Incarnation Capital Campaign

Our fundraising drive to purchase 1609 Branch Street as our lasting home

 

On Sunday, August 31st, Incarnation launched its first capital campaign. Our church has rented worship space for over ten years, first on Brevard Street, and then on Branch Street. In May 2025, after seven years of renting 1609 Branch Street two days a week, we were offered the chance to purchase the property. The Incarnation leadership has unanimously voted to acquire it as our permanent home.

The primary reason for our decision to purchase is that it will enable us to continue our life of worship and witness together in central Tallahassee. The option to rent our present space is coming to an end. A detailed analysis of alternatives, conducted in summer 2024, revealed that all other building options would cost significantly more, or move us far away.

But ownership of 1609 Branch Street presents our community with scores of new mission opportunities. This summer, Vestry formed a focus team called “Imagine Incarnation” to begin to explore some of these possibilities. Click the image below to read the trifold that was handed out at the launch dinner.

 

I’m sure you have questions! Some of them are answered below.

  • Over the summer you might have heard the number $1.4 million discussed as the asking price. However, the bank’s appraisal came back significantly lower, which has prompted the reopening of negotiations. Watch this space for updates! We have set our capital campaign target at $1 million, over three years.

  • The Incarnation capital campaign launched on August 31st, 2025, and pledge cards are due by October 31st. We aim to close on the building in December this year. We have asked for pledges that state an amount that can be given before December 1st, (which will be used for the downpayment on our loan), and/or an amount that can be offered within a three-year period (ending August 31st, 2028).

  • This is a very important question! And our treasurer has done a detailed analysis to answer it. The bottom line is that we can manage the regular running costs of the building (including utilities, internet, printing, groundskeeping, and cleaning) for about what we are currently paying in rent (which is $3,300 a month). So, any money we have to borrow for purchase and pay back in mortgage will be an addition to our current budget. We will, of course, also need to keep up a healthy reserve fund for maintenance work.

  • The area of the building we currently have access to on a Sunday is about 11,000 sq ft. The area of the building that is currently off-limits to us is about another 5,000 sq ft. So that represents about a 45% increase.

    More significantly, we currently rent the space only two days a week. So we will gain five days a week too!

What is our progress so far?

How can I contribute right now?

Thank you for asking! Click the button below, and select “Give to #701 Capital Campaign” from the first drop-down menu.