Rethinking Your Church Revenue Streams for a Vital New Future
In the previous blog post, we explored why churches are needing to develop multiple income streams. In this post, we will explore examples of the multitude of possibilities for additional revenue streams for churches. Let’s explore how some churches are creating multiple revenue streams that are also both relationally and missionally grounded and connected.
Commercial kitchen space - Many churches have expensive, high-end commercial kitchens. Why not partner with a chef, baker, or small food businesses to provide space and equipment? The baker may participate in food ministries for the church. The chef may even bring groups into the church for catering, opening up opportunities for increased income and build relationships with new people. The church could become an incubator to support and launch new food-related entrepreneurs into your community. Check out the Kitchen Collective.
Mentor & equip youth - Helping young people and the youth ministries we offer concentrate less on the what and instead concentrating on who and why is much more empowering and effective. In the Future Forge ministry, multiple hands-on businesses have been launched while providing income for the ministry, a deeper and wider connection with young people, and a much higher engagement with adults.
Preschools and childcare centers - Too often these ministries are created with the best of intentions, but without a solid business plan or intentional integration strategies. While the country suffers from a childcare crisis, the church can answer this need while also creating a substantial revenue stream and a highly relational integration system. Check out the Children’s Table.
Affordable housing - With the widespread need for affordable housing, many churches have partnered with developers to redevelop their properties to meet the needs of their community. When considering this option, churches need to consider how they will still be in ministry with the neighborhood and continue to be present and in relationship with them.
Other possible revenue streams include a food truck (or a fleet of mult-ethnic food trucks), transitional housing, workforce housing, private schools, community gardens that provide ingredients for local restaurants, and business incubators. The possibilities are truly endless. However, let me offer a word of caution for those churches beginning this journey. Don’t start something simply because another church has had a good experience with the ministry. What will work in your church is dependent on your community, the competition, your resources, the context, and the commitment and buy-in from your congregation. Do your homework and start small with experimentation.
To check out more ideas and hear from some of the social entrepreneurs in our collective work with Kenda Creasy Dean and our book, Innovating for Love, click here.
