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Fellowship Insights

Rooted in our 25 years of fundraising experience and in our mission to serve Christian communities through our knowledge and experience, our Fellowship Insights page features the latest Fellowship Development fundraising advice from our team of experts, case studies and helpful insight to consider as you plan your next campaign.

Sep 05

How Fundraising Consultants Charge: Common Fee Structures Explained

By Fellowship Insights

By Brendan Manson / President of Fellowship Development Launching a capital campaign is a large undertaking. Most development offices can’t handle such a task on their own. That’s where a fundraising consultant comes in. They provide the expertise and knowledge to conduct a successful capital campaign. But you may be asking yourself, how much does a fundraising consultant charge and are they worth the cost? What Is a Fundraising Consultant and What Do They Do? A fundraising consultant’s role is to help a nonprofit organization conduct a large scale fundraising effort, like a capital campaign or debt reduction campaign. The…

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Aug 19

7 Real Church Capital Campaign Examples That Inspired Generosity

By Fellowship Insights

By Brendan Manson / President of Fellowship Development Sometimes a congregation experiences an enormous financial need that exceeds the typical administrative costs that are covered through weekly offertory. That could include constructing a new church building, renovating campus or retiring debt. In that situation, it may be necessary for a church to embark on a capital campaign to fundraise. But extraordinary fundraising requires strategies that resonate with the congregation. Without expert support, a church may fall into common challenges and mistakes that prove to be costly and fail to support fulfillment of the needs of the church. Throughout our work…

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Aug 05

What Is a Church Capital Campaign? A Simple Guide for Leaders

By Fellowship Insights

By Brendan Manson / President of Fellowship Development What Is a Church Capital Campaign? Are you looking to build a new church, reduce debt or tackle maintenance you’ve been putting off for years? A capital campaign may be the solution for your church. A church capital campaign is defined as an intentional, intense fundraising effort that a faith community conducts to achieve one or more specific project goals, such as constructing a new facility, major building repairs or retiring debt. Giving to a campaign goes above and beyond typical giving. It is an extraordinary ask amount from your church community…

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Jun 16

How to ask for donations for a church capital campaign

By Fellowship Insights

At Fellowship Development, we believe every successful church capital campaign is built on four key pillars: a compelling vision, committed leadership, consistent momentum and clarity. Together, these elements do more than raise funds — they foster meaningful, faith-filled engagement and inspire generosity at every level. A Compelling Vision Clear funding priorities are essential, but a truly effective campaign begins with a bold, prayerful vision. Is your campaign aligned with your church’s mission and long-term strategy? Does it reflect the needs and hopes of your congregation? Does your capital campaign fill a dire need? Will it have an impact beyond a…

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May 20

Before You Begin: Six Essentials for Launching a Successful Capital Campaign

By Fellowship Insights

A capital campaign is more than a fundraising effort — it’s a strategic initiative that can shape your church’s future for years to come. Whether your goal is to expand your facility, launch a new ministry center or even eliminate debt, the groundwork you lay before launching the campaign is critical to your future success. Here are six foundational steps to take before you begin, to ensure your campaign is well-organized, widely supported and aligned with your mission and vision for the future. Start with mission and vision alignment The most successful campaigns are mission driven. Before discussing budgets or…

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Mar 03

Biblical foundations for a Christian capital campaign

By Fellowship Insights

A Christian capital campaign, particularly for a church or school, is best rooted in the biblical principles of stewardship, generosity and community support. Scripture provides numerous examples of faith-based giving and planning, offering a strong foundation for modern fundraising efforts in a Christian capital campaign. God as the Provider “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 A central tenet of Christian belief focuses on God as the source of all creation. Biblical text emphasizes that all resources ultimately come from God, and believers are called to trust…

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Nov 22

Embracing the Christmas spirit: inspiring generosity for year-end giving

By Fellowship Insights

As Christmas approaches, Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ—the ultimate gift of love and salvation. This sacred season is not only a time for reflection, but also a powerful call to live out faith through generosity. For Christian nonprofits, Christmas offers a unique opportunity to inspire year-end giving and rally support for missions that bring hope and healing to the world. Why Christmas inspires generosity “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold,…

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Aug 12

Cultivating a Lifestyle of Stewardship and Generosity

By Fellowship Insights

As Christians, we are called to cultivate a spirituality and lifestyle of stewardship and generosity. These biblical principles represent distinct yet complementary aspects of our Christian life.  Stewardship is the recognition that all we possess is a gift from God. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30) powerfully reminds us of our responsibility to gratefully receive, invest in, and grow what has been entrusted to us. Stewardship encompasses not only our financial resources but also our time, talents, and spiritual gifts.  Generosity flows from a heart filled with gratitude and is a vital fruit of the Spirit. It is…

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Jun 26

Five steps to conducting a spirit-led capital campaign for your Christian church

By Fellowship Insights

Launching a capital campaign for your Christian church is a significant endeavor that requires spiritual grounding and strategic planning. A spirit-led capital campaign seeks not only to raise funds but to deepen the faith and commitment of the church community. This guide outlines five essential steps to ensure your campaign is aligned with God’s will and purpose, from the foundation of prayer to the continuous reporting of impact. By focusing on prayer, listening to the congregation, inviting stewardship, expressing gratitude and maintaining transparency, your church can successfully conduct a spirit-led capital campaign that glorifies God and strengthens its mission. Prayer:…

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Feb 07

2024 Christian fundraising trends to watch

By Fellowship Insights

With inflation returning to normal levels, 2024 promises to be a great year for fundraising, especially for Christian churches, schools and nonprofits. Here are four Christian fundraising trends to watch in 2024: Renew your commitment to stewardship: At Fellowship Development, stewardship is at the heart of what we do. Our onsite, full-service approach works best when filtered through a Christo-centric, stewardship-focused lens. Stewardship is more than cultivating a culture of financial giving; it means creating the avenues that allow all to share from the many ways that God gives abundantly. In our 26 years as a firm, we’ve found that…

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