Two hundred and sixty four (264) church members representing 179 households either returned the written surveys or completed the online survey. A total of 47 church members participated in confidential interviews with Church Development personnel representing 32 households.

A total of 211 households are represented in the study which reflects 16% of the total 1,300 church households.  This is a good representation for a feasibility study response for a church the size of Country Club Christian Church.

Below is a summary of the findings. The complete text of the data collected can be found in accompanying attachments.

The Good News: (Note: The percentages represent a combined percentage of persons who agree or strongly agree with the statement on the survey and in the interviews.)

  1. There generally appears to be a positive attitude toward the church right now and the direction it is moving.
  2. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of members surveyed say that Country Club Christian Church is meeting their spiritual needs.
  3. Ninety-three percent (93%) believe that Country Club Christian Church is providing ample opportunity for community and fellowship.
  4. Seventy-nine percent (79%) expressed confidence in the ministers, church staff and lay leaders to make the right decisions regarding the future of the church.  Fourteen percent (14%) responded with “neutral” to this statement.
  5. Respondents indicated very strong support for completing the exterior restoration and painting, fixing the roof over the solarium, and repairing the waterline under the street. There is moderate support for repairing the organ, replacing the covering over the stained glass windows, using green materials and processes, replacing the carpeting in the hallways, offices and classrooms, setting aside 10% raised for outreach, updating the kitchen and restrooms and renovating chapel, bride and groom’s rooms.
  6. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of all respondents believe Country Club Christian Church should conduct a capital campaign now to raise money to complete those projects that are most needed in the plan.
  7. Survey respondents want more information. The most frequently requested information was the timelines and costs for the projects, fundraising costs and plans and the general financial health of the church.
  8. Respondents preferred to receive campaign information through email updates, newsletters and mailings.
  9. Eighty-six percent (86%) said they would be willing to make a financial commitment to a campaign. One hundred forty-seven (147) households (70% of total) offered $1,517,800 over three years if the campaign was held today.  This reflects an average offering of $10,325 per household. (One offering equaled $500,000)
  10. Several households are considering donating assets other than cash to the campaign.
  11. In addition to making a financial offering, 72 members (23% of total respondents) said they are willing to volunteer on a capital campaign committee, sharing their time and talents with the church
  12. There is considerable interest in learning more about planned giving for the church.

Primary Concerns:

  1. The number one concern mentioned among most church members was the weakness in the economy and its impact on employment, household income and investments.
  2. The second most often mentioned concern was the list of projects and questioning whether it can be limited to just those items that need immediate attention and eliminating those items that are perceived as “nice things to have.”
  3. There are many members who are on limited or fixed incomes and may not be in a position to make a cash commitment to a campaign.
  4. There is concern on the part of many members regarding the church’s ability to finance a capital campaign and the impact the campaign would have on regular giving.  Many mentioned that the church had funding problems a few years ago and members need to be assured that the church is no longer dealing with similar financial concerns.

Current Church  Financial Condition:

  • There are currently 1,300 households at Country Club Christian Church.
  • The current unrestricted income for FY 10-11 is $1,600,000.*
  • The church conducted an annual stewardship appeal in May, 2010.
  • A total of 433 households pledged $1,350,000 for an average pledge of $3,120.
  • 604 total households made a contribution to the operating budget of the church for an average contribution of approximately $2,650.
  • The average household contribution of all church households (1,300) is $1,230.

Church  Debt/Savings/Endowment:

The church currently has no debt.  The balance sheet for the operating budget has approximately $100,000 on it.

The church has three endowment funds for purposes ranging from music, building maintenance, scholarships and outreach.  The total in the endowment funds is $6,000,000.

Previous Church Campaign – 1996:

A campaign was conducted to renovate the sanctuary, parlor, Zappia Room and to create a building improvement fund.

  1. The goal was $2,000,000

  2. Amount pledged was $2,000,000

  3. Amount collected was $2,000,000

Recommendations:

  1. Country Club Christian Church is ready to go forward with a capital campaign to address the immediate needs of the church.
  2. Since the annual appeal is scheduled to take place in late spring, it should be combined with the capital campaign to eliminate going to the congregation twice in two months for financial commitments.  Church Development’s experience with conducting the two appeals concurrently shows an overall positive impact.
  3. The campaign should be three-years with commitment Sunday in June, 2011.
  4. The church leadership should pair down the list of projects so they reflect items that have an immediate need.
  5. The church leadership needs to provide much more information about the projects prior to asking members to make a commitment to the capital campaign.
  6. Acknowledge that these are difficult financial times, emphasizing that extra sacrifice will be needed.  The Feasibility Study did not give any indication that Country Club Christian Church should not do a campaign; however, expectations may need to be lowered because of the economy.
  7. An effort to approach potential larger donors should be implemented at the beginning of the campaign.
  8. Church members should be provided opportunities to meet with church leaders to ask questions and to express their concerns throughout the campaign. Questions that arose during the Feasibility Study should be addressed thoroughly, especially specifics of the plan, fundraising plans and costs and the general financial health of the church.
  9. A campaign should be designed in such a way that it invites new and less active members of the church to get involved.
  10. 10.  Country Club Christian Church has a large number of older church members who are on limited or fixed incomes.  When the campaign is conducted, it should respect the concerns of those on fixed incomes and find ways that are acceptable for this group to participate in a campaign.
  11. A campaign should utilize the 72 members who said in the Feasibility Study they would be wi
    lling to help with the campaign. They should be specifically invited to participate in the campaign.
  12. Donations of property, stocks and bonds should be encouraged throughout the campaign.
  13. Estate planning efforts should begin at the conclusion of the solicitation phase of the campaign to take advantage of the people who expressed an interested in this option.

Money Offered During Feasibility Study

Participants were asked, if the campaign was today and you were asked to make a commitment, how much would you commit?  The totals are as follows:

147                  Total number of households who offered money during the survey (70% of participating households)

$1,517,800      Total amount offered in the survey over a three year period (includes one $500,000 offering)

$10,300           Average per household offered during the survey

Financial Forecast:

There is support for conducting a capital campaign to address the most needed projects in the plan.  Based on our analysis of the giving history of the church, the giving capacity of members, the responses from the Feasibility Study, and our experiences with churches with similar opportunities and challenges, we believe the following:

In a quality three-year campaign focused on principles of good stewardship and large membership involvement, Country Club Christian Church has:

  • a 90 percent chance of raising $2,800,000,
  • a 70 percent chance of raising $3,200,000,
  • and a 50 percent chance of raising $3,600,000 in commitments in a three-year campaign.

If donors are cultivated with respect, given the opportunity to interact with their peers and church leaders, invited to join in the process, and are well-informed about the vision for the future of the church and how this effort will advance that vision, we believe that Country Club Christian Church will achieve great success in its campaign.

*Unrestricted income is money received that is not committed to other items.  Money raised that is earmarked for purposes such as missions would not be considered as unrestricted.