Comprehensive Needs & Feasibility Study

What is a Comprehensive Needs & Feasibility Study?

A Needs & Feasibility Study begins with a meeting with the church to understand the culture, goals and vision of the church. The next step is the collection of several types of information (both historical and current) about the ministry, the congregation, and the community. The collected data is then analyzed and reviewed through the lens of church building experience to provide a qualified, objective report and recommendation to the church that answers the questions of…

• Do we NEED to build & why is building the right thing to do.
• What can we AFFORD to build and HOW WILL WE PAY for the building program?
• When is the RIGHT TIME to build with consideration to need & financial ability?
• Why is the selected church floor plan the RIGHT PLAN for this church?
• What do we need to build and HOW WAS THIS DETERMINED from our needs?
• WHERE do we need to build and why is that the right decision?

If the church is unsure if it is ready or able to build, the report is an effective tool for building consensus. If the church is ready to build, the report will serve as a guideline for developing or purchasing architectural plans, securing financing, and executing a capital campaign.

How does it Work?

The first goal of the feasibility study is to identify and understand the current and future needs of the ministries, and to translate those needs into land and building requirements. Those requirements are then evaluated in consideration of the current church location and financial ability, to determine the feasibility of building, and identify viable options for the building program.

The study is kicked off with personal interviews with church leadership and workers, seeking their input on the needs of each of the ministries. Additionally, a congregational survey is conducted to solicit the opinions of each of the members. Historical attendance, current member demographics and ministry financial information is collected and analyzed. Concurrently with this, information on the current or proposed location is reviewed.

The data is analyzed and conclusions, based on experience and sound church building practices, are determined. A report is provided to the church with a recommendation on the most feasible solutions and suggested timeline for moving forward. (Conceptual drawings are available as an option.)

The feasibility study normally takes between 4 weeks and 90 days, depending on the complexity of the project and, more importantly, the church’s ability to provide information on a timely basis.

Benefits to the Church

While each church derives its own unique combination of benefits from a needs and feasibility study, it should realize many of the following benefits:

• Increased overall support for the building program.
• Congregational unity on appropriate action and timing.
• Reduced conflict in the planning of church facilities.
• Increased confidence in the plan, timeline, and budget.
• Reduction in time commitments for the church leaders and building committee.
• Elimination of dead-end ideas that waste time, money, and effort.
• Reduced stress on the leadership and building committee.
• Reduced cost in architectural and engineering fees.
• Reduced costs by avoiding preventable mistakes.
• Reduced risk: financial, legal, and relational.
• More realistic expectations for the building program, a major factor in overall satisfaction.
• A faster, easier, and more efficient building program.

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