So maybe you’ve been thinking about how you could help Restoration Project out in a more substantial way. Maybe you’re a good friend. Maybe you really like our music. Or maybe you really believe in our kind of work and ministry.
There are really two, main ways in which you can help us out:
Thank you for considering giving regularly to Restoration Project as a part of your regular support of Christ’s continued mission today—to sanctify His Church (Galatians 5, 1 Peter 1:13-16, 1 Thessalonians 4) and to make His name great among the nations (Matthew 28:16-20, Psalm 105:1, Ephesians 1).
We spent some time over the past month looking into officially becoming a 501(c)3 status organization; and, ultimately, we discovered that it’s just too expensive to pursue at this time. So how does this affect your contributions? All it means is that you won’t be able to take a tax deduction when you give.
Why do we need regular financial gifts?
Simply put, your regular giving means we get to spend less time drumming up cash and more time creating music. Here are a few specific ways we use your contributions:
1. Recording costs. We track (record) almost exclusively at The Dragon Room in Lombard, IL, for free. But there are other significant costs associated with mixing and mastering our music. Per-Song mixing fees range anywhere from $500-1,000; and mastering costs anywhere from $75-250 per song. To give you a better picture, our four-song Firm Foundation Vol. 1 EP cost close to $2,400, or $600/song, just to record.
2. Event costs. Each month, we try to organize a local hymn-sing here in the Chicago Metro area. These events are one of the primary ways we fulfill part of our mission—to share Jesus with those around us and edify the Church. For every event, we print lyrics sheets for participants to read from as we sing together as well as to take home at the end of each night. We travel to each event, which also costs money, however little. In addition, we often print special signage for our merchandise tables or to promote our business/organization sponsors.
3. Special promotional expenses. Take, for example, the video for our 2013 Firm Foundation Kickstarter campaign. A friend of ours graciously offered to donate his services to make it, but we really wanted to thank him for his work. As a token of our appreciation for his time and talents, we gave him some money. We thought it was the right thing to do. From time to time, we give special, one-time gifts to people who have helped us out in unique ways. Your regular gifts will help us thank these friends.
4. Equipment costs. We want our events and recordings to be the best they can be. In order to do that, sometimes we have had to purchase equipment specific to our recording and playing styles. We’ve had to buy instrument cables and music stands, for example.
5. On-Going business expenses. Each month, we have costs associated with website hosting, purchasing office supplies, and studying and researching hymns. Occasionally, we’ll plunk down a few extra bucks for a quality hymn resource or hymnal. We’re slowly building a nice, little collection of dusty books. Hosting costs us about $10 each month.
Thank You
We know that you could spend your money on any number of things. But you’ve chosen even to consider supporting us with an extra gift. Without expecting anything in return except the chance to help us keep this thing going. (You should also know that all of our regular donors/subscribers will receive CD copies of each of our new releases.) We do this for you. And we do it to God’s glory. Amen!
