Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Louisville, KY

May 18, 2016

For more than five years the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church community had been planning to move to a new location. The congregation needed more space for worship, education and activities. Their plan was to build a new worship center and multi-purpose facility in a new location. They finally found a three-acre piece of property with an older church on it that was for sale. The answer for this small congregation of about 70 families was simple; they would buy the land, renovate the church and then build a family activities center.

In January of 2004 church leaders negotiated and signed a 90-day contract, contingent upon conducting a successful fundraising campaign. That campaign would have to generate between $400,000 – $500,000 to make the full vision a reality, a big task for this small congregation.

According to campaign chairman, Greg Fischer, the Assumption Church had “no history of extraordinary stewardship. This simply was not a group of people sophisticated about fundraising. We needed help, encouragement and validation.” That’s when Mr. Fischer called on Bill Rothwell and The Covenant Group for help.

Bill developed a campaign plan, met with leaders, and then facilitated strategy and training sessions. According to Mr. Fischer, Bill Rothwell exceeded their expectations: “Bill was perfect for what the group needed. He built enthusiasm and made them believe they could do this. He was very helpful.” At the time Mr. Fischer was interviewed … just six weeks into the campaign, they had already achieved 136 percent of their goal.

The Goal: $500,000

The Result: After six weeks the church had already raised $680,000 with great potential for more.

“I really support The Covenant Group’s strategic planning process because their approach encourages staff-based support with board buy-in, and I felt that was important given what we were trying to achieve. The outcome is an effective plan that builds consensus and provides a clear sense of direction.”
- Jennifer Scott, Director of Development - The Cabbage Patch Settlement House

“The Covenant Group is highly competent, very experienced and knowledgeable. They provided a broad perspective by equipping us with useful data…and best practices in the field. All in all, they are excellent.”
- Dan Jones, CEO - 21st Century Parks

“The campaign has truly been a miracle. People were committed from the beginning, but…even raising $650,000 seemed like a stretch. To nearly double that amount is incredible! When the plan they developed allows you to hit a goal like that, it builds such a sense of community. The momentum built by the campaign is spilling outside the walls of our church and benefiting others in the process.”
-Father John Hollowell - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

“For those of us who don’t do this everyday, The Covenant Group instilled confidence in us. They helped us get through the fear and apprehension by providing us with a process, training and motivation. They taught us and helped us plan in a way that was for the better. We have built lasting relationships with donors and we will continue to steward these relationships long into the future.”
- Sue Finke, Director of Institutional Advancement - Covington Catholic High School

“No one anticipated we could raise this amount. Even the Archdiocese is surprised. The funds raised represent about 15 times our annual giving. But it’s not just the financial results. People stand around talking more than they did before the campaign. There is also a renewed and energized spirit among the parishioners. It’s the most exciting thing to happen in our parish in the last 100 years.”
- Gary Libs, Campaign Co-Chair - St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church

“The Covenant Group’s process involved a lot of people in our congregation doing small tasks … that built ownership. They took our vision and put it into a concrete plan. They helped us understand the importance of making our vision clear and laid out the steps to make the vision a reality. Their process built consensus and showed people how they could help. Their methods are based on a solid theological foundation that includes key documents, prayer support, and requisite training … all of which were invaluable.”
- Daniel Montgomery, Pastor - Sojourn Community Church

“Everything The Covenant Group did to help us…in the initial stages was helpful…the development of the case statement; our materials; the training of our Board members; strategies; all these steps laid the foundation for eventual success. They brought such a high level of professionalism, a wealth of experience and a strong track record of integrity and success… just being associated with The Covenant Group helped us.”
- Nancy Doctor, Development Director - Wellspring

“The structure The Covenant Group provided was excellent. It allowed our members to use their God-given talents to benefit the church community They helped us develop a plan and identify key leadership candidates to chair the effort, as well as engaging between 80 to 100 people to carry out the work of the campaign. It was truly a whole congregation effort and The Covenant Group helped facilitate that. They helped us reach our full potential as a congregation.”
- Ron Poisel, Pastor - Christ Lutheran Church

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Louisville, KY

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