FRIENDS GROUPS (cont.)
nonprofit intends to assist with fundraising. A written
agreement stating the responsibilities of each party will
be helpful in outlining the purpose of the partnership
and the role that each group will play.
When a Friends Group Isn’t Enough
An independent and incorporated 501(c)(3) can
be helpful in raising money from donors who are
hesitant to give money to a religious institution, and
foundations that are not able to give money to religious
organizations. A distinct organization can also be useful
when a congregation is too small to staff a friends
group. It can focus on a variety of goals: raising funds
to repair, restore, and preserve a historic sacred place
or arranging space sharing of larger buildings, which
the congregation would not be able to coordinate on its
own.
The Christ Church Preservation Trust (CCPT) was
created in 1965 to preserve, restore, and maintain
historic Christ Church in Philadelphia, PA. This
National Historic Landmark, founded in 1695, was the
first parish of the Church of England in America and
was closely associated with numerous Revolution-era
leaders. The church’s unique historical connections
enable a strong tourism program, which raises around
half a million dollars annually, all of which goes directly
to the preservation of the historic structure. Though
CCPT also holds a yearly gala event and raises funds for
capital campaigns through individual donations and
foundation grants, the money that comes in through
the tourism program creates an added support system
for general maintenance and emergency situations that
may arise. Don Smith, the Executive Director of the
Trust, advises any congregation to put a lot of thought
into the specifics و Z\