NEW DOLLARS CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS (continued)
study with Partners. Their list of interviewees
included a Civil War history group (the church sits
on the site of a Civil War-era cemetery), a local
landscaping company that receives a significant
share of its business from the congregation, and the
artistic leadership of a local arts organization that was
interested in partnering with the church to develop
underutilized space on its property into a theater
venue. Pastor John L. Smith of Olivet said of his
process, “The intended objectives of our feasibility
study have been well worth our investment; however,
the corollary benefits of energizing our congregation,
linking us with community partners, and providing
us with a true sense of empowerment have been
incalculable.”
For both Grace and Olivet, as for many others,
a new approach to feasibility studies helped to
identify important donors within and outside the
congregation; set realistic campaign goals, timelines,
and priorities; and forge important relationships
in the community. These new relationships are critical to
the next phase of a capital campaign - steering committee
recruitment.
How does a congregation begin to identify
potential supporters, steward relationships
with them, and cultivate them as donors to
their congregation? How does a faith leader
begin to understand the priorities of these
external stakeholders and how they fit with
the congregation’s most urgent needs? How
can a parish or congregation know if these
individuals would give to its campaign – and if
so, how much?
The answer is simple: you have to ask.
The (New Dollars) Steering Committee
The leadership of a large capital campaign consists of three
critical components: the faith leadership, an external
consultant, and a steering committee, which is responsible
for helping to shape and implement the campaign strategy.
This leadership is key. A traditional campaign committee
includes individuals with financial expertise (a banker and/
or accountant), legal expertise (an attorney), and building
expertise (an architect or engineer), as well as three to five
of the largest donors to the campaign. A New Dollars steering
committee includes these individuals plus key community
partners.
Every committee will look different. For the Church of the
Good Shepherd in Hartford, CT, Partners recommended
recruiting leadership from local arts service organizations.
The church’s capital campaign will raise funds to make
accessibility upgrades to the parish house. After these
upgrades, the second floor of the building will be accessible
to artists and arts organizations for auditions, rehearsals,
recitals, and performances. As a result, the input and
network of local arts leaders will be critical to the success
of the campaign – and will help with new space-sharing
partnerships.
Good Shepherd’s steering committee will also leverage
unique aspects of the parish’s heritage. Built by the Colts,
a prominent Hartford family and founders of the Colt‘s
Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, the church
features unique architectural adornments featuring Colt’s
legendary rifles. These features and their connections to
Hartford history will serve as a compelling reason for local
historians and preservationists to serve on the committee.
Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago recently completed a feasibility
study with Partners. Their list of interviewees included a Civil War
history group and a local landscaping company. Photo by Eric Allix
Rogers.
15 • Sacred Places • www.sacredplaces.org • Summer 2014
Church of the Good Shepherd h \