Property With Purpose

05.25.24 | Congregational Development, Trustees
    One of the many assets a congregation has is its property (building and land). While some congregations use those assets to generate revenue to help pay the bills, what if we used all our assets for the greatest good as a part of our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? What if we used our property with purpose (p2) for Missional Action Planning (MAP)?
     
    Our p2MAP Coordinator, Pastor Cindy Kent ( ), stands ready to support congregations in navigating their discernment and action. This includes everything from initial assessments to connecting congregations with the best resources and experts to navigating major building redevelopment.  
     
    There are four building-related tools that congregations have found helpful:

    The steps needed before working with a property developer are many--and there are disciplinary requirements as well. Pastor Kent and others are positioned to guide congregations depending upon their God-given call and vision.

    Is your money and mission aligned?
    ‍Mission is primary for social impact organizations. But money is also vitally important. Aligning money with mission is one of the most important, but often overlooked, strategic activities that a social impact organization can engage in.

    This heuristic map and planning tool is designed to help organizations evaluate their alignment of money and mission in order to do both, better. Gain a deeper understanding of how money and mission intersect in your organization by learning this framework and applying to your context. >>Download the tool now
     
     
     
    Churches are increasingly taking advantage of rental income as they are trying to develop a sustainable economic model.
     
    Church buildings are underused and often in locations where there is demand for space. Renting out space can further a church's mission and provide much-needed space for community organizations and businesses. 
     
    At its best rental income can both fulfill aspects of the mission of the church and bring in much-needed income. 
     
    However, there are challenges with developing a rental model: it can detract from the mission of the church, be costly to manage, require significant capital costs, and, unless carefully designed and effectively managed, can easily cost more money than it generates. This tool will help you learn how to build a rental model that works both for your mission and your money.
     
    Designed as a collaborative experience for you and your leadership team to work through together this tool will take you through the following steps so that your church can rent well.
     
    Part 1
    • A money and mission alignment framework to guide the process
    • Case studies in rental approaches - what works well and what doesn’t
    • An audit of your space to determine what will work best for rental
    • Testing to confirm if there is demand for rental space in your location
    Part 2
    • True cost analysis to determine what renting out space will actually cost
    • A rubric to evaluate potential renters based on money and mission alignment
    • A list of important aspects to consider when renting such as taxation, leases, staffing, etc.
    • Bringing the congregation along when your church rents out space
     
    What About Taxes!? A Guide for Churches Starting to Generate Revenue
    Is your church considering starting a new activity in order to generate revenue or do you have questions about how your activities might impact your tax status? What About Taxes?! can help. 

    Developed in partnership with legal and accounting experts, this tool will help you ask the right questions related to the tax issues as it concerns income-generating activities and churches. It is designed to increase your confidence about tax issues, build your capacity to understand the tax implications, and help you as you align money and mission.
     
    By using this tool you will work through a decision tree that will highlight what to look out for with regard to IRS tax-exempt status, federal income tax, state income tax, sales tax, and property tax depending on the nature and structure of the activity you are considering.

    What About Taxes?! is a part of a series of tools from RootedGood helping churches navigate their economic future. Are you considering working with a developer to develop your church property? >>Download pdf. >>View webinar.
     
    How to Develop Well: A Guide to Help Churches Work with a Property Developer
    Is your church considering working with a property developer to do something new on your property? How to Develop Well, can help!

    This resource contains a framework to help churches and denominational networks determine what is most important to them and therefore how to structure a fair and effective relationship with a developer.
     
    This tool will help to generate good conversations within the church so that members and leaders will be able to:
    • Understand what matters most to you
    • Come to a shared sense of priorities
    • Recognize the complexities in developing a church property
    • Be able to begin fruitful conversations with developers
     
    By using this tool you will:
    • Work through a process to put together a Development Desires Map based on six key factors that come up in developing church property
    • Learn key tips to keep in mind when working with a developer
    • Read examples of what church/developer partnerships can look like
    • Find a list of important questions to ask before entering into an agreement with a developer
    How to Develop Well is a part of a series of tools from RootedGood helping churches navigate their economic future. Do you have questions about how new activity might impact your tax exempt status or what taxes you may need to pay? Check out our What About Taxes?! tool as well. >>Download here.