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 at Fellowship Development, we strive not only to address the unknowns for your church campaign, but also to deeply understand your church communityto and tailor fundraising ideas and methods specifically to your needs. Through a wealth of experience and tried-and-tested methods, we understand church capital campaigns.
Purpose and Common Goals
While each campaign execution strategy is customized to every church, it is indeed the experience of hundreds of church capital campaigns that informs the methods of Fellowship Development. Every campaign has the potential to motivate a congregation to come together and strengthen the whole community. A well-executed capital campaign is an exercise in purpose and shared common goals for any church congregation.
7 Inspiring Church Capital Campaign Examples
Here are some examples and case studies of real church campaigns that inspired generosity.
With a goal to establish a permanent church home, leadership of Christ Redeemer Church in Hanover, New Hampshire, also envisioned expanded ministries, outreach and community programs. With support from Fellowship Development, the customized campaign leveraged ministry networks and strong pastoral leadership to find success. After a lengthy legal battle allowed the church to build despite zoning laws, the community was inspired to support the campaign, raising 143% of the campaign’s low-end goal.
This church congregation needed to complete major facility renovations to improve the safety, capacity and usability of the church building. A Fellowship Development manager developed a tailored, full-service capital campaign with onsite management, volunteer engagement and professional design. The challenge to meet the funding needs of this project required broad community support. By unifying leadership and volunteers with a compelling case for support, the community exceeded fundraising projections and the improvements to the church were fully funded.
A thriving non-denominational church in the Denver area, Grace Church was ready to acquire and renovate a secondary building to expand facilities for its growing ministries. The strategy for this campaign creatively integrated campaign materials and communication tools, which included multi-channel communications, video production and professional design. The biggest challenge was funding significant repairs and renovations on an older campus while securing funding for the purchase of a new building. With great messaging, high-quality media and outreach beyond the congregation, this campaign attracted 25% new donors and raised over $9.9 million.
Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church
The Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church planned to not only renovate and update its existing church facilities, but to build a new preschool and playground as an outreach ministry to the community. Creative messaging helped educate the community on why both the extensive facility updates and the new construction should be funded simultaneously. Church leadership played an important role in rallying the community and inspiring engagement that exceeded the low-end projection for this project.
Zion Lutheran Church sought funding for a new, modern school building while also replacing the church roof. The strategy to combine needs in the campaign meant building support from both the church and school community. It would be a challenge to make a case for different needs that impacted only parts of the community. By streamlining messaging and resources, a clear vision lead to the success of this capital campaign, exceeding fundraising goals and funding both projects.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church set out to fund essential facility upgrades, improve accessibility and create a maintenance fund to preserve its historic organ. To achieve this, the parish partnered with Fellowship Development to create a customized capital campaign, beginning with a feasibility study and supported by grant writing and professional design. The challenge was to address long-deferred maintenance and accessibility needs in its historic buildings while preserving the church’s artistic and musical heritage. Through hands-on campaign management, targeted messaging and expert resources, St. Luke’s surpassed the goal.
Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church
Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church and School set out to build a new Early Childhood Development Center and renovate existing spaces for classrooms and ministry expansion. The church faced the challenge of rapid growth that outpaced existing facilities. Through expert guidance, a faith-driven approach and strong community commitment, these challenges were overcome for a successful capital campaign.
5 Lessons Learned from These Capital Campaigns
Each congregation has its own individual needs, givers and quirks that will impact the way a capital campaign is executed. It is why every Fellowship Development campaign is customized to the community. But there are ways to approach a campaign that will build authentic support while avoiding the usual problems and pitfalls. Here are five things central to the success of the Fellowship Development style of campaign management:
Strategic Planning and Preparation
Strategic planning and preparation are essential before launching a church capital campaign. The process begins by clarifying the community’s vision and goals. This ensures that everyone understands the purpose and desired outcomes of a potential campaign. Before the campaign process begins, it is essential to review, update and validate all church and donor databases to ensure prompt, accurate and effective communication throughout the effort. A feasibility study should then be conducted to gauge support, identify potential challenges and determine the likelihood of success. Based on these insights, realistic timelines and financial targets can be established to keep the campaign on track and achievable. Finally, it is crucial to align all goals with the church’s mission and vision, ensuring that the campaign not only meets immediate needs but also supports the long-term spiritual and community objectives of the congregation.
Campaign Execution Strategies
Strong leadership and broad congregational engagement are essential to a successful church capital campaign. The effort should be guided by both pastoral and lay leaders who are committed to the church’s mission and respected within the congregation. These leaders set the tone by modeling generosity, clearly communicating the vision and inspiring others to get involved. Building trust and enthusiasm is key. Leaders should be transparent about goals and progress, celebrate milestones and share stories of impact. The campaign should also create opportunities for participation across all age groups and ministries, ensuring that every member feels valued and connected to the mission. By fostering a spirit of unity and shared purpose, the campaign becomes not only a fundraising effort but also a meaningful season of spiritual growth and community building.
Communication Tools and Materials
Clear and consistent capital campaign communication is vital to keeping your church informed, inspired and united throughout a fundraising effort. A variety of tools and materials should be used to share the vision and encourage participation. Professionally designed resources such as brochures, pledge cards and vision booklets offer tangible, take-home reminders of the campaign’s purpose and goals.
Sermon series and small group guides can weave the campaign’s message into the spiritual life of the congregation, fostering deeper reflection and shared commitment. Digital channels, including email newsletters, social media, videos and the church website, provide timely updates, celebrate progress and reach members where they are. By combining these communication methods, the church can maintain momentum, build excitement and ensure every member feels connected to the mission.
Fundraising Ideas and Giving Methods
There are many ways to inspire generosity by blending both traditional and creative approaches. Time-tested methods such as pledge drives, galas and auctions remain effective in engaging supporters and encouraging participation. Creative ideas like naming opportunities, legacy giving opportunities and thematic challenges can add a fresh, personal and meaningful dimension to fundraising efforts. Integrating prayer and spiritual commitment with giving helps keep the focus on faith and mission, deepening the connection between donors and the cause. In addition, modern tools such as online giving platforms, text-to-give options and crowdfunding or other platforms provide convenient ways for people to contribute and expand the reach of the campaign.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
As church leaders, it is important to be aware of what can go wrong in a campaign and how to respond effectively. Setting unrealistic goals can discourage momentum and create unnecessary disappointment, so leaders must establish objectives that are both ambitious and achievable. Poor communication or a lack of transparency can erode trust, making it essential to share updates openly and consistently throughout the process. Finally, don’t forget to thank your donors and show your appreciation! Forgetting this step risks weakening long-term relationships. Be intentional with your gratitude.
Supporting Tools That Lead to Campaign Success
Successful campaigns are built on the use of key resources and platforms that support communication, engagement and giving. Professional campaign materials help share the vision clearly and consistently with the community. Online giving and tracking tools make it easy for donors to contribute and for leaders to monitor progress in real time. Additionally, video and online communication, church apps and dedicated campaign websites extend the reach of the campaign, keeping members connected and informed wherever they are.
Frequently Asked Questions and Practical Tips
How long does a typical church capital campaign last?
The length of a typical church capital campaign can vary from a few months to two or more years. The planning phase can be scheduled for 12-18 or more weeks. The active phase of the campaign can last for months to a year or more. Fulfillment of the pledges is usually for three years following the campaign, though it can vary. Depending on the project and the amount needing to be raised, the active portion of the campaign tends to have the most variance. Most churches find that a well-organized, succinct active phase maintains momentum and enthusiasm best.
What should donors expect during a capital campaign?
During a well-run church capital campaign, donors should expect an engaging experience with clear and transparent communication. This keeps them informed and connected to the mission of the church and the campaign. A donor should expect to have a personal touchpoint with campaign leadership or a volunteer who can personally answer questions and make a case for support. The donors will be invited to join for gatherings and presentations during the initial planning and active phases. Throughout the campaign, donors will be informed about progress and milestones to celebrate along the way. Most importantly, donors are surrounded in prayer and gratitude during the process as the congregation walks together in faith and trust in God’s call to serve the church with stewardship and generosity to do something extraordinary.
How should a church budget for a capital campaign?
Fundraising consultant costs vary based on the length of the project, services offered and scope of the work. Church capital campaigns typically range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. The final cost depends on the complexity of the effort, with fees tied to planning, onsite consultant and more. Most churches roll the costs into the fundraising goals. As with any fundraising, your costs should not exceed 10% of the funds raised. Ideally, they will be much lower than that.
What are quick tips for boosting participation and keeping enthusiasm high?
Strong leadership with clear and enthusiastic communication supported by a well-structured and agile campaign team is the best way to get fast and motivated participation in a campaign. Everything that Fellowship Development does in your campaign is in service of maintaining strong relationships within the community, which is the best way to keep enthusiasm high.
Conclusion: Let These Examples Inspire Your Next Campaign
Together, these seven examples of campaigns and the strategies that emerge show that a successful capital campaign requires thoughtful planning, clear communication and creative approaches that inspire generosity. By preparing leaders for potential challenges, using modern tools alongside traditional methods and providing consistent donor care, churches can strengthen community engagement and achieve their goals. With the right resources and a faith-driven vision, campaigns not only meet financial needs but also build lasting support for ministry and mission.
