OLD ways of capital funding not working

On September 11, 2001 everything changed in America. The attack of the Muslim Fundamentalists on the Pentagon, the World Trade Centers, and the attempted attack on the White House aborted in a Pennsylvania field fundamentally changed the way we view life. Even the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor did not have the same impact!

Certainly Pearl Harbor was American soil and certainly a lot of people of died. But on 9/11 we were struck at the center of our public consciousness. Many of us watched on television as the second plane few into the second tower. We were watching when the first reports of a plane hitting the Pentagon hit the airwaves and cable systems.

America will forever mark time from “before 9/11” and “after 9/11”. Like the Kennedy assassination for a previous generation, this is forever etched in the American psyche. Some of the impact of 9/11 remains to be seen. However, some things are already clear.

Americans No Longer Feel Safe.

The Terror Alert code colors are watched with the same attention as the weather. When warnings of airborne chemical poisons was predicted, and a leading government official suggested creating a “safe room” with plastic sheeting and duct tape, the retail outlets were overwhelmed with the demand.

This new insecurity has resulted in people looking in other places for security. For some more wealthy people (those who typically have given great sums to Church Capital Campaigns) it is in the security of wealth. Obtaining greater wealth and preserving greater wealth still has the illusion of greater security. Giving away a significant amount of that wealth appears to be giving away a significant amount of security. Hence, fewer and fewer give large sacrificial gifts (“large” and “sacrificial” are relative terms – in some churches and communities they are measured in millions and in other churches and communities, in hundreds).

The Economy Has Suffered

Another obvious impact of 9/11 has been its effect on the economy. America has been in the most protracted recession since the Great Depression. This has meant that many people with some accumulated wealth invested in the Stock Market have taken a real beating. Not only has their “wealth” been significantly diminished, but they have had no “appreciated assets” out of which to give.

The source of much of the larger gifts in the last two decades has been appreciated investments. At almost 3 years into this decade, most investors have had no appreciation and may have experienced significant depreciation. Therefore, unlike previous years they have not had the wherewithal to give.

Off-The-Shelf Capital Campaigns Aren’t Working Anymore

Effective churches have usually already had one or more successful capital campaigns. Their people have seen how it is done, experienced it, and understand it. The lack of success of the next campaign may be simply due to over-exposure and fatigue. The typical capital campaign is an “off-the-shelf” model that varies very little from church to church and campaign to campaign. As long as the economy was booming and raising money was easy, this was not a major problem.

But when times are hard, worn-out solutions will be less and less effective. Hence several very large churches have experienced significant underperformance in their most recent campaign. Yet some have had very successful campaigns in the midst of the changes wrought by 9/11 and a drooping economy.

Aslan brings a fresh and custom approach to every giving campaign in which it is involved. This fresh customized approach is designed to make the best of a difficult situation.

Communication Must Be Effective

In this new world (post-9/11), communication has become even more critical. We are using our cell phones more staying in touch with family and friends. We are not traveling so far away from home nor as often. We are carefully watching the 24-hour news channels, getting instant messages on our computer, and receiving Terror Alerts on our PDA’s.

Yet the typical Capital Campaign communicates the message of the campaign in the same way in which it was communicated ten years ago! And people are no longer listening.

An effective campaign will invest significant time and talents as well as financial resources in insuring effective communication. The Aslan Group has award-winning skills in designing effective means of communication.

Articulating a Clear Mission and a Compelling Vision Is Essential

In the past (pre-9/11) it was enough to tell the story of the needed capital improvement, use pretty pictures, and even give guided 360-degree virtual tours of the structure to be built. Since 9/11 more than ever before people are asking “Why?” Old capital campaign plans told “What,” not “Why.”

The “Why” of giving to a capital campaign is tied directly to a very clear mission and vision and the articulation of the same. It is now far more about the mission and vision than it is about the building or land purchase. The definition and articulation of a clear and compelling vision is now absolutely essential for a successful Capital Campaign.

Yet many churches go into a Campaign with no clear mission or vision, and no one to help them develop and articulate one that will motivate giving in the current environment. The typical campaign consultant is primarily a technician making sure the pre-packaged campaign is done in an efficient and timely manner.

The Aslan Group has years of experience helping effective churches and organizations develop a clear and compelling mission and vision and a plan of articulation which has now become essential to a successful campaign.

Prayer Must Be at the very Heart of the Campaign

Almost every stock Capital Campaign has an area of focus on prayer during the campaign. In the typical campaign this is of equal importance with Host and Hostesses, Advance Gifts Committee, and the Production Team – maybe less important! The mechanics of the stock campaign actually take precedence over the importance of prayer.

The Aslan Group believes the most important element of a successful campaign is prayer. However, it not only believes it but will not accept an engagement with a church or organization which will not make prayer for the campaign of ultimate importance, AND devote the necessary leadership and time to make prayer the leading indicator of the church’s willingness and ability to engage in a campaign which has the potential of transforming lives.

Transformed Lives is the Goal

Finally, Capital Campaigns which focus on raising money rather than transforming lives have little long-term impact on a congregation’s spiritual maturity. And generous, faithful giving is a means and product of spiritual maturity.

The Aslan Group has extensive experience in helping churches conduct their business in ways that result in changed lives – whether it is the building of a building, the successful raising of money, the development of a fee-based ministry, or the significant enhancement and improvement of the worship service.

If you recognize the need to do a Capital Campaign, if you understand the “same ol’, same ol’” will not work, and if you will not be satisfied with a campaign that results only in raising money but not changing lives, then give us a call.

For more information or to enlist some significant help contact:
John Butler
jbutler@aslangroup.com
678.592.9241

May God richly bless you as you serve Christ
making disciples in more and more effective ways.