First of all, let's define who faith-based investors are: local church congregations, dioceses or equivalent regional church organisations, national religious pension and savings funds, monastic or religious congregations, as well as faith-motivated individuals and/or family offices. 

Struggling with what to do with your church building? Here’s how to find help

Congregations across the country are trying to figure out what to do with buildings that no longer serve their purpose. But there are many resources for leaders grappling with this issue, writes a project director at the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.

Written collaboratively by members of the Toronto Social Purpose Real Estate Reference Group

Stewarding the physical spaces that God has entrusted to us as the Catholic Church can be daunting! Across the world, there are church leaders realizing that they have more building capacity than they have the staff capacity to maintain; many simply realize that their spaces aren't as effective as they once were.

As church attendance dwindles, heritage buildings sit empty — some falling into disrepair.

On June 30th, 2022, the BMI Group completed a sale agreement with the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church and signed separate lease agreements with both the church and the Stratford Arts and Culture Collective (SACC) related to future use of the church property.

Last month, the McDougall United Church in downtown Edmonton got a new lease on life - and a new life for its property.

When, in 2015, it was designated a heritage building for its architectural and cultural significance, the church avoided demolition, but in 2019, it found itself struggling to scrape together the $15-million needed for full restoration.

The congregation eventually settled on a plan to turn the building into a multi-faith space and community hub, with a redevelopment plan that will also include housing. Because of the scope and scale of the proposed project, the church realized they would need to partner with other organizations. To get a helping hand, they turned to the Trinity Centres Foundation, a non-profit that specializes in finding new ways to use faith spaces.

As the world changes, the non-profit and charitable social sector is adapting, and so must philanthropy. Our sector is a fundamental aspect of civil society, but reform is paramount. The status quo is not sufficient. Inequity is rampant in our communities, and there are global challenges we must step up to meet. In our new series, A Vision for the Future, PFC has asked non-profit leaders to share their understandings of where our sector is today, what its role is, and where we need to go.