I'm often asked, "When is a good time to raise funds?" For church leaders considering expansion projects, the obvious answer is, "Whenever you need them." But that's not necessarily true.

The old saying, "Timing is everything," definitely applies to churches and major fundraising. For success, the right climate is essential.

By accurately forecasting the atmosphere and the congregation's commitment to a project before making irreversible decisions, you can avoid severe turbulence.

Pea-soup fog

I recently worked with a church that wanted to raise capital dollars for a building on their current site and for a piece of land they would need for future relocation.

They had not selected a site nor did they know when land might become available. They had no idea of the actual costs involved—just estimates of what they thought would be within their budget.

The fundraising climate was foggy. The people could not see anything tangible. To raise funds, people must have a target! Before they are asked ...