Faith-Sized Goals
 

The only reason GraceWorks' capital campaign specialists have personally raised over half a billion dollars is because they fundraise Biblically.  

To our consultants, fundraising is a profound ministry that changes hearts for a lifetime.  Jesus said:  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6:21).  Notice the order -- how we use our treasure changes our heart.  Redirecting money from the world to the Kingdom of God is one of the most important ways we change people's hearts.  

It is extremely important to GraceWorks Ministries that NO ONE gives under compulsion (2 Corinthians 9) but rather each gives joyfully and freely.  Plus, we believe that the first ten percent of income should go to the local church of the donor -- that gifts to a Christian school are properly an offering.

But importantly, if you are raising money biblically and spiritually -- not in your flesh -- then have a faith-sized goal.  

GraceWorks would love to help you accomplish fully God's purposes for your Christian school.  Call us at (719) 278-9600, or click here for more information.

The Two Realities of a Capital Campaign.

Ultimately, there is the earthly reality -- someone is going to write you a check -- and the spiritual reality -- the cattle on a thousand hills are the Lord's.  GraceWorks' capital campaign specialists embrace both realities.

It's the difference between goals ... and faith-sized goals.  But how do you operationalize faith-sized goals? 

Here are three considerations ...

(1)  Capital Campaigns without feasibility studies.  You should never, never, NEVER do this!  In fact, GraceWorks will not conduct a Capital Campaign without a Pre-Campaign Support Study.  Let’s think about it together.

First, your objection to a study:  Your need is X amount of dollars, but what if the study shows only a half or a third of that is available.  Why do the study?  God will provide.  He wanted us to expand in the first place, right?

Answer to your objection:  If in reality your present support is a fraction of your total need, then you will end up doing a multi-phase campaign, whether you plan for it or not -- or like it.

Scenario #1:  The Planned Multi-Phase Capital Campaign.  Based on a thorough Pre-Campaign Study, we set an obtainable goal for phase A.  We work hard.  We make our goal.  We celebrate!  We build the Phase A building.  We start planning Phase B.  We set an obtainable (bigger) goal for Phase B.  We work hard.  We make our goal.  We celebrate!  We build out much more of master building plan with Phase B monies.  We start planning a (bigger) Phase C . . . and so on.  

Scenario #2: The Unplanned Version of the Multi-Phase Capital Campaign:  We skip the Pre-Campaign Study. Our ultimate goal becomes the immediate goal, based on need.  We work very hard, both longer and harder than we thought.  We don’t make our goal. (In fact we’re not even close.)  We half-heartedly celebrate.  We have major public egg on our face.  We burn out.  We waste a year or two being very, very confused.  We switch consultants.  We conclude we have no choice but to do a second effort.  Only with great difficulty are we able to recruit volunteers and leaders for Phase B.  Some of our best volunteers, leaders, and donors flatly tell us “No” -- permanently.  Because of this, we raise less money in Phase B than had we planned it out in the first place -- and because of our initial confusion, it takes a year or two longer.

GraceWorks’ reality principle means we’re not going to help you along the way of Scenario #2.  Yes, we strongly believe in faith-sized goals.  Yes, we believe that the cattle on a thousand hills are His.  (Psalm 50:10)  Yes, we believe that where God’s finger points the way, His hand will provide. 

On the other hand, we are to love the Lord our God with “all our mind” as well as our heart and soul (Mark 12:30).  Besides being stewards of His vision, we are stewards of all the resources He has given us to accomplish this vision -- money, yes, but also donors, leaders, volunteers, and staff.  Scenario #2 is costly for all of these.  Keep in mind that while God gives the vision, He often does not give the timetable for that vision.  It may take awhile.

(2)  Fundraising without Planning.  If you engage GraceWorks, plan on putting time and money into visioning and planning, particularly if you currently do not have a strategic plan.  The reality is, without a well-thought out strategic plan, many major donors will give you token gifts.  They may like you and like your passion, but they simply don’t trust your business sense.  In other words, the money you invest in a solid strategic plan will return itself many times over -- often in your first successful major gift solicitation.

Here’s the good news:  With GraceWorks, you can afford to do a strategic plan, a Pre-Campaign Support Study, and the campaign -- and still spend tens of thousands of dollars less than you would pay a for-profit consulting firm.  In other words, you can afford to do it right with GraceWorks!   

(3)  Ignoring the Board.  Again a very big mistake, and GraceWorks won’t do it!  The first adjunct staff person GraceWorks added, David Domsch, is a strategic planner and expert at building the type of Board of Directors your Christian school needs to succeed.  The reality is this:  Often schools have to significantly strengthen their Boards if they are going to expand. 

GraceWorks simply will not ignore the Board.  That’s why we keep our rates affordable -- so you can afford the outside help to do it right.

Based on the Pre-Campaign Support Study, GraceWorks customizes everything about your campaign to your situation.  Why?  Because each situation is different!  A lot of time and energy?  Yes, but it makes all the difference for your success!

Here’s the bottom-line.  You can do it right with GraceWorks, more quickly, efficiently, and affordably than you would imagine.  And you can do it with confidence because our capital campaign specialists have personally raised over 500 million dollars!

Accountability.  GraceWorks believes so strongly in the validity of our approach and principles, that we guarantee all our work.  For Capital Campaigns, we spell out the results you can expect, based on a Pre-Campaign Study.  For annual fundraising, we spell out your likely results based on a Pre-Campaign Study.  Ditto our other services -- we take the time to get to know your situation first, then we spell out the results you can expect.  We also specifically spell out what you, your staff, your volunteers, your leaders, and your Board will need to do in order to succeed. 

For more information, call GraceWorks' President, Dan Krause, at (719) 278-9600.