Our Story

It started with a need in one local church in Naples, Florida. It was a sizeable project, a one hundred acre, $28.5 million relocation. It was a fast growing church that wanted a new approach to raising funds from the inside out.
That led to a call from a young church in Birmingham, Alabama, with members an average age of 30. It too would be relocating. This $15 million project needed a unique strategy to move ahead. This led to a ministry that uniquely meets the needs of the growing church, helping it to “Focus the Big Picture.”
 
 
 
FROM PARTNER CHURCHES...
 

"Todd McMichen was an enormous asset to our staff during our time of relocation, our capital stewardship drive, and our on-going development. Todd and our staff helped me to tailor-make our program to our unique situation.  Though we interviewed various Christian fund-raising firms, we sensed that something was missing. Todd’s long-term and faithful ministry in our church gave him insight into our unique personality.

We were able to develop and successfully complete one of the most successful capital stewardship programs at its time in the Southern Baptist Convention. Not only did we raise the money to buy one hundred acres at $3.5 million in less than three years, we also gave $6 million in cash, and pledged and additional $12 million toward the $26.5 million goal!   In a little over three years’ time, only $900,000 remains to be given.

Todd McMichen brings great intelligence, a winsome personality, and much experience to bear in a capital program.  He is an excellent speaker and motivator and has been privileged to serve in some innovative, biblical, large churches. It is absolutely essential to have a leader/coordinator who offers experience, wisdom and expertise. Rev. Todd McMichen is such a man."
       HAYES WICKER, SENIOR PASTOR, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, NAPLES, FLA

"Direction, focus, and wisdom came when we called Todd McMichen. From the moment he came alongside of us, Todd listened intently to where we believed as leaders that the Lord was leading, and then applied his own God-given abilities and insights to our particular setting. The result was a strategic growth initiative that was uniquely 'us.' We saw the Lord work through Todd to help us achieve goals that no one dreamed of, financial and otherwise!"
       GREG LINDSEY, SENIOR PASTOR, MIDDLE VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH, CHATTANOOGA, TN

" As the pastor of a young church (launched in 2000), I know how difficult it can be to maximize vital resources such as staff, volunteers, facilities, and money. Our partnership with Todd McMichen and MDG has been one of the most beneficial and cost-effective moves our church has made over the past 5 years. Todd has led us through two successful capital development campaigns which have led to much-needed facility expansions each time.  But MDG has helped us with much more that raising money. Todd’s keen insights into creative staffing, simplified programming, master planning, and facility utilization have helped us on numerous occasions. In fact, we found his help so valuable that we retained Todd as a consultant during a critical time of transition between capital development projects. And now as we are beginning the process of moving to a multi-campus plan, we are once again looking to partner with MDG so that we can utilize very focused ministry skills and insights for a specific project at only a fraction of the cost of adding another staff member. Whether I need to gain candid ministry insight through a simple phone call, or consulting help for the next year, my first call is to Todd McMichen!"
       MARK PRICE, LEAD PASTOR, CHURCH ON THE EASTERN SHORE, FAIRHOPE, AL

"After 70 years on a 1.5 acre campus, Grace Church finally relocated to a new 25 acre site with a 23,000 square foot phase one facility. The journey was a challenging one. If there was a long way around, we found it. After spending a year developing a master plan we discovered that the budget had been blown so badly, our plan was unbuildable.  We were already a year into a three year capital campaign and we had created expectations that could not be met. A year of dealing with the political fallout from disappointment and another year of re-drawing a workable plan brought us to the end of our three year campaign with just enough money to begin construction on the new plan.

In the process of developing our financial projections with our banker, we realized that there would be a budget gap created with the new mortgage. We felt certain that we would experience growth after the relocation that would close the gap with 18-24 months. The question remained as to how we could bridge the temporary gap. It seemed obvious that we would need to raise the money before construction was completed. In the past we had used a large capital fund raising organization to help with our three year campaigns. What we needed now, however, didn’t seem to fit with their process and the price tag that came with it.

An Internet search brought us to the McMichen Group.  After several conversations with Todd, we knew that this would be our solution. A compact, personalized, and targeted campaign to raise the $125,000 that we needed. Within twelve weeks, we planned and launched the campaign. Because of the abbreviated planning period the campaign was run primarily by staff and a few key volunteers. What surprised us was that by launch day we felt fully prepared. The impact and scope of the campaign was appropriate to the need. Nearly 80% of our families participated financially and we raised all the money that was needed.  We have been at our new campus for two years now and the growth we have experienced has allowed us to bridge the gap.

The McMichen Group receives our thanks and highest recommendation for their professionalism and flexibility in helping us through our most important expansion as a church.  Whether your capital need is large or small, you will be well served by Todd and his team.    
       BRIAN PIPPING, LEAD PASTOR, GRACE CHURCH, SHOREWOOD, IL

"Todd was strong in his knowledge of the financial field of churches. His knowledge of the inner workings of a church proved to be outstanding. Todd was approachable and always gave excellent counsel to difficult questions and challenges. Todd possesses a keen insight to the climate of a church staff and church leadership. He has an ability to foresee issues before most others can see them." 
       MIKE WALKER, SENIOR PASTOR, EAST BAYOU BAPTIST CHURCH, LAFAYETTE, LA

"This is to recommend Todd McMichen of McMichen Development Group. We have worked with Todd over the past several months and have gained some invaluable insight from his expertise in the field. His passion for God’s Kingdom coupled with his wisdom in leading a church through the process of financial investment was essential to us as a church family. Todd understands clearly the difference between an ordinary capital campaign and a spiritual journey that includes financial investment in God’s kingdom. We have developed a relationship that has expanded into an open door policy and we are grateful for the honesty and integrity that Todd McMichen has shown our church.
      VANCE PITTMAN, SENIOR PASTOR, HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH, LAS VEGAS