Goals in the grant application

THIS POST is the 4th and last in a series of excerpts from our application last week for consideration for a grant award from the National Fund for Sacred Places, a non-profit organization. 

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Below the jump, this post describes the time line of the grant program, our proposed scope of work under this grant, and the main components of our total fundraising goal. 

Typical Program Timeline: 2 years, starting mid-Oct. 2024

The following reflects the thoughtful design of this grant program:

Phase 1.  Planning (15 months) = training; planning-grant submission and release; techni­cal assistance; detailed planning.

Phase 2.  Lining up construction (2 months) = construction-ready drawings/specs; raise 25% of the matching funds; submit grant request; get project approval from staff.

Phase 3.  Construction and completion (7 months) = raise remainder of matching funds; write final report.

In short, actual construction work would not begin until April 2026.

Scope of work

Given that timing, the proposed basic scope of work is twofold: 

1. Make remaining urgent repairs to the building envelope; and 
2. Revive the Social Hall for community outreach — which includes restoring wheelchair access.

Make remaining urgent repairs

Our building’s urgent repair needs have been identified from many consultant reports and vendor estimates/quotes. The tasks that we hope to address by early 2026 include: 

• restore/waterproof façade stucco; 
• seal leaky flagstone steps; 
• repair water-damaged concrete retaining wall; 
• replace roof membranes (now near end of life); and 
• repair operable windows to achieve rainproof closure. 

Remaining envelope repair needs, as projected for mid-2026, include: 

• termite tenting/fumigation ($25K); 
• verifying the integrity of a roof-truss tie-rod connection that was exposed to water, via stucco cut/patch ($2K); 
• replacement of shed’s termite-damaged roof ($9K); and 
• repainting northern and eastern outer sanctuary walls to prevent water intrusion ($8K). 

Subtotal: $44K. 

Revive the Social Hall

Our Social Hall, in the basement, was once the pride of those who constructed our historic building: a 48' x 80' x 13' room with brass chandeliers, framed by a stage at one end and a commercial kitchen at the other. 

Our Social Hall prior to a flood in June, due to a bad sprinkler.
A pending insurance payout will restore it to this condition.
Further rehabilitation is needed to revive the space.
Photo © 2023 buttercupvenues.com, used with permission. 

It was long a venue for performances, community meetings, wedding celebrations, and bingo nights (back when gambling was literally underground). Yet this space has long been without mechanical ventilation or heat; and the custom wheelchair lift is irreparably broken. 

Reviving the Social Hall will feature: 

• Vertical platform lift (VPL; see blog post here) between sanctuary level and hall ($100K, per vendor ballpark); 
• restroom upgrades ($80K); and 
• replacing ventilation components ($20K). 

The VPL will involve abatement of asbestos in floor tile. 

Ancillary work (to be funded from the Powerhouse sale, which is a source that doesn’t qualify for matching funds) includes installing heating and a kitchen vent hood.

Expected timeline

• Apr or Jul ’26 (during preschool break)  =  Tenting
• Apr  =  Check tie-rod
• May  =  Replace shed roof, and paint
• Jun  =  Install VPL
• Jul–Aug  =  Restrooms
• Aug  =  Ventilation

Total Fundraising Goal

To revive the Social Hall, we will need:

$122K matching grant  +

$122K to be raised from community, to match the grant  + 

$110K Powerhouse sale set-aside, for mechanical/electrical upgrades

______

$354K  =  Estimated Total Project Cost