Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Motivational speaker Simon Sinek stresses that WHAT we do, and HOW we do it, are LESS important than a clear understanding of WHY we do things. Here are two key reasons ‘why’ we do a capital campaign:

1. A capital campaign is a vehicle for gratitude, service, and sharing

In church we can get caught up in the weeds of committee work and volunteering simply to get things done. There is often no time to ask the fundamental question: “Why is this work important?”

Every capital campaign is an expanded opportunity to serve others. The collective work of defining God’s vision for a capital campaign is a focused and practical way of inviting people to share their hopes, needs, skills, and questions. It is an exciting call to be inclusive and to do more than just the ordinary.

Henry Nouwen describes our gratitude for Christ’s life, death, and resurrection: “Gratitude flows from the recognition that who we are, and what we have, are gifts to be received and shared by all”.

2. A capital campaign creates opportunity for friendship and community

Capital fundraising is not only about building endowments, fixing roofs, or expanding buildings. People and buildings are intended for service to all God’s people, including the neighborhood and the wider community. Physical structures restored for service to a wide array of God’s people will help build both community and relationships.

Nouwen puts it this way: “Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. People have such a need for friendship and for community that fundraising has to be community building.”

A call to action: Discern a vision for your capital campaign

Discerning why God wants us to embark a capital campaign is the first step to success. What is God’s vision for your future that will be realized through a capital campaign? A capital campaign is a lot of work. We had better do it for the right reasons if we want people to support it.

Then we shall truly be part of God’s unbounded grace at work in the world.

Watch Simon Sinek's "Start with Why" TED talk here.

The original text of this article has been edited to reflect ECF's current programs.