Home 5 School 5 Ministry Solutions | School 5 Ministry Expansion Campaigns | School

Ministry Expansion Campaigns for Schools

You have a desire to expand your school, build and grow while sharing the life-saving message of the Gospel with the next generation. When working with the Ministry Solutions team at LCEF, each process is unique, but the result is the same: Your school is joyfully and effectively fulfilling its purpose within the Kingdom.

Get Connected

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 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 ministries 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 congregation. 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 generously give.

A Spiritual Conversation.
As we focus on the impact of your project, we ensure that everyone hears the clear call of Christ to engage and commit to this essential future ministry.
A Lutheran Conversation.
In capital 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 and intentionally flexible to fit the culture of your congregation. Together with your team, we ensure that your campaign resonates with your members, while reaching your funding goal.
A Family Conversation.
Our Ministry Expansion Campaign process encourages a family conversation between the brothers and sisters in Christ of your ministry, encouraging every member 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 to 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.