Capital Campaigns

St. Timothy’s Exceeds Goal

August 20, 2018 by evansdavis

We are excited to announce that St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Massillon, Ohio, has reached over $306,000 in cash and pledges in its Growing With God capital campaign! This total exceeds the campaign objective of $300,000.

Evans/Davis began last fall, working with the church leadership, to assist them with development of a new mission statement and discernment of Gods call for their future. A feasibility/assessment study suggested that $300,000 could be raised if the church leadership decided to conduct a capital campaign. The campaign was launched and was a huge success! There is now an optimistic spirit for growth and development of St. Timothy’s.

The Good News from St. Timothy’s

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Massillon, OH, just completed (as shared above) a very successful Capital Campaign, thanks to Evans/Davis Fundraising Counsel. We set a fairly ambitious goal for our small parish, to do necessary repairs and upgrades, and with Michael’s help, we exceeded that goal. With their guidance from start to finish, we felt supported and encouraged, rather than intimidated and afraid. We have nothing but good things to say about Evans/Davis, and would recommend their firm to others looking for help with fundraising.

The Rev. George Baum

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns

St. Timothy’s rewrites mission statement – now conducting Feasibility Study

February 1, 2018 by evansdavis

After a prayerful and thoughtful process, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Massillon, Ohio, completed a discernment exercise. The process allowed them to rewrite the church’s mission statement and draft a compelling preliminary case for support document for a capital campaign.

Evans/Davis will be on site for about a week in February to interview members to determine if a campaign is feasible. A final decision on a conducting one would be made in late February.

It is our prayer that St. Timothy’s, with guidance from the Holy Spirit, will continue Growing with God.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns

Charitable deductions and the new tax Laws

February 1, 2018 by evansdavis

Whereas not for-profit organizations have had a plus, over the years, with donors able to deduct charitable giving on their income tax, the real reason for giving is the belief that your organization has a valid mission and a vision for future growth and development of programs and services.

Churches, especially, receive dollars from loyal members who see their ministries, mission and values as advancing God’s work on this earth. This is why that a review and possible redrafting of a mission statement and development of a long-range vision plan is crucial for spreading the gospel. Evans/Davis is working with churches in long-range planning with many needing to rewrite their mission statement.

Tax laws can change but those not for profit organizations, that has a sound plan for its future, will continue to grow and receive sufficient funds from its constituents.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns

Ashland Child Development Center Begins Capital Campaign Preparation

July 2, 2017 by evansdavis

Ashland Childhood Development Center (ACDC), Ashland, KY, has begun the preparation for launching a capital campaign this fall. ACDC, with assistance from Evans/Davis, has drafted a campaign brochure, formed a campaign committee and begun the process of soliciting possible major gift donors.

The plan is to complete major gifts solicitations, as much as possible, over the summer. In that way, a campaign kick-off can be held early in the fall this year. The initial objective is $350,000.

Filed Under: Campaign Tactics, Capital Campaigns

Are You Ready for a Campaign?

July 2, 2017 by evansdavis

This article contributed by Al Boren.

Are you among the many smaller community and faith based organizations with heartfelt needs that can be met with capital funding projects IF you can only raise the money? Well established cornerstones of successful capital/project campaign development such as a sound strategic plan, board leadership, stakeholder involvement, business sustainability, and compatible donor prospects are not always in place, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful!

In my experience, the best investment an organization can make for a major funding campaign readiness in today’s challenging environment is to develop a thorough vision plan as a well as executing a fund raising feasibility/assessment study. It may not produce what you want to hear, but what you need to know.

The first step is for the organization to work with reputable fund-raising counsel to assist in discerning the vision plan, assess the findings, and undertake the necessary steps for ensuring campaign readiness. Essentials of a quality assessment/study will highlight strengths and weaknesses in the case, timing for philanthropic participation, perception of the organization, commitment of key leaders, plan for sustainability and the reception of top donor prospects.

Passion is a major driver of nearly all visions. And, when supported by time-proven prerequisites for successful campaigns, your organization will achieve its vision at some level.

Al Boren is a development professional that has conducted numerous capital campaigns and feasibility studies with a successful career in the management of not for profit organizations.

Filed Under: Campaign Tactics, Capital Campaigns, Vision and Planning

St. Mark’s Begins Construction

July 2, 2017 by evansdavis

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Erie, PA, has begun construction of an enhanced and expanded parish hall. Evans/Davis conducted a successful capital campaign for the church in 2014. Additional work will be coming in the near future.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns

Ashland Child Development Completes Feasibility Study

January 30, 2017 by evansdavis

Ashland Childhood Development Center (ACDC), Ashland, KY, has recently completed a study to determine if a capital campaign for them is feasible. ACDC, with assistance from Evans/Davis, has developed a list of needs and prioritizes. After conducting a number of interviews with potential donors and community leaders, the firm has drafted a study report. It was presented to their leadership that suggests that a capital campaign is feasible. ACDC will begin their capital campaign this winter that should be will be completed in spring of this year. The initial objective is $350,000.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns

The Assessment/Study – a Valuable Tool

December 9, 2015 by evansdavis

Evans/Davis was recently contacted by a church and asked to explain the value of the Assessment/Study. It was interesting because the church contact stated “There are about five individuals in our congregation who will determine if we should do a capital campaign. If they are on board, we are good…if not, we won’t do one.”

Well, this statement is only partially true. Of course, the major donors need to be interviewed to determine if there are sufficient dollars available to reach the desired amount, but much more is gained through a comprehensive assessment/study.

Besides determining the potential dollar amounts a capital campaign could raise, a well designed and executed study gives other valuable information from the congregation, information that will significantly impact a capital campaign. The information collected will include:

The interviewees perceptions of the abilities of both the current lay and clergy leadership
The interviewees feelings on the long-range vision plan for the church
The assembly of a composite priority of how best to deal with the needs of the church
The perceived strengths and areas of church life that need help
The potential for campaign leadership
The best timing for as well as other influences, both internal and external, that could have an impact on a campaign

An assessment/study is especially good for medium to large size congregations that are less intimate and more likely to have different perspectives on both church values and its long-term direction.

We suggest you contact us so that we can give you additional information that will help you in determining if an assessment/study is right for you.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns, Vision and Planning

Does your Church have a “Green Light?”

October 27, 2015 by evansdavis

greenlight

Many churches have difficulty beginning new ministries or enhancing current ministries because the congregation doesn’t have the necessary tools to launch, maintain and enhance such ministries. One major tool for such ministries is the church facilities themselves. If the facilities are not adequate for potential ministries, it becomes very difficult if not impossible to begin or enhance such ministries. For instance, the facilities may not be accessible for those who are physically challenged or the buildings have not been upgraded for modern communications. Perhaps there are parts of the church plant that have been “grandfathered” under the building codes, but will need to be brought up to code when a new ministry begins. Other church facilities may simply have renovations and repairs that, due to tight budgets, have not been addressed for many years.

Evans/Davis, working with an architectural firm, has included inspection of your churches facilities as part of its Vision Planning Program. This architectural firm will provide you with a color code to let you know how accessible your physical plant is in the conduct of daily church life. “Green” means you are full-go and little to nothing is needed. “Yellow” is cautionary suggesting that your current church ministries and other activities may be impeded or slowed due to the barriers in your facilities that will require some restorations or enhancements. “Red” means that most church ministries and other aspects of church life are in jeopardy as the physical plant is virtually unusable and work to it is drastically needed!

Again, this service is provided in our Vision Planning Program as part of this long-range planning exercise. Please contact us for more detail on the program.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns, Vision and Planning

Evans-Davis to Begin Work with a Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio

March 31, 2015 by evansdavis

Grace Episcopal Church in the College Hill area of Cincinnati has asked Evans/Davis to guide them in developing a long-range vision plan. Their desire is to grow Grace church…especially through their “healing” ministry as well as other vital programs. The plan will address needs of the church facilities and staffing to enhance growth of ministries.

A feasibility/assessment study will be conducted after the discernment/visioning program has been completed. The hope is that initial funding for the vision will be generated through a capital funds campaign in the near future.

Filed Under: Capital Campaigns