Development Feasibility Study 

The Development Feasibility Study is a program offered to churches considering a capital project which provides the necessary detailed financial and building information to church leaders for their needed decisions and approvals. The financial part of this Study is conducted by Harder & Associates.  The architectural part of this Study is conducted by Parker Architects Inc.  This Study basically answers four questions.

“What can we afford?”
This question is answered by conducting a Financial Feasibility Study.  It is important for churches to set the ‘box’ for the design work of their architect so that building costs stay within the church’s financial potential.

“What do we need?”
This question is answered by the conducting of a Needs Assessment to determine the needs priority, both as to present as well as future space needs.  This process, led by the Architect,  usually involves meetings with church leaders,  the completion of Survey forms and interviews with ministry leaders as well as general input from the congregation. The result of the Needs Assessment is the setting of priorities as to space needs.

“What will it look like?”
At the point that the priority of the church’s need has been established, this sets the parameters for the design work of the Architect.  The design work is not an ‘event’ which would say, “Here it is.  Take it or leave it!”, but a decision process over a period of a few months which involves church leaders working with the Architect to finalize a design that they are comfortable with.  The end result of this process is the finalization of basic floors plans, exterior concepts, site plans and usually some 3D imaging. 

“What will it cost?”
Building projects have a series of cost items.  The major cost of course is the physical cost of the building.  In addition however to the physical cost of the building there usually is an additional 30 to 35% of other costs which are sometimes not included when the total cost of the building is announced.  These additional costs usually include professional fees, permits, development costs, landscaping, furniture and equipment costs such as multi-media. The total of these costs is usually referred to as a global budget.

The data needed to answer these four questions is the basic information churches need for congregational approval and for conducting a capital campaign. A Development Feasibility Study takes about three to four months to complete. The information received from this Study is a vital component of campaign preparation.