Ravenswood Raise the Roof!
A campaign to secure our church building for the next generation of the faithful
Intro: In 1922, when our congregational ancestors laid the cornerstone for a church at Pensacola and
Hoyne, they did so in the spirit of hope, trusting that God would bless their ministry to the Ravenswood
community. Nearly 100 years later, our church still stands tall. Our mission to the community has
endured thanks to the dedication of the saints and servants of Ravenswood Church and the faithfulness of
our God. Today, our church is growing and we are known as a vital and spirited congregation whose
mission is to make God’s love visible in worship, through fellowship and in service to community.
Yet, the building in which we gather to worship is showing signs of age. Our roof, which has sheltered us
from many a storm, is in need of replacement. The wiring and lighting in the church requires
modernization. Our doors and windows are drafty and not energy efficient. Our organ has much deferred
maintenance. In short, the church building demands improvements so that the next generation of church
members may inherit a church home that is safe, secure, and well positioned to be a sanctuary for the
faithful people of Ravenswood UCC.
Ravenswood Raise the Roof is a capital fundraising campaign which will raise resources from our church
family and the Ravenswood community and expend those resources on improvements to our historic
church building. What follows is a campaign plan that seeks to involve and engage all those who love
and care for our church.
Goal: $75,000 and 100% participation from church members
Campaign Structure and Leadership: This proposal will be put before the congregation for a vote at
the June 7 congregational meeting. The Raise the Roof Committee will lead and direct the campaign on
behalf of the congregation. The Committee will have a chairperson, Paula Murphy, who will be assisted
by the Pastor and other members of the Committee. There are four leadership teams which will be
chaired by members of the Committee and staffed by members of the congregation. The four teams are:
 Communications: This team will prepare materials and manage the message of the campaign
including: brochures, letters, online communications, worship elements, etc. Proposed chair:
Martha Pfister
 Friend-raising: This team will analyze our giving base, direct the solicitation of gifts and track
and thank persons for their support. Proposed chair: Paula Murphy
 Events: This team will plan and execute 2-3 events to generate enthusiasm and support for the
campaign. Possible events include Kickoff Sunday, a Holiday Concert, or a Spring Dinner.
Proposed chair: Kathy McCrea
 Finance and Facilities: This team will manage the income, evaluate loan options, solicit bids for
repairs, and make a final recommendation to the committee on expenditures. Proposed chairs:
Don and Doug Oeste
Giving Structure: To encourage generosity and maximize contributions the following structure is
recommended:
 Steeple Circle: Gifts of $5,000+ (goal of 10 such gifts)
 Sanctuary Circle: Gifts of $1,000+ (goal of 20 such gifts)
 Leaders Circle: Gifts of $500+ (goal of 20 such gifts)
 Friends Circle: Gifts of $250+ (goal of 30 such gifts)
 Supporters Circle: Any gift is welcome and appreciated
To mark our progress, and to give a visual representation of how a contribution to Raise the Roof helps
the church, we will track our gifts using “pieces of the roof.” Our roof is approximately 10,000 square
feet and for a goal of $75,000 each $1000 will buy 133 square feet of the roof, or $100 will buy 13.3
square feet of the roof. We will construct a model of the church and cover the roof as we raise the funds.
Additionally we will report regularly on our progress through updates in the Ravenswood Report and the
Echo Newsletter and find creative and unique ways to thank and acknowledge our donors.
Timeline: The Raise the Roof Campaign will begin its active phase, following kickoff Sunday on
September 14, 2015 and will conclude its active phase on May 22, 2016. Pledges may be received
through the end of the year 2017. The time prior to the active phase will be used to prepare materials and
solicit preliminary gift commitments. The time following the active phase will be used to collect final
gifts and complete improvement projects. A draft of the timeline follows:
 June 7, 2015 – Congregational Meeting
 Summer 2015 – Prepare campaign materials and solicit gift commitments
 September 14, 2015 – Kickoff Sunday
 September 15 to 30, 2015- Friend-raising Fortnight: Letters, phone calls, visits, commitments
 October 18, 2015 - Oktoberfest Activities
 December, 2015 – Holiday Concert
 Winter 2016 – Solicitation of gifts. Secure financing. Study bids and prepare facilities plan
 May, 2016 – Spring Dinner
 May 22, 2016 – Closing Celebration
 Summer, 2016 – Work begins on improvement projects
Implementation: To date the church has received estimates on roof replacement that range from
$82,000 to $161,000 depending on materials and scope of repair. In all likelihood, the repair to the roof
and any other projects will require a combination of available funds and a bank loan. At the conclusion of
the campaign, the Finance and Facilities Team will put forward a plan based upon the available funds,
loan options and the building priorities. This plan will include a facilities improvement budget and will
suggest projects and contractors. The Committee will review the improvement plan and then
recommend it to the Congregational Meeting for final approval in the late Spring of 2016.