According to New York City’s publicly available PLUTO database, over 900 parcels of land in Manhattan are designated for religious use. But that number has been gradually declining, from 976 in 2010 to 907 in 2020. These religious congregations vary by age of the organization and/or building, neighborhood context, landmark status (around 10% of the 907 are landmarked), adjacency to developable lots, membership size, and affiliation with hierarchical denominations. All of these variables affect congregations as they face rising real estate challenges in New York City.

Partners’ Capital Campaign Management services help a congregation build a successful plan toward their fundraising goals. Partners’ focus on the internal assets within each congregation strengthens internal fundraising efforts and can result in increased annual giving. With Partner’s support, congregations can engage civic leaders and stakeholders, partner with community institutions, and build a strong case for the public value of an historic sacred place, leading to successful community-wide fundraising efforts.

Letting sacred places crumble or close — failing to give them the corporate, philanthropic and other support they need to keep the walls from falling and the pipes from bursting is tantamount to losing millions and millions of dollars a year in vitally needed anti-poverty and community- building efforts. - John J. DiIulio, Jr.

The size and complexity of the economic impact of sacred places provides powerful new evidence that America’s sacred places have enormous community value