Practical information for church leaders on financial matters and other stuff
Parking lot entrance signs Can drivers see quickly (at 35 mph) where and how to get into your driveway? What about coming in at night, in snow, or rain – is the driveway marked with reflectors, poles, or other visual aids? Parking lot … [Continue reading]
Street signs Make sure there are street signs on the corner(s) nearest your building. If not, ask the city or county to install signs on your corner (not one of the other three). Make sure people can clearly see your church is at the corner of … [Continue reading]
Years ago a survey said the number one thing church guests remember about their first visit was (drum roll, please), the landscaping. That’s right – the church lawn. Not the sermon or the greeters but something most members take for granted (until … [Continue reading]
Capital-ize Make a list of capital items the church needs. This list should encompass all ministry areas and range from small amounts to very large amounts. Update the list every year, make the list dynamic, and make sure every item on the list … [Continue reading]
Scheduling replacement/improvement Every building has several major systems, which need capital investments over the course of several years. These improvements need to be tracked as they are made, and tracking is easy using Excel. Paint – … [Continue reading]
Tracking utility expenses on Excel Monitoring expenses is a critical component of facilities administration. Use Excel to record, track, and analyze expenses for some specific areas such as HVAC and utilities spending. After several years, … [Continue reading]
Motion sensors Humans are quite imperfect, especially when it comes to turning things off. Use motion sensors: dispensers for paper towels and soap in bathrooms; for urinal flush valves on toilets and urinals; for lights in halls, bathrooms, … [Continue reading]
Energy savings and energy-efficient systems Lighting Most buildings have 4-foot fluorescent lamps – change T-12 lamps to T-5s (and in a few years, once the price has come down, to LEDs). In drop ceilings, remove 2x2 fluorescent fixtures and … [Continue reading]