accepted . This urban study monetized five areas of benefit : education , direct spending , magnet effect , community-serving programs , and recreation space . Community development , incubation , and individual and family impact were also examined but not assigned a dollar value due to the difficulty of monetization .
11 Partners for Sacred Places . ( 1998 ). Sacred Places at Risk . Retrieved from https :// sacredplaces . org / uploads / files / 395429189155295863-spar . pdf 12 Cnaan , R . A ., Forrest , R ., Carlsmith , J ., & Karsh , K . ( 2013 ). If you do not count it , it does not count : a pilotstudy of valuing urban congregations . http :// dx . doi . org / 10.1080 / 14766086.2012.758046 13 Partners for Sacred Places . ( 2016 ). The Economic Halo Effect of Historic Sacred Places . Retrieved from https :// sacredplaces . org / uploads / files / 16879092466251061- economic-halo-effect-of-historic-sacred-places . pdf
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