Instead of working your capital needs into your annual budget, why not keep your regular envelope collection for regular, recurrent needs? I run Capital fundraising Programs for schools, hospitals, aged care and welfare projects now. They don't want a fifteen/twenty year debt hanging over their heads. Why should the parish?

It is too common for parishes to fund school or church extensions through loans. A major part of weekly giving goes just to service those loans. That is ridiculous and unnecessary.

I am also uncomfortable with the thought that today's debt should be borne by tomorrow's children. And yet that is what happens. Surely it would be more Christian to take responsibility now for today's decisions and pass on to tomorrow's parishioners a debt free parish able to respond to their current needs.

I was impressed on a visit to a USA catholic fundraising convention at the approach of parishes who funded expansion through a thirty month capital appeal. Makes sense.

Depending on the capital funding needs of the parish:- $50,000; $500,000; $5,000,000 - the Capital Appeal will either be:

1. folded into a renewal program;
2. run "in pew" as a separate appeal;
3. run as a standard "stand alone", capital appeal