There is nothing worse than a failed campaign which is why you should never do a campaign without a feasibility study. We tell our clients that they never have to recover from a good start. All too often a capital campaign fails before it ever gets off the ground. Feasibility studies help avoid an explosion that could derail more than just the project you are trying to raise funds for.
What is a feasibility study? It is an exhaustive overview that will help you more clearly understand the issues that you must deal with BEFORE the campaign commences. It will give you a better read on what is capable in terms of commitments. It will show you if the vision of your campaign is tracking with your leaders.
Feasibility studies help you answer these crucial questions…
- Is the vision for the campaign clear and most of all compelling?
- What questions are in the mind of your donors that might cause them to sit this campaign out?
- What issues does your church have that might cause the campaign to blow up?
- Is your target fund raising goal realistic?
- Is the timing right for your leaders or do you need more time?
Do you know the answers to the above questions? A feasibility study is the best way to answer the questions listed above.
A question left unanswered WILL impact your campaign! Unanswered questions are roadblocks in the way of your donors being able to think and pray aggressively about your vision and the “ask” that funds that vision. If the vision doesn’t make sense or I have questions that are unanswered I will not give to that vision. More campaigns are blown up by a lack of understanding the questions of donors than perhaps any other issue. A feasibility study helps you answer those questions.
What does a feasibility study do for you? Here are some keys…
- Tests the level of understanding and enthusiasm for the vision that needs funding/future capital fund drives.
- Surface anything (actual or potential problems) that must be addressed before they impact results negatively.
- Helps to cultivate potential donors.
We combine our financial analysis which looks at your giving capability with real conversations with your leaders to arrive at an accurate view of the donor climate of your church. Our reports are powerful tools in the hands of pastors. Shane Bishop who pastors Christ Church one of the fastest UMC churches in America once told me, “This report has given me the best intelligence going into a capital campaign than I ever have had before. It allowed me to know what the concerns of my leaders were and address them ahead of time.”
That is it in a nutshell. Knowing what questions are in the minds of your donors, and they do have questions, allows you to fine tune your vision in such a manner as to address those concerns. A feasibility study can save your campaign. Never do a capital campaign without first doing a feasibility study!
What are the outcomes? To provide you with…
- A detailed written report will be provided for church leaders of our findings. Giving you …
- A reasonable indication of the commitment level; the degree to which supporters are committed to the church.
- A key listing of members views regarding the church’s present status and future development.
- A more defined idea of the potential donor universe.
- A heightened level of excitement about the church’s future.
Oh, one last thing. Start sooner than you think because good studies take time and you might need time after the findings. The sooner we can get started the more likely the chances of success for your next campaign will be!