The Art of Fundraising: Starting Strong, Keeping Momentum, and Building Lasting Relationships
Crafting the right fundraising strategy is both a science and an art, requiring strategic planning, perseverance, and strong relationships. A well-executed fundraising campaign can transform an organization’s future, but success doesn’t happen by chance. At Catalyst Construction, we specialize in helping schools, churches, and other mission-driven organizations navigate this process. Whether planning a new school construction project, a new church build or expansion undertaking, or another significant build project, successful fundraising turns vision into reality. With deep experience in capital campaigns, we help clients start strong, maintain momentum, and build lasting donor relationships. Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Fundraising [...]
Choosing a Church Capital Campaign Consultant? 5 Red Flags to Look For and Key Questions to Help You See Them
Butter or margarine? Soup or salad? Paper or plastic? Highway or back roads? Most of life’s decisions are benign. It’s rare to face a life-altering choice. When you stand at a pivotal crossroads, you must have a trustworthy guide to help you make the best decision possible. Let's focus on one defining moment in a church's life —a construction project. Whether taking on a new build, addition, or renovation, it’s a high-stakes proposition. The decisions made during this time will become blessings to enjoy – or – challenges to overcome for the foreseeable future. One of the most important decisions [...]
4 Key Phases of a Capital Campaign Plan
The stakes are high with a capital campaign. You put your heart on the line, asking people to follow and sacrificially commit to the vision for the future. This is no small ask. If people get on board, they invest. Financially. Emotionally. Spiritually. And more. When done well, a capital campaign can bolster people’s faith, enhance their generosity, and establish a brighter future for the church. If a capital campaign is not done well, you may fail to achieve your goals, and people can feel let down, or misled by the leaders they trust. How can you lead a successful [...]
Three Ways Capital Campaigns for Churches Can Maximize Your Impact
“Money is the root of all evil.” How many times have you heard people misquote this Bible verse? Money is not evil, nor is it the root of all evil. Currency, in one form or another, is part of life’s equation. Whether you trade time, talent, or treasure – everyone needs to purchase something from someone else at some point. Money is not evil. “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Engaging in capital campaigns for churches can significantly bless your ministry and community. Not to take - but to empower people to give. Avoiding [...]
Church Debt and Your Congregation: Stepping into an Inspiring Future
Something changed in the American psyche after 2008. Not unlike what happened to the generation who survived The Great Depression. In the wake of 2008’s housing market crash, many people understandably became debt averse. Helpful leaders in the financial sector coined catchy phrases and practices to guide people out of and away from debt. Dave Ramsey says, “Debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid-off home mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice.” To help exert self-control, some people even put their credit cards in the freezer. Symbolically, they “freeze” their excess [...]
Creative Fundraising for School Construction Projects: 5 Ideas to Get You Started
Discover innovative approaches to raise funds for school construction. Engage the local community, organize exciting events, and bring your community together.
Challenges Around Funding a Church-School Construction Project
Kicking off funding for a church-school project is never easy. At Catalyst, we’ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be for these entities to find the right path to fundraising. Often, churches and schools fall for the same mistakes repeatedly. We sat down with Eric Hamsho, Generosity Strategist and Campaign Specialist, to highlight some of these challenges and find alternative solutions. We explored some of the most common challenges around funding a church-school project and laid out tips and strategies to complete a successful fundraising campaign. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way people contribute to fundraising calls? Surprisingly, [...]
