Over the generations, people have built churches with elaborate architecture featuring beautiful stained glass windows. As with all buildings, time takes its toll on these grand structures and they require constant maintenance to keep up their splendor. Unfortunately, the populations that support these houses of worship are also changing and often the support needed is not in place to complete the required maintenance. Churches often find they have to be creative in order to meet their financial needs. We would like to share a few approaches that others have taken to raise money to facilitate their stained glass restoration projects. Window by Window St. Paul & St. Timothy Stained Glass Window Several churches have taken the window-by-window approach. They take the overall cost of a project and break it down by square foot per window to establish a cost of repair for each window. Once this cost is established, the church then offers each window to its members. An interested member or group of members then pledges the amount to cover the work of that particular window. Often the church will present the donor or group of donors with a plaque acknowledging their gift. There are also instances in which the church will exaggerate these costs per window to achieve more donations to apply too less glamorous projects such as roofing or air conditioning work. This approach has been very successful in raising money for many different maintenance projects by using the visual appeal of stained glass. As one priest once stated, “I have no problem raising money to take care of our stained glass. However, raising money for fixing the plumbing is almost impossible. This approach alleviated this problem.” Fundraising Specialty Items Some churches have worked with specialty companies to purchase miscellaneous items in bulk, such as sun catchers at a discounted price. The members then offer these items to the public at a retail price, taking the proceeds for use toward the project. Staging Another approach is the staging method. In this instance, a church selects a contractor and requests his bid to be broken down to address each specific area. The church then performs each section as they acquire the funds. This works well for active churches that receive regular pledge income. The only disadvantage generally is it costs more to have a company do the work in different stages. There is no quantity discount; often the company has to contend with extra set up and mobilization costs. Bank and Specialty Loans In some situations, churches have taken out loans to facilitate the completion of projects with the knowledge that this will inspire growth and support from their members to rise up and pay off these loans. We have seen many churches take this approach and often when projects are completed, the members are inspired and the church receives increased monthly pledges to sanctify the loans. Some churches have gone as far as to ask their members to commit to additional monthly payments. There has also been a growing trend of specialty lenders that specifically fund churches. This has received both positive and negative results. It is best to talk to several lenders and read the fine print. Also, be sure there are no pre-payment penalties. Some companies, such as Associated Crafts, may offer some in-house financing. Generally, this is a great option but be sure you understand the terms and it is something your membership can support. State, Federal, and Private Historical Grants Years ago, for the many churches that would solicit this type of help, it unfortunately rarely panned out. However, in the last five or six years, more and more of these grants have come to fruition for several historic churches. Generally, it requires a great deal of work for the applicant and he or she must follow stringent guidelines. The agency is usually concerned that the church is requesting a project that is to help the building maintain its historical significance or preserve. It is very important that you select a quality company that is versed in historic restoration and preservation. The correct studio can be very advantageous in helping a church secure a grant and choosing the incorrect studio can make it impossible. Select a studio whose staff is prepared to assist you in your fundraising efforts.
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Over the generations, people have built churches with elaborate architecture featuring beautiful stained glass windows. As with all buildings, time takes its toll on these grand structures and they require constant maintenance to keep up their splendor.
John Phillips Jr is author of this article on Church Window Fundraising. Find more information about Church Window Survey here.
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