Church facilities have traditionally been among the most underused facilities in America, sitting empty throughout much of the week. We believe there are incredible opportunities for churches to leverage their campus to generate sustainable income for their ministry and serve the needs of their local community, not only on Sundays but seven days a week
In recent years, the wisdom of merging for-profit businesses on church property has become beneficial. These “financially sustainable” models reduce existing overhead costs and become a true catalyst for ministry growth and community impact.
Finances often dictate the pace that a church’s vision can be carried out. Although hope and passion may abound, a lack of resources can result in great discouragement among ministries. But what if the key to moving forward is not totally dependent on the amount of money you have in the bank or your level of giving?
Perhaps the best place to start is by assessing the assets your church already has and then evaluating the untapped potential to generate sustainable income. What is your community lacking that could be accomplished in your facility or on your property? You begin to brainstorm ideas within your leadership for how the church’s assets could meet a need within your community. You take an inventory of your buildings and land, including the types, quantity, and condition of rooms, parking spaces, etc. When are they being used and when are they empty? Are there opportunities to incorporate financially sustainable models?
Excess Land
If your church owns additional unused land or adjacent property, it could be of special interest to a developer specializing in multi-family housing, mixed-use retail, hotelier, or commercial office space. If your surrounding community is aging a senior housing project would be appropriate. If you are in an urban or commercial area, your parking lot may be of great value during the week.
Unused Spaces in Your Building
If you have spaces in your facility that are only being used on Sundays, consider leasing or renting those spaces to outside groups. Consider adding a feature in this space that is needed or desired in your community, such as an indoor playground or a rock-climbing wall. This could be rented out on Saturdays for children’s birthday parties and would be an excellent way to introduce young families to your church. Opening your cafe during this time would allow parents to meet and share coffee while their children play. A gym and a few classrooms could be utilized to host after-school care. If you have a commercial kitchen, it could be leased to a catering company that could use it six days a week. Your classrooms could be shared with a Christian school, or you could partner with a for-profit childcare company, that could utilize the spaces throughout the week. Some renovations may be necessary to meet code requirements for these uses, but the potential revenue could make it a worthwhile investment.
Childcare centers have proven to be a natural fit for many churches. As a result, we have recommended childcare providers to help churches integrate early learning centers into their buildings. These providers bring valuable input on space requirements as well as business feasibility. In addition, these childcare experts provide professional management solutions that help ensure the success of your new business.
Even though this is an exciting process, it can also be overwhelming. Every church is different, and it would be a mistake to believe there is a one-size-fits-all solution. As you discern how God is calling you to serve your congregation and community, we invite you to contact us. We can walk you through each stage of this process and can assist you as you consider the exciting potential of financially sustainable ministries.
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