Fundraising for Your Church

At the outset your church committee needs to agree on the project and get the Mission Area Conference/Property Board approval.  Ideally, you should set up a project management team, and members of the team need to know what is required of them.  If it is community based it may be beneficial to consider including members of the community outside the church.  The size of your project will dictate the amount of preparation time required and starting as soon as possible is important.   You need to identify what authorisation is required ie faculty or planning permission.

It’s important to show funders why your project is important, that it offers good value for money and that any funding will be used appropriately.

Identifying the need/problem

• Why do you need to do something now?
• What is the need for this project? Eg If it is community based, what is the issue or problem, who will benefit, how do you know, is there evidence of need/demand, has there been any consultation?
• A clear and detailed budget for your project is essential and forms the foundation for your application/s
• Are there reports relating to the fabric of the building which identify a need for repairs; eg Quinquennial report, surveyor’s report, etc?
• Are there funds to contribute towards the project? What fundraising have you done?
• Do you have a strategic, business and fundraising strategy?
• Why is your project unique, is the building of any significance (historic, architectural etc)?

The Approach

Funders look at how your project will provide a solution to the problem you’ve identified

• Explain how your project addresses this problem. It sounds simple, but you need to explain what you will do by expanding your description eg “repairing the roof will ensure the building is weather tight and be preserved for future generations; by creating a community space with facilities the youth club can be re-established and engage local youth”
• Be precise, clear and realistic
• Provide details of the costs; not only the actual cost of the project, but also the ongoing costs once the project is completed? Be accurate and check your figures
• Think strategically; if you are successful in getting funding are you ready to start, do you have to close the church, move contents out of the church, hold services elsewhere etc?
• Do you have sufficient resources; volunteers, staff, equipment?
• Sustainability; what will you do after the funding has been spent?

Fundamentals of a good proposal/application?

Funders receive thousands of applications each year, so your application needs to stand out.  You need to get their attention and sell your project.

There are six essential elements

• Who you are?
• The need you are proposing to address
• Why your Committee is undertaking it
• The solution you offer
• The amount you need
• The future you envisage

For the content of your application:

• Read the guidelines carefully. If the funder is asking for information, you have to provide it. Follow criteria and guidance material closely, as funders will usually use these as a base for scoring or appraising proposals.
• The forms can be lengthy, so be sure you have the answers by preparing well
• Adhere to the word count – if applicable
• Be clear and concise regarding key points, make sure the evidence you have to support your project is presented
• Be objective and view your project as they would (and not why it is important to you personally)
• Figures – these need to be accurately totalled; if applicable, breakdown the figures alongside the various elements of the project.