1.
How long has the pastor been with the congregation?
0 to 20 months
21 to 23 months
24 to 26 months
27 to 29 months
30 to 32 months
33 to 35 months
36 months or longer
2.
How long has the staff been together in the congregation?
6 or less months
7 months
8 months
9 months
10 months
11 months
12 months or longer
3.
Does your congregation have strong Board member support?
Grade this a 7 if you have total support from your Boards. For each negative subtract a point.
4.
Is there a strong CASE for the project?
Give yourself a 7 if your CASE meets a valid congregational need and reflects congregation’s mission and strategic ministry plan.
5.
Does the project (CASE) have "sizzle”?
If your project demonstrates emotional and spiritual appeal, while tugging at the heart and purse strings, give yourself a 7. Evaluate whether there is a sense of urgency, relevance and spiritual benefit, and if these are lacking, lower your score accordingly.
6.
Does the project have unanimous approval from your leaders and staff?
If there is wholehearted agreement between your leaders and staff regarding the importance of the CASE and they are willing to work together to bring your project to fruition, give yourself a 7. If a sense of excitement and high expectations doesn’t exist or if some of the leaders are not enthusiastic advocates of our project, begin to deduct points. This situation is a warning sign that must be corrected or the naysayers may need to determine if they can continue to stay on the Boards of the congregation and remain effective.
7.
Can you determine who your top 11 givers will be (which will produce a large percentage of the goal)?
Give yourself a 7 if you have identified these top 11 giving sources.
8.
Do you have members who will be ideal candidates for the Leadership Team?
If you have at least ten people with sufficient strength, stature, influence and affluence who can and would accept campaign leadership roles, give yourself a 7.
9.
Has your congregation reached its annual budget giving over the last two years?
If you reached your Annual Giving needs, give yourself a 7. If you have met your goal only last year, mark a 6. If you met your goal only the previous year, mark an 5. Anything less than that, decrease accordingly, depending on the size of the shortfall. If you do not have an annual stewardship effort for operational funds, give yourself a 1.
10.
Is your congregation’s budget in the black or red?
If you have operated within a balanced budget within the past two years, give yourself a 7. Mark your grade lower for an operating deficit.
11.
Are you embarking on a campaign that is 1-1/2 times greater in dollars than your annual operating budget income?
A general rule of thumb is that you will be able to raise 1-1/2 to 2 times the annual operating income funds in a 3 year "over & above” capital campaign. If your total capital project equals 10 times your annual giving, give yourself a 1. The lower the numerical ratio between your capital effort and your annual giving, the higher your rating.
12.
Can the project be financed only by funds raised in the Capital Campaign, or will you need to borrow additional funds and carry a mortgage?
If you have developed a carefully planned budget and have projected that after the project is completed, sufficient income will be available to support both building costs and long-term financing, give yourself a 7. If the project cannot be fully financed, lower your score accordingly. If you campaign includes funds for endowment, increase your rating.
13.
Do you know who the next 20% of the total expected givers are--the ones from whom you’ll receive another large percentage of the goal?
If you have identified and listed these givers who are most likely to provide large gifts for your program, give yourself a 7.
14.
Have you communicated with your top prospects during the last year?
If you have maintained a written plan to actively cultivate these sources during the past 12 months, and have made significant contact with each prospect at least twice during the year, give yourself a 7.
15.
Are there competing campaigns underway or being planned in the community?
There should be no campaigns in your service area being planned for the same period of time which will cause a serious conflict. If you do not anticipate a conflict, give yourself a 7.
