From the Capital Improvement Committee
The first in a series, this bulletin provides some general information about committee
training from Partners for Sacred Places and follow-up activities during 2007.

What is Partners for Sacred Places? A national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization focusing on community-serving congregations with older and historic properties and offering training for capital fund-raising campaigns.

What Did Training Offer?

• Strategies for building support from the congregation and the larger community
• Writing a strong case statement for funding support
• Developing an action plan to help the congregation meet its fundraising goals
• Mentor/coach participation with the committee during the process

What Has the Committee Completed?

• Three members participated in a 2-day training session in May and brought ‘homework’ assignments back to the committee.
• During the summer, we developed the first draft of our case statement including the history of UCP, the dollar value of UCP programs for the community, and a re-assessment of building needs.
• Three people returned for another two-day training session in October and brought back another list of tasks to complete.
• We are building donor lists from the congregation, the community, and local businesses and finalizing our case statement.
• We are now meeting with our coach from the NH Preservation Alliance and a fundraising consultant to finalize our campaign plans.

What’s Next?

• Work with expert resources to re-evaluate and price proposed projects with emphasis on the foundation/drainage issues.
• Schedule a series of focus group gatherings to discuss priorities and support.
• Finalize the campaign plan and begin the first project.

 What Were Some of Partners’ Sacred Places Findings?

• 93% of all surveyed congregations with older buildings open their doors to the larger community.
• On average, congregations house four ongoing community service programs.
• For every congregation member served, more than four individuals from outside the congregation benefit from community service programs offered by churches.
• Congregations with older buildings host 76% of their community service in their own facilities.
• Children and youth benefit from congregation-supported service programs more than any other group.
• More than 75% of congregations use their older buildings to meet basic human needs through food and clothing programs.
• The average congregation provides over 5,300 hours of volunteer support to its community programs, the equivalent of two and a half fulltime volunteers stationed year-round at the church.
• On average, the subsidy provided by congregations to their community programs is about $140,000 a year, or 16 times what they receive in return from the users of their space.
• The vast majority of community programs supported by churches are initiated by congregations.
• 21% of congregations are facing the expense of major structural work on their buildings.
• The average congregation will have to spend more than $225,000 over the next several years to repair its building, straining the budgets of all but the most affluent churches.

How does UCP Compare?