4 C’s of Consulting
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” – Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
If you decide to enlist the help of a capital campaign consulting and fundraising company, evaluate them on four points:
- Company
- Consultant
- Campaign
- Cost
1 | Company
- Experience & History – How long have they served other churches?
- Previous Campaigns – How many campaigns have been conducted for other churches? How many campaigns have been conducted for other churches of similar size, worship model and values?
- References – Ask for the last ten churches the company has worked with. Call them!
2 | Consultant
- Presentation of Material – Is the person making the initial presentation the one who you’ll be working with? If not, ask to re-schedule the initial presentation with that person. Your team’s comfort level with the consultant is the first key to a successful campaign.
- Knowledge – Does the consultant understand your church, its unique context and its needs?
- Accessibility & Compatibility – Do you have confidence in the consultant’s ability to get the job done with professionalism and integrity?
- Experience – Does the consultant have previous successful experiences with churches like yours?
3 | Campaign
- Biblical Basis – Are you comfortable with the scriptural integrity of the company, the consultant and the campaign?
- Customized or “Canned” Approach – Does the proposed approach resonate with your church and its context?
- Preparation & Planning – Is the proposed campaign well-organized? Does the implementation plan seem reasonable? Is there enough time to accomplish it?
- Giving Options & Follow-Up – After the campaign, the consultant will move on to other churches. How long and under what terms will he or she be available to you? What follow-up steps are laid out in the agreement?
4 | Cost
- Fixed or Percentage – Will the company charge a set fee or will they charge a percentage of funds raised? Is there a limit on any percentage-based fee? Is there a minimum on any percentage-based fee? Vet the proposed agreement thoroughly and ask other leaders to anticipate objections or concerns.
- Fee Due Date – Many companies require that their final fee is paid early in the campaign process, usually within six months of the initial commitment Sunday. Be sure to understand the time frame for final payment of the company’s fee.
- Contract – Understand every detail of the contract before signing. Ask the church trustees, management team and/or deacons to review contract details. It’s always a good idea to have the church’s attorney review the contract before signing.
Consultant Resources
- Campaigns by Auxano – P.O. Box 590285, Houston, TX 77259, 800-894-0991
- The Charis Group – 581 Grove Field Court, Suwanee, GA 30024, 800-750-7095
- The Gage Group – P.O. Box 2005, Colleyville, TX 76034, 800-684-4243
- Generis – 102 N. 85 Parkway, Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30214, 800-233-0561
- Horizons Stewardship Company – 183 Arena Road, Suite A, P.O. Box 627, Cabot, AR 72023, 501-843-9448
- INJOY Stewardship Solutions – P.O. Box 7700, Atlanta, GA 30357, 800-333-6509
- RSI Stewardship – 5151 Belt Line Road, Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75254, 214-866-7500
- The Timothy Group – 1663 Sutherland Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508, 616-224-4060
- TLC Ministries – 1702 Indiana Avenue, New Castle, IN 47362, 800-473-5352
Please note that stewardship companies listed above are provided for informational purposes only and that MinistryOperations.com makes no claims about the consultants listed.