I recently listened to a webinar where a panel of facility management professionals shared insights about the challenges they’re seeing across the industry. The panel included facility managers from hospitals, universities, and even a professional sports team.
What stood out to me most was this:
the challenges facility managers face are remarkably similar—no matter the type of organization.
Churches are no exception.
While the context and mission are different, many of the underlying struggles are the same. Here are three challenges that came up in the conversation and that we consistently see in churches as well.
1. Explaining to Leadership Why Investing in the Building Matters
In a church, how money is spent matters deeply. Churches are stewarding funds that are freely given, and leadership carries the responsibility of using those resources wisely to further the mission of the church.
Because of that, it can be difficult for leadership to immediately see why money should be spent on something like a Facility Condition Assessment. From the outside, it may feel like an unnecessary expense or something that can be put off.
This is where the facility manager often carries the burden of communication. They need to be able to explain not just what the building needs, but why understanding the condition of the facility helps the church steward resources better in the long run.
A clear picture of the building allows leadership to make informed decisions, plan ahead, and avoid surprise expenses that pull money away from ministry later.
2. Facility Knowledge Walks Out the Door With Every Retirement
This is a common issue across many organizations. One person knows the building inside and out and has been keeping things running for years. But when that person retires or leaves, so does all that knowledge.
If the information isn’t documented, what’s left is guesswork.
Churches often function the same way. Maintenance history, system quirks, vendor relationships, and asset details live in someone’s head instead of on paper.
While a CMMS can be a helpful tool to store information, it’s important to start with a facility management plan first. The plan helps you identify what information is actually needed and how everything connects before you try to document it digitally.
3. Recruiting and Retaining Facility Staff
Hiring for facility roles in churches can be challenging. It’s important to start with a strong, honest job description. Many church roles overlap, and if you expect the facility manager to help set up tables for Bible studies or events, that should be clearly stated upfront.
It’s also important to focus on fit, not just experience. Someone can check every box on a job description and still be the wrong person for the role.
We’ve always believed it’s better to hire someone who is a good fit for the church culture and provide training than to hire solely based on experience.
This is one of the reasons we started Foundational Facility Management Consulting. We saw churches struggling to hire facility managers, often without the budget to attract someone with years of formal facility management experience. But what if a church hired someone with solid maintenance skills and gave them the tools and framework to grow into the facility management role?
Our framework is built to help the average person establish a customized facility management plan for their church—one that fits their building, budget, and resources. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity, stewardship, and sustainability.
Caring for your facility is caring for your congregation. And with the right foundation in place, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
If you’d like help taking the next step, contact us to start a conversation about your church’s facility and what a clear, customized plan could look like.
