Fundraising for Church Building Projects
Fundraising for a church building project can feel daunting, particularly if you’ve never embarked on a fundraising project before, but it can be an extremely rewarding activity that brings the community together, reinvigorates parish life, and most importantly, helps build a sustainable future – not just for the church itself but for the people who use it.
Knowing where to start is often the hardest part, particularly if your project involves multiple elements or phases of work. What is the best approach? Who will be responsible for fundraising activities? Is there a fundraising strategy? How can a church raise such a large sum when they’ve never fundraised before? Little wonder that just the thought of fundraising can deter a church community from the outset.
The good news is that with patience, planning, people (of course!) and often prayer too, many churches across the diocese have successfully secured the funds they needed to help their church building not just survive but thrive.
People power
Successful fundraising isn’t really about the building at all. It’s about people. Whether it’s connecting with your local community and asking for their help, or making your church a welcoming, safe space for new user groups – people are at the heart of all church projects and mission work and should naturally be at the heart of every fundraising activity or funding application.
But when you’ve got buckets catching water in the nave and issues with crumbling masonry, the focus naturally falls on securing enough funds to fix the problem.
You might think your project to:
...repair the roof
...install a toilet
...upgrade the kitchen
...replace the ancient heating system
speaks for itself - but funders are looking for projects that support people, ie:
...building strong relationships in and across communities
...reducing loneliness
...helping more people to reach their potential
...providing safe, warm spaces for people to come together, whether that’s for worship or simply to connect with others
Sometimes this means you’ll need to upscale your project to unlock new funding opportunities. Could you create a local ‘heritage hub’ for your community, or run a program of engagement events for local schoolchildren? Can you provide volunteer or work experience opportunities for young people as part of your project? Providing opportunities for people is often the difference between a successful application that inspires funders, and one that falls flat.
Keep the bigger picture in mind and think beyond the buckets of water!
Are you fundraising ready?
Have you…
- Secured the relevant permissions for your work?
- Agreed the scale and scope of your project?
- Agreed how much money you need to raise?
- Assembled a team of enthusiastic fundraisers?
- Canvassed opinions on your project from within your church and outside of it?
- Created a fundraising strategy?
If you feel you’re ready to start your fundraising journey, you can start to consider which funders are a good fit for your project. You can find out more about approaching funders on the guidance sheet here
And if you’re not quite there yet, here are some points to shape your discussions:
- What are you hoping to achieve, beyond fixing your church building or re-ordering its interior?
- What is your vision for ministry and the church, and does your project align with it? Potential funders are more likely to invest in a church that has a clear and inspiring vision of what it can achieve with funding, than a parish who simply want a quick fix that maintains the status quo.
- Who will benefit from funding beyond your congregation? Can you broaden your outlook and outreach?
- Have you spoken to non-users of your church in the community? Often speaking to those who don’t currently engage with your church and its ministry can inform your project planning if you’re aiming for growth.
- Have you approached the Church Buildings team for informal advice? If not, you can find their contact details here.
Asking yourselves these questions will help you determine whether your project balances the needs of the church building, whilst respecting its historic fabric and benefitting the wider community.
The central Church of England website has a whole section on capital projects and the steps you need to take if you’re planning to make changes to your building or churchyard - which can be found here. There is also lots of useful information on the Parish Resources website under the Funding pages here.