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Ministry Expansion Campaigns for Organizations

We partner with LCMS organizations to help them grow, expand and effectively share the Gospel. Our Ministry Expansion Campaigns are designed to engage your community and build lasting support for your mission, ensuring your organization fulfills its purpose within the Kingdom.

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Ministry Readiness Process

Our consultant works with your Executive Director and other selected leaders to assess your readiness to undertake a capital campaign. Though elements of the process may seem unrelated, each piece is meant to discover impediments to donor confidence that could diminish the success of a campaign. The following LCEF processes are included in assessing ministry readiness. Though extensive in scope, these processes are designed to run concurrently to prepare for a capital campaign as expeditiously as possible.

Governance Audit 

A Governance Systems Professional reviews the organization’s governing documents and works with the board chair to assess board function. This is done through an in-person visit with supplemental Zoom meetings, if necessary.

Administrative Audit 

An experienced Lutheran school administrator reviews the school’s administration through an on-site visit and time with the Executive Director and selected staff. Our consultant reviews operational policies and procedures.

Donor Relations Audit

Our donor relations consultant works with your staff to evaluate your donor relations processes and practices. This includes an assessment of your donor database, tracking software, development calendar, lead measures, and lag measures. Gaps and insufficiencies, if any, will be identified.

Ministry Readiness Study

An LCEF consultant works with a small Ministry Readiness Study Team (4-6 volunteers) to inform and survey members, constituents, and top donors. The consultant and a member of the Ministry Solutions Team will conduct 30-50 personal interviews with selected current top donors, current school parents, faculty, and staff.

Ministry Readiness Report 

Our consultant team presents a comprehensive Ministry Readiness report to your Board of Directors. This report contains all findings from the Organization Readiness audits and Ministry Readiness Study, prescriptions, and a proposal for a continued partnership with LCEF.

Timeline

Timeline includes six months of active campaign followed by three years of fulfillment.

Imagine

This Initial Phase of the campaign is for planning and prep. It involves gathering and training the campaign leadership team, establishing a clear and concise case, developing FAQs, mapping out the entire campaign and creating materials that will be used. During this phase, your consultant and other Ministry Solutions team members will engage with your campaign leadership team and support the decisions made.
Goal
Design and prep the campaign

Private Invitation

The Private Invitation Phase begins with the procurement of lead gifts and connections with special supporters. Your consultant guides this critical part of the process as you curate a major donor list and determine how each donor should be invited to participate, and assists in calling/engaging with those donors. This phase culminates with an Initial Commitment Event designed to bring lead gift donors together to make early commitments to the campaign.

Goal
Cultivate relationships with major donors

Public Invitation

Armed with initial commitments, the campaign launches publicly with momentum. This portion of the campaign connects with donors who have not been contacted as lead givers, with partner churches and members, and with the organization’s constituents/alumni. Events are designed during the Imagine Phase to gather and connect these various groups with your organization’s ministries and the campaign.
Goal
Publicly launch the campaign

Impact

Three years of fulfillment begin with “First Gifts,” where donors begin their regular giving. Throughout these years, periodic events and sermon series are designed to re-ignite the excitement of the campaign and remind one another what God is doing in our midst.
Goal
Giving begins, campaign events continue, hold a final celebration

LCEF has guided congregations through capital campaigns for many years.

We’ve learned over the decades and have come to operate under some clear critical theories:
Campaigns are about Ministry, not Money.
Money is simply a vehicle to see ministry expand in your organization. Whether you are retiring debt, purchasing property, or building a new facility, we help you focus on the ministry impact of the project that moves the hearts of your people to give.
A Spiritual Conversation.
As we focus on the ministry impact of your project, we ensure your community hears the clear call of Christ to engage and commit to this essential future ministry.
A Lutheran Conversation.
In financial campaigns it is easy to lean into the Law to drive giving. The LCEF process is unique in its presentation of a Gospel call to giving that grows disciples as they see God provide for them as they provide for His kingdom.
Basecamp Project Management.
Instead of binders, campaigns live inside of our easy-to-use project management software. Each person on the leadership team will have access and be able to use the powerful platform to stay on top of their tasks as well as access all the materials at any time on their phones, tablets or computers.
Every Campaign is Unique.
Our process is time-tested but intentionally flexible to fit the culture of your organization. Together with your team, we ensure that your campaign resonates with your community, while reaching your funding goal.
A Family Conversation.
Our process encourages a family conversation between the brothers and sisters in Christ of your organization, encouraging everyone to commit to the family project with their prayers, service and financial gifts.
We Don’t Stop after the Campaign Ends.
The three years of commitment fulfillment require multiple ministry celebration events, reminder mini-campaigns and stewardship emphasis moments. We walk alongside you throughout this critical phase to ensure you capitalize on critical moments to maintain giving momentum.

Join LCMS Ministries Like Yours

Hear from leaders who have worked with LCEF on Ministry Expansion Campaigns.

Rev. Dr. Glen D. Thomas

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Mo.

"We are delighted with the leadership that LCEF provided for our ministry expansion campaign. Our consultant had experience as a LCMS parish pastor and this experience, combined with his campaign knowledge and expertise, made him the perfect choice to lead us through this campaign. We researched other campaign consultant companies and decided that LCEF was the best choice in terms of capital campaign experience, affinity with us as a congregation of the LCMS, and value for the services they provided."

Rev. Joel Hess

St. James Lutheran Church, Chicago, Ill.

“Five years ago, by God's grace, St. James had that Gospel fire lit under them, which created a passion to share the Good News of Jesus with Chicago. But this good desire needed an effective strategy. LCEF provided an outstanding long-term planning template and outstanding advisors so we could put our faith into action. Two ministry campaigns later, we have expanded our ministries and schools and joyfully look forward to regular ministry campaigns so more and more Chicagoans know Jesus.”

Rev. Dr. Mark McCrory

Desert Foothills Lutheran Church, Scottdale, Ariz.

"The LCEF Ministry Expansion Campaign was a fantastic experience, thanks to our consultant's expert guidance at every step, from planning to hands-on support during execution. The results spoke for themselves as our congregation exceeded fundraising expectations, raising substantially more than anticipated!"

Rev. Dr. Daniel Prugh and Principal Kelly Reilly

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Tampa, Fla.

"It was a joy to work with LCEF on our campus expansion project. The support that LCEF provided was instrumental in the execution of a clear and successful campaign for our multipurpose education building and sport court."