3 Ways to Secure Church Construction Funding
Whether you are building a new church, trying to convert a building into the perfect meeting place, or looking to remodel your current location, it is going to require capital. Sometimes churches are so overwhelmed by the funds they need to come with that they drag their feet on moving forward and hurt their momentum.
If you are thinking about moving into a building phase, here are some ways to come up with the capital you need.
1. Get a construction loan
One of the first things churches should consider is borrowing money. Why try and raise the money all at once if they can get the project done and pay it off over time—especially if the project is going to help generate new income!
The key is to find a lender that has experience with church construction loans. Many banks and credit unions are a little hesitant to lend money for church construction projects. They are not overly familiar with church finances and shy away from church property as collateral. That is why it is worth it to find someone who understands the space and is invested in your mission.
2. Take advantage of social media
If your church has a robust social platform, it can be a simple way to reach people outside of your circle of influence. By combining your online presence with a crowdfunding platform, you can get the ball rolling with minimal effort.
It is important to note, however, that there is some crowdfunding fatigue on social media. There are so many legitimate needs out there looking for help that it is probably not going to push you over the line very quickly. Although it’s easy to get a crowdfunding effort started, it is going to take a lot of work to see that it gets the proper attention and make it viable.
One way to make this work is to take advantage of peer-to-peer influence. Almost every member of your congregation has their own platform as well. If you can get them to champion the opportunities this building project represents, people are more likely to respond. When they hear personal testimony about the good your church can (or will) do, they are often happy to help.
3. Set up matching grants
Some churches have connections with businesses or organizations that would be willing to match contributions for a while. This is a superb way to get people to give early and sacrificially. If they know that their donations will be matched within a specific time frame, they are going to provide as much as possible quickly to maximize their giving.
All Hands on Deck
There are a lot of fundraising ideas that can help you meet your goals, but they will require everyone’s involvement. If you can get the entire church behind this effort, you will be surprised at how quickly it all comes together—and how close the community becomes in the process.
